Our Staff & Board

Anne has had the “horse bug” since she was little; she started taking riding lessons at 5 years old and never looked back. After graduating from Endicott College, she entered the canine world and worked as a service dog trainer then a detection dog handler. After 10 years, the horse world called her back in. She earned her MA Riding Instructor License and has been thrilled to get back into teaching. Anne loves getting to know her students and empowering them to build relationships with the horses, to gain strength and independence, and allowing the sport to supply the confidence that it did for her growing up. When Anne is not at Lovelane, she loves to ride her lease horse and hike with her dog Hazel.

Audrey is a lifelong animal lover and equestrian. She got her start in the saddle at the age of five when she met Wally the trail horse. Since then, horses have always been a constant source of education, inspiration, and comfort to Audrey.

After volunteering at Lovelane for many years Audrey was encouraged to embark on the journey to become a therapeutic riding instructor. She joined the Lovelane teaching team in February 2020. Audrey holds her Massachusetts Riding Instructor License, is a PATH International Certified Therapeutic Riding Instructor (CTRI) and Equine Specialist and Mental Health and Learning (ESMHL).

Audrey loves the synergistic relationship of student, horse, instructor, and volunteer as they all work as a team towards fulfilling the goals of each student. Her teaching style encompasses her keen curiosity to constantly learn and try to understand the what, why, and how of things. She loves sharing this knowledge, with a sense of humor and an open mind, and is always grateful to learn something new from her students.

Outside of the barn, Audrey is a strong supporter of STEM education, and creating more accessible opportunities for youth in science, especially for girls, in underrepresented populations. Audrey can also be found attempting to make the perfect s’more, reading about cognition, kayaking down the Charles and keeping her dog & cat out of trouble.

Cassie started at Lovelane in 2007 as an administrative assistant in the program office and became a Lovelane instructor in 2008. She is a Massachusetts licensed riding instructor, a PATH International Certified Therapeutic Riding Instructor and an Equine Specialist in Mental Health and Learning. Cassie graduated from Saint Francis Xavier University in Nova Scotia with a bachelor’s degree in History and Spanish. Previously she worked in the Waltham Public School System as a history teacher​ and later as the Coordinator for their Parent Information Center. Cassie has been riding since she was young and enjoys riding at Lovelane whenever she gets the chance. One of her favorite parts about working at Lovelane is that she is able to make a positive impact on the lives of so many unique, young people. She loves getting to know all of her students and is dedicated to being a part of their success in and out of the Lovelane riding arena. Cassie especially enjoys teaching Lovelane’s adjunct programs: Barn Buddies, The ​Perkins School for the Blind summer program​, The​ Cotting School program​ and Horsemanship Workshops.

Debby Sabin founded Lovelane in 1988. After spending 31 years as ED, Program Director and Therapeutic Riding Instructor/ OT, she helped train and create a succession plan to assure Lovelane’s long term success. Debby has transitioned to the Founding Director of Lovelane, a Board Member, consultant, major donor relations and an instructor in the program. A certified Occupational Therapist (MS/OTR/L), Debby has been actively involved in the therapeutic riding community for over 35 years. She has hosted equestrian events in the Special Olympics and coached as a member of the International Special Olympics team. Debby has worked as a pediatric occupational therapist at the New England Rehabilitation Hospital and at the Concord Early Intervention Program. In addition to her work at Lovelane, she is also currently working as a therapist and consultant for pediatric and young adult disabled clients providing private, home based services. Debby is a MA licensed riding instructor, PATH Int’l registered therapeutic riding instructor and is proficient in sign language. She holds a bachelor’s degree from the University of Massachusetts and a Masters in Science from Boston University.

Elle began her journey at Lovelane as a volunteer in 2020 and transitioned into teaching in 2022. Elle is dedicated to helping people access the healing power of horses. As a riding instructor, she enjoys collaborating with students to help them discover and develop their unique strengths and interests through their partnership with horses. Elle is an MA-licensed Riding Instructor, a Certified Therapeutic Horseback Riding Instructor (CTRI), and an Equine Specialist in Mental Health & Learning (ESMHL) through PATH International. She started riding horses at the age of eight and has experience in eventing and dressage. In 2022, she graduated from Mount Holyoke College, where she served as treasurer and captain of the Mount Holyoke Dressage Team. She is currently pursuing her clinical Master of Social Work with a specialization in Children, Youth & Families and a minor in macro social work at Boston University. Elle hopes to provide equine-facilitated psychotherapy in the future. 

Emily has been volunteering at Lovelane since 2017 both leading horses in lessons and working one-on-one with our students in Lovelane’s Barn Buddies program. Currently, she is our Assistant Barn Manager and teaches both mounted and unmounted riding lessons. Emily graduated from the University of Massachusetts Amherst in 2023 with a degree in Animal Science with a concentration in Equine Sciences. She currently holds her MA Riding Instructor License and is a Certified Therapeutic Horseback Riding Instructor (CTRI) and Equine Specialist in Mental Health & Learning (ESMHL) through PATH International.

