BRITTA LOVEGROVE
  
            Britta Lovegrove has been a practicing registered nurse since her graduation from Ellis Hospital School of Nursing.  She has 19 years experience working with troubled adolescent males as a nurse, and medical advisor, including serving as the  Supervising nurse for the medical unit. 

            She brings many skills to her professional endeavors, including office management, traditional medical care, holistic care ( involving energy therapy, relaxation and meditation)as well a experience in operating her own private practice in Energy Therapy since 1996.

            Britta has studied complementary therapy modalities for the last 9 year, earning a certificate from Maria College in Complementary Therapies in May 2001. These therapies include Healing Touch and Reiki, which are the use of the bodies energy system to promote relaxation and healing of illnesses or “disease”.  Subtle hand movements are placed on and around a person’s body, thus allowing the person to become relaxed and in this relaxed state the body has the ability to heal itself.   As part of the Complementary Therapy program she gained extensive knowledge in Yoga, meditation, Guided Imagery, Thi Chi Cha and general relaxation techniques.  She has also learned Thought Field Therapy, which is a method of tapping various parts of the body to release fears, phobias and anxieties.  (This tool has been very helpful with assisting the children to diminish or overcome the fear of riding a horse.) 

   Some goals she has for EBC Physical Therapy Center are to:

·    Provide quality holistic therapy for children of all ages in assisting both Liz and Joan, and potentially other therapists, with their therapy sessions as a side walker or by leading the horse. 

·    She also plans on increasing her Energy therapy practice

·   Design, develop and provide after school activities and evening programs for both children and adults.

                                            LIZ CHAUVOT

            Liz Chauvot, PT, HPCS is one of the founders of EBC Therapy Center.  Liz received a BA from LEC in 1983 and then worked at a riding stable in Bermuda.  She moved home to NY and worked at Kinderhill Farm in Old Chatham, NY as a yearling manager for 4 ½ years before returning to school for Physical Therapy.  Liz graduated from Russell Sage College in 1993 with a BS in physical Therapy.  She worked in Oklahoma for 3 ½ years and was first introduced at Hippotherapy at an introductory course in Texas.  She moved to Georgia and worked with a Hippotherapy program as an outpatient pediatric Physical Therapist.  While in Georgia, Liz took and passed the Hippotherapy certification exam and became one of the first group of therapist to be a Certified Clinical Specialist in Hippotherapy.  While still in Georgia, she helped start Chastain Horse Parks Therapeutic Riding program in Atlanta. 

            Liz returned to New York in 2000 and started a small private practice which as blossomed to EBC Therapy Center.  Liz was a presenter at the 2005 NARAA Regional II conference.  She is the American Hippotherapy Association region II Liaison.  Liz thanks her husband Russell and her son Alex for their continued support. 

                                                   JOAN MARTELLE

            Joan Martelle, PT received a BS in Business Management in 1986 from Russell Sage College and a BS in Physical Therapy in 1995 from Russell Sage College.  She previously worked at United Cerebral Palsy in Kingston, NY until 1999 where she provided Physical Therapy services to infants through adults.  Joan was first introduced to Hippotherapy in 1992 while volunteering at the Albany Therapeutic Riding Center in Voorheesville, NY.  In 1994, she completed a clinical affilication in Oneonta, NY where she was able to learn Hippotherapy techniques.  In 1996, Joan began working with the Center for Disabled as a per diem therapist providing aquatic therapy, and later Equine Assisted Therapy with Equability.  In 2002, Joan had the opportunity to meet and work with Liz Chauvot and Britta Lovegrove in a new equine assisted therapy program in East Berne.  In 2004, Liz, Britta and Joan formed EBC Therapy Center. 

CODY 

Cody is a 4 year old Quarterhorse Cross – 14 hands (another guess) – chestnut with white markings – he looks a lot like Mark!

Coty was generously donated to the program at the end of last year so he has not had a chance to work in the therapy program yet.  We have been having great fun getting to know him.  Catherine owes him a big bag of carrots for helping to get her ready to ride early this year.  He is very fun to ride and very honest.  He was a star lesson and family horse before coming in to the program and we know he will soon be favorite at EBC.

MARK 

Aged Gelding (in his 20’s) – 14.2 hands (that’s a guess) – Chestnut – quarterhorse

 Mark is the star of the program.  He has been working as a therapy horse for many years.  He defines the word “bombproof” with his steady nature and ability to cope with anything.  As perfect as he is, he is an escape artist and will be the first to leave the field if the electric fence is not working or walk out of his stall while the staff is trying to fill the water bucket!  Fortunately, he loves to graze and stops at the first patch of grass.  Many children have learned from this patient good soldier.  We hope he will help many, many more.

PONY GIRL 

Aged (anything over 10 years old) Mare (she’s about 17, maybe) – 15.2 (another guess) – Quarterhorse/Draft Cross – Dark bay with White blaze and two white socks behind

 Pony Girl started as a therapy horse with us last year and did incredibly well.  She has proved to be a great first horse for our own Britta Lovegrove.  Ask Britta on the right day and she will agree!  We do not know much about Pony Girl’s life but we think she may have been a driving horse.  She has been learning well and gave some great therapy sessions last year.  We expect she will get better and better as she gains experience.  She’s really just a 1000 pound teddy bear and really gives the feel of a big horse without being so far from the ground.

STORMY and SHADOW

Stormy – 17 hand (big) Thoroughbred Gelding – Bay – 18 years old

 Stormy is a very special horse. He is owned by our own Liz Chauvot.  She has raised him from a 2 year old.  They have developed a partnership over the years that is what most horse people look for; if you are a horse person you might get one of these in your lifetime.  It is a beautiful thing to watch them work together.  If you are really lucky you might be at the new barn at the right time to get a glimpse of this wonderful team.

Shadow – 15 hand (hopefully) Quarterhorse gelding  - Black – 7 years old

(No picture of Shadow is available at this time.)

 Shadow is a little bit of a mystery still.  He is owned by our own Equine Manager Catherine Fellows.  Shadow is green broke and Catherine is hoping that being around EBC will help to give him more exposure to the world.  He loves to play but has not had a “herd” for a while.  While he has good manners and is well started he still has a lot to learn.  Hopefully, he will continue to progress and soon be part of the therapy team.