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Announcing 2024 PATH Intl. Award Winners

Announcing 2024 PATH Intl. Award Winners

For Immediate Release

DENVER, CO (December 19, 2024) ­— The Professional Association of Therapeutic Horsemanship (PATH Intl.) takes great pride in the exceptional credentialed professionals, volunteers, equines, veterinarians, staff, and participants who ensure delivery of, and participate in, high-quality equine-assisted services (EAS) at PATH Intl. Member Centers. PATH Intl. is pleased to announce the winners of the 2024 PATH Intl. awards.

All PATH Intl. award winners were recognized at the PATH Intl. annual meeting held virtually on December 10, 2024. Winners were carefully and thoughtfully selected by a panel of judges who reviewed submissions of all winners from PATH Intl.’s 11 Regions, to award the credentialed professional, equine caretaker, veterinarian, equine, and volunteer of the year winners. The PATH International Equine Services for Heroes® Equestrian, Youth Equestrian, Adult Equestrian, and James Brady Professional Achievement Awards were all selected through a nationwide nomination process.

PATH Intl. CEO Kathy Alm said, “The PATH Intl. awards program is an important way to celebrate the quality, professional, safety-oriented programs delivered by PATH Intl. credentialed professionals and centers that help participants across the globe reach their wellness, personal and professional goals through equine-assisted services. It is an honor to recognize the accomplishments of these awardees and shine a light on the meaningful impacts they each have in their communities.”
PATH Intl. congratulates the following award winners:

  • PATH Intl. Credentialed Professional of the Year: Hilary Groh, NorthWest Therapeutic Riding Center, Bellingham, WA– PATH Intl. Region 9
  • PATH Intl. Equine Caretaker of the Year: Jessica Moe, North Dakota State University Bison Strides Equine-Assisted Services, Fargo, ND– PATH Intl. Region 6– Sponsored by Zoetis Equine
  • PATH Intl. Veterinarian of the Year: Dr. Madelyn Melchiors, Horses with H.E.A.R.T., Inc., Chino Valley, AZ– PATH Intl. Region 10– Sponsored by American Regent Animal Health makers of Adequan® i.m.
  • PATH Intl. Equine of the Year: Duke, Great Oak Equine Assisted Programs, Aiken, SC– PATH Intl. Region 3– Sponsored by Purina
  • PATH Intl. Volunteer of the Year: Karen Smith, BraveHearts Therapeutic Riding and Educational Center, Harvard, IL – PATH Intl. Region 7
  • PATH International Equine Services for Heroes® Equestrian of the Year: Phyllis Stalensky, Cloverleaf Equine Center, Clifton, VA– PATH Intl. Region 3
  • PATH Intl. Youth Equestrian of the Year: Payton, New Kingdom Trailriders, Sherrard, IL– PATH Intl. Region 7
  • PATH Intl. Adult Equestrian of the Year: Leslie Cartner, Horses Spirits Healing, Inc., Billings, MT– PATH Intl. Region 9
  • 2024 PATH Intl. James Brady Professional Achievement Award: Ross Braun, Macomb, IL– PATH Intl. Region 7
  • PATH Intl. President’s Award: Julie Broadway, American Horse Council

 

To learn more about PATH Intl. Award Sponsorship opportunities please visit our Sponsors page.

For a full list and photos of all award winners please visit our 2024 Awards page.

Contact: Sara Conant, Communications & Marketing Coordinator,
, (800) 369-7433 ext. 123

About PATH Intl.:

The Professional Association of Therapeutic Horsemanship International® (PATH Intl.), formed in 1969, advances professional equine-assisted services (EAS) by empowering its members, credentialed professionals, partners and the public through rigorously developed standards, credentials and education that recognize the power of the equine-human relationship. At 721 member centers, more than 71,000 children and adults with special needs, including 8,000 veterans, may find improved health, wellness, a sense of pride, independence and fun through involvement with horses. PATH Intl. members, credentialed professionals and member centers uphold the PATH Intl. Standards, developed and adopted by the PATH Intl. membership, to ensure centers and professionals follow procedures essential to providing safe, humane, gold-standard-quality EAS programming to the public, in the broad areas of horsemanship, therapy and learning. Among its multiple EAS certification programs, PATH Intl. proudly offers the Certified Therapeutic Riding Instructor certification (the PATH Intl. CTRI®); the first and only independently accredited certification program in EAS.