Emily has been involved with horseback riding since she was six, riding and working at summer camps and she loves to see the impact horses make on students. Emily is always excited to witness the benefits horses have on Lovelane students. When she is not working, she likes to spend time with her family.

Izzie started her journey at Lovelane in the fall of 2015 as an intern during her senior year of high school. She enjoyed her experience so much, she continued on as a volunteer after her internship ended. She joined Lovelane’s teaching team in 2020. Izzie currently holds her MA Riding Instructor License and is working towards becoming a Certified Therapeutic Horseback Riding Instructor through PATH International. She also earned her associate’s degree from Middlesex Community College in Liberal Arts and Sciences with a concentration in Psychology and her bachelor’s degree from Lesley University in Elementary Education and Psychology.

Izzie has been riding since she was six and brings her lifelong love of horses and riding into her lessons. She loves designing new activities, intricate obstacle courses, and multi-step dressage patterns for her students. Izzie also brings her creative, engaging nature into the barn for her Barn Buddies and Horse Care Academy classes. Her favorite thing about working at Lovelane is seeing the smiles on each student’s face as they walk into the ring excited for their weekly lesson. When Izzie is not at Lovelane or doing schoolwork, she spends her time with her dog, Mabel, and enjoys listening to audiobooks and podcasts.

Jennie fell in love with horses at an early age, asking Santa for “four horses and a fence” when she was just four years old. She holds a B.A. in Chemistry from the College of the Holy Cross, where she was a two-year captain on the equestrian team, and a M.Ed. in Special Education from Lesley University. Jennie began volunteering at Lovelane in 2017, joined our teaching team in July 2020, and became Program Manager in 2023. She currently holds her MA Riding Instructor License and is a Certified Therapeutic Horseback Riding Instructor (CTRI) and Equine Specialist in Mental Health & Learning (ESMHL) through PATH International. One of her favorite parts of working at Lovelane is getting to know each student and helping them build resilience and a partnership with their horse. When she is not at the barn, Jennie enjoys sewing, rock climbing, and spending time outside with her dog, Benson.

Jill started at Lovelane in 2010 as a volunteer and became a Lovelane instructor in 2012. She was drawn to Lovelane for her lifelong love of horses and a strong desire to connect students with the joy and confidence that develops when learning to ride. Jill is a Massachusetts licensed riding instructor and has spent the past decade teaching and training in both therapeutic and recreational riding programs. Jill graduated from the University of Vermont with a bachelor’s degree in English and spent the first ten years of her professional career in Human Resources. Her history with horses started early when she was a Pony Club member and competed throughout high school and college in Three Day Eventing.

Jill is thrilled to return to the Lovelane community and be part of the growth and magic between horses and humans. Jill’s focus in her teaching is centered around helping her students build confidence, comfort, independence and connection in the saddle and beyond. She returns to Lovelane with a great appreciation for the unique and supportive Lovelane culture fostering a community built on compassion, professionalism, and joyful bonds. Jill lives in Concord with her husband, two boys, and rescue dog Hazel. When not at Lovelane, she can be found at Groton House Farm training dressage with her horse Eve, cooking for friends and family, hiking, skiing, gardening, and exploring conservation lands with Hazel.

Kelly started volunteering at Lovelane in 2010 in our Barn Buddies program and sidewalking in therapeutic riding lessons. Her time at Lovelane inspired her to become a licensed occupational therapist; she now works at a nursing home and is able to incorporate her therapy dog into sessions. Kelly joined Lovelane’s teaching team working in the barn facilitating Barn Buddies and Horse Care Academy classes. She is always so excited to be at the barn and share her love of horses with the Lovelane students!

Kristin has been at Lovelane since 1994 when she started as a volunteer. Kristin came to Lovelane right after she graduated from college looking to spend more time around horses but found that she fell in love with the riders too. Kristin grew up on a horse farm on Long Island (New York). She went to Princeton University where she studied Biology and ran cross country and track. After graduating from college, Kristin moved to Boston to pursue her professional running career. It was during this time that Kristin became a licensed instructor and found her passion in speech therapy. She continued on to Boston University where she earned her Master’s Degree in Communication Disorders. She has continued to be a part of Lovelane while also working part-time at the Ely Center, a private practice specializing in social pragmatic language. In 2022, Kristin was hired as the Instructor Development Manager at Lovelane. She is responsible for the overall management and recruitment of Lovelane’s instructors, as well as various other program responsibilities. What Kristin loves most is building relationships with horses, riders and families. She lives in Wayland with her husband Jamie and her three children, Grete, Luke and Hadley, their dogs, Dori and Arlo, as well as their horse, Bean.

