Now the world knows what we have known all along. The Professional Association of Therapeutic Horsemanship, International has chosen Mari Parino as their 2016 International Certified Professional of the Year! Our volunteer, Lindsay Hendricks has been chosen Region 11 Volunteer of the year. We are so proud of what these incredible women have done.

Mari has extensive experience in the therapeutic riding industry, from starting a program in Thailand, enhancing one in Singapore to becoming the Executive Director of our program.

Mari started at our center as an instructor and rose quickly to Program Director and then Executive Director. She grew the program to include our first summer camp program. She coordinated the completion of a covered arena and the transition from a seasonal to a year-round program. She grew our hippotherapy program and started a young adult program to meet the needs of the community. This year she started a program that works with our Wounded Warriors.

Under Mari’s leadership our program has become one of the finest in the country. We have many well-trained volunteers who have been with the program for 15-20 years. Under Mari’s care, our students are challenged to have fun and to meet their individual goals. She is a tribute to the therapeutic riding industry and we are so fortunate to have her on our staff.

Lindsay Hendricks has been volunteering for Xenophon since 2011. Lindsay demonstrated her drive and leadership since first starting with the program. She quickly worked her way from sidewalker to horse handler and has recently been mentored into our instructor program.. With any task she performs, she gives her utmost. Often feeling that isn’t enough, she searches for ways to improve her performance through seminars, classes, reading on the internet, or picking the brain of those with the knowledge she seeks. She has created lesson activities and brought manipulatives to help a particular rider, resulting in direct benefit to the clients we serve. She trains new people and her calm confident manner is a strong example to everyone at the center, creating an atmosphere that portrays the professionalism the center strives for.

We have so much to be proud of at Xenophon. Everyone has worked hard to make sure we have an outstanding program. By the same token it is wonderful to be recognized by our governing organization. In the past Xenophon has received these well deserved awards from PATH, Intl :

• International Student of the Year 2008 Anthony Fusaro, RIP
• International Therapy Horse of the Year 2008: Cocoa RIP
• Regional Volunteer of the Year 2008: Ken Bergstresser
• Regional Professional of the Year 2015: Heidi Koch
• Xenophon has received 100% for the last 3 five-year accreditations by PATH, Intl.