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Meet the Healing Guides Behind Our Therapeutic‑Horse Program
Dedicated educators, certified trainers, and compassionate caregivers who turn every ride into a moment of growth.
For more than 25 years, our mission has been possible because of a remarkable team of instructors who blend professional expertise with genuine love for horses and people. From certified equine‑assisted therapy specialists to lifelong barn volunteers, each guide brings a unique skill set that helps our participants discover confidence, calm, and connection.
Why Our Instructors Matter
Therapeutic‑horse work is a partnership: it succeeds only when the rider, the horse, and the instructor are in sync. By showcasing the people who lead our sessions, we give you a glimpse behind the fence—how training, counseling, and horsemanship blend to create safe, evidence‑based experiences for every client.
Transparency: Show families and donors the qualified professionals who deliver our services.
Recognition: Celebrate the years of study, certification, and heart each team member invests.
Connection: Help prospective participants feel familiar with the guides they’ll meet before stepping into the barn.
Ready to Experience Their Guidance?
Whether you’re a family looking for a supportive environment, a donor wanting to empower our educators, or a volunteer eager to learn from the best, there’s a way to get involved.
Schedule a Visit or Trial Session
Donate to Support Instructor Training & Scholarships
Become a Certified Instructor with Us
Katie--Instructor in training
Katherine Paielli has been teaching at OATS since the fall of 2024. She holds a bachelor’s degree from Lake Erie College in Equine Facility Management with a concentration in Therapeutic Horsemanship.
Katherine’s passion for therapeutic riding began while volunteering at a small facility in Pennsylvania and has grown through her work in animal-assisted therapies with a variety of animals. She is especially dedicated to fostering meaningful, trusting relationships between horses and riders and finds great fulfillment in supporting each rider’s individual journey at OATS.
Laura--Certified Instructor of Riders with Disabilities, Level 1 - Certified through CHA
Laura Murray has been involved with OATS for five years, beginning as a volunteer and working her way through the instructor certification process. Her love of horses, combined with the joy she finds in working with individuals with special needs, led her to pursue a role as a therapeutic riding instructor.
Laura treasures the smiles she sees on riders’ faces, the thoughtful responses of the horses, and the dedication of the volunteers who make each class possible. One of her favorite experiences is taking classes out on the trail, where riders can enjoy the sights, sounds, and scents of the changing seasons. She considers her role at OATS to be a tremendous blessing in her life.
Audrey--Instructor in training
Audrey MacLean has been part of the OATS team since February 2025, combining a lifelong love of horses with a passion for teaching. Having grown up around horses, she feels fortunate to work in a role that brings both together.
Audrey is inspired by the gentle, intuitive nature of the OATS horses and the growth she sees in her riders. Helping riders build confidence, overcome challenges, and experience those meaningful “breakthrough” moments is what she finds most rewarding.
She values open communication and is passionate about adapting lessons to each rider’s learning style. Audrey encourages riders to share feedback or ideas to help create the best possible experience at OATS.
Doug--Executive Director
Douglas Rohrabaugh, M.S. has served as Executive Director of OATS since the summer of 2021 and is currently training to become a therapeutic riding instructor. Working at OATS has been a true blessing for Douglas, and he values the opportunity to work closely with riders while continually learning from the OATS community.
He is especially inspired by the joy and sense of accomplishment he sees on riders’ faces, as well as the remarkable care and connection the horses show toward those they serve. Watching riders achieve new skills and witnessing the pride they feel in those moments is one of the most meaningful parts of his work.
Douglas would like riders, families, and volunteers to know how deeply grateful he is for each and every one of them and for the role they play in making OATS a welcoming and impactful community
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