Leah has loved horses since she was little and spent most of her time riding and in a barn as a child and young person. She became a NARHA (now PATH International) certified instructor in 2003 and taught for many years at another therapeutic riding program in the area. While there, she worked with an occupational therapist who inspired Leah to attend graduate school at Tufts University, where she earned an M.S. in Occupational Therapy. For the last 14 years, Leah has been a school-based OT and currently works part-time for the Boston Public Schools in a K-6 school. She has had an extended hiatus from the horse world and is thrilled to be joining the Lovelane team. She finds tremendous joy in working with children and horses. She loves seeing the confidence that comes when a student works in partnership with a horse and the pride and sense of accomplishment they experience when new skills are acquired and goals are reached. Leah lives in Jamaica Plain with her husband, 3 children, and dog. When not working, Leah loves to run and be outdoors with her family, especially on the coast of Maine.

Lisa has been teaching recreational lessons at Lovelane since 2011. Lisa graduated from Morven Park International Equitation Institute in Leesburg, VA in 1981. At the time, this was the only credible riding school run by the British Horse Society standards. Lisa loves working with children and adults. She enjoys seeing how proud students are of their accomplishments and how excited they are to tell their parents about what they learned after a lesson. When Lisa’s not at Lovelane, she teaches and rides dressage. She belongs to a group of trainers called Dressage Trainer’s Network, and is on the show committee for the Southern New England Driving Society. Lisa also has a 1/2 Saddlebred/Warmblood cross who is schooling at the 4th level. Lisa lives on a small farm with her husband and spends time there recuperating horses for the MSPCA Equine Center, Nevin’s farm.

Lisa started volunteering at Lovelane in 1990, and then served on the Board of Directors from 1993 to 2003. Since 2001, Lisa has been working at Lovelane in the office, currently as our Volunteer Manager, and as an instructor. Lisa graduated from the University of Delaware with a degree in Agricultural Economics and later received her Masters at Penn State University. She started volunteering with the program because she had ridden horses since her teenage years and had read about James Brady’s recovery using therapeutic riding. Lisa was first inspired by the individualized, therapy-driven philosophy and techniques of Debby, and continues to enjoy the progress she sees each week with the children and horses at Lovelane. She feels lucky to see how Lovelane students benefit from their individualized programs here, and loves to see how proud the students are of themselves as they accomplish their goals! When she isn’t at Lovelane, Lisa loves to ride horses and spend time with her family and two daughters.

Micaela’s love for horses and riding began when she started taking lessons at the age of 7. She continued to ride competitively through high school and college. In the summer of 2015, Micaela completed a college internship at Lovelane with a focus on therapeutic riding. During this time, she fell in love with Lovelane’s horses, staff, students, and their families. In 2016 she graduated from Colby-Sawyer College with a degree in Sociology and a minor in Psychology and began working at Lovelane shortly thereafter. Micaela is a Massachusetts licensed riding instructor and a PATH International Certified Therapeutic Riding Instructor (CTRI). In addition to teaching, she works in the office as our Program Coordinator. Micaela loves teaching Horsemanship Workshops and introducing new students to all the magic and fun that Lovelane has to offer. Micaela finds it rewarding to watch students progress over time, challenge themselves, and reach their goals. One of her favorite aspects of her job is watching her students’ confidence grow both on and off the horse.

Phoebe grew up riding horses on the east end of Long Island in a small town called Cutchogue. Following a couple of family riding trips to Ireland, her love for horses grew deeper. She continued to ride through high school and volunteered for the Equestrian Special Olympics program run by her barn. She studied Music as an undergraduate at Yale, where she rode her horse at 5:30 am most days and competed for the Yale Equestrian Team. She ultimately became the team’s horse show manager, captain, and later coach. After attending the Yale School of Nursing and becoming a Pediatric Nurse Practitioner, Phoebe took some time away from riding to start her career and family. She couldn’t stay away from horses for too long and started at Lovelane as a volunteer in 2016. She has been so privileged to make some incredible friends and mentors at Lovelane and recently decided to pursue her MA Riding Instructor license and PATH International Certified Therapeutic Riding Instructor certification. She has so much respect and admiration for the Lovelane families and loves to see the riders shine on the incredible horses that make up the Lovelane herd. She also recently became an International Board Certified Lactation Consultant and works at a private practice in Worcester. Phoebe lives in Harvard with her husband, their 4 children, and puppy. She loves to travel, bake, hike, spend time with family, play the piano, and play soccer.

Sally started at Lovelane as a volunteer in 1989. She has been riding horses since she was six years old and grew up as an active participant in the United States Pony Club and US Combined Training Association. In 1987, she received a Bachelor of Science degree from Hood College. She received her MA instructor license in 1989, her NARHA certification in 1992 and transitioned to a PATH Certified Therapeutic Riding Instructor in 2020. Her favorite part about working at Lovelane is seeing the joy and confidence students experience while riding. She considers it a privilege to work with the inspiring students, families, volunteers, staff and horses at Lovelane. Sally loves to see how the interaction and movement of the horse benefits students on so many levels: physically, cognitively, socially and emotionally. In her free time, Sally enjoys hiking, skiing, running, walking with friends and spending time with her family. She has two adult children and lives in Berlin, MA with her husband Greg, and their dog and horse.