Meet our Team
Ainsley Dillon, Phd, OTR/L
executive Director
ainsley@hilltophorizons.org
Ainsley is the founder of Hilltop Horizons. She has been riding horses since the age of eight, where she has been a member of local 4-H clubs, and trained and shown Western Pleasure horses. Ainsley has experience with individuals with disabilities in therapeutic riding, group home, and personal settings. She is an occupational therapist, with AHA Levels I and II training, as well as a PATH Intl. Therapeutic Riding Instructor, Equine Specialist in Mental Health, and Mentor.
Karin Peterson, M. Ed.
Volunteer Coordinator
karin@hilltophorizons.org
Karin came to Hilltop Horizons as a volunteer during our first orientation in 2017 and has become a vital part of our team ever since. Now serving as our Volunteer Coordinator, as well as a PATH Intl. Certified Instructor, Karin has found a way to combine her lifelong passion for horses with her work experience as a special education teacher at the Watson Institute to serve our participants at Hilltop Horizons.
Suzy Hardman
Lead Adaptive Riding instructor
suzy@hilltophorizons.org
Suzy is the lead PATH Intl. certified therapeutic riding instructor at Hilltop Horizons. She has been riding horses since she was eight years old in both English and Western disciplines. Suzy combines her experience with horses with her knowledge of children with special needs through her work at New Horizon School to create fun and engaging programming for her riders at Hilltop Horizons.
Kaitlyn Joyce, OTD, OTR/L
Occupational Therapist
kaitlyn@hilltophorizons.org
Kaitlyn is an occupational therapist who has completed AHA Level I training to incorporate equine movement as a therapeutic modality into practice. She will continue to work towards her AHA Level II training throughout the year. Kaitlyn was first introduced to hippotherapy and working with horses 2 years ago. She completed her doctoral research at Hilltop Horizons, analyzing the effect of animal-assisted therapy practices on children during OT sessions with both horses and therapy dogs. OT incorporating hippotherapy is the perfect combination of Kaitlyn’s passion for OT and lifelong love of animals.
Board of Directors
Ainsley Dillon, PhD, OTR/L - Executive Director
Marsha Fino, MD - President
Gina Halstead-Smith - Secretary
Joy Berringer - Treasurer
Auberly Fisher - Fundraising Chair