10/19/2026
Meet Emily, our Program Director at Hestóvin Stables! 🐴✨
Emily first joined Hestóvin last spring as a Recreational Therapy intern, became a CTRI in January, and was such a great fit for our community that we decided to keep her around! She’s currently finishing the last year of her Master’s degree at GVSU.
If you’ve spent time at the barn, you’ve probably seen Emily training a horse, working with students, or maybe even dancing with the horses. She’s goofy, kind, welcoming, and incredibly knowledgeable about horses, therapy, and everything in between.
We asked Emily a few questions so you can get to know her better! 🤎
Favorite Hestóvin horse: Mr. Gunnar! Emily says, “It is really rewarding to see his true personality come out when he trusts you and has a bond with you. He is a marshmallow on the inside, and I have the most fun riding him.”
Outside of Hestóvin: You can usually find her with her horse, Coco, a 9-year-old purebred Arabian who competes at the National level in Hunter Pleasure and loves Sour Patch Watermelon candy!
Unpopular opinion: Pineapple belongs on pizza.
What always makes her smile at work: Working with our students! It’s her favorite part of the day.
And what does Emily hope every student takes away from Hestóvin?
“I hope they recognize their own worth and realize they are capable of more than they ever imagined, even in a world that doesn’t always make space for them.”
We’re so thankful for the care, knowledge, and joy Emily brings to Hestóvin. Help us show her some love in the comments! 🐴🤎
