Meet our Team

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Ainsley Dillon, PhD, OTR/L, HPCS

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

Program Operations Coordinator

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.

Maureen O’Brien, MS, CCC-SLP

Speech Therapist

maureen@hilltophorizons.org

Maureen is a speech-language pathologist with over 20 years of pediatric experience in a variety of settings such as schools, outpatient clinics, and birth-3 home-based services. She specializes in therapy for children with hearing loss, Alternative/Augmentative Communication (AAC), and children with complex medical needs. She began volunteering at Hilltop Horizons in 2023 and saw the need to increase the participants’ access to communication both on and off the horses. She completed the AHA Principles of Hippotherapy Level I training in June 2024 and began treating at Hilltop Horizons that Fall.

Jessica Collins, COTA/L

Occupational Therapy Assistant

jess@hilltophorizons.org

Jessica is a licensed and certified occupational therapy assistant, who combines her clinical training with her love of horses. She’s ridden horses since age 13 & has shown in Interscholastic Equestrian Association (IEA), 4-H, and America Quarter Horse Congress. Today, she brings that same dedication into her therapy sessions. She completed her American Hippotherapy Association (AHA) Level I training to incorporate equine movement as a treatment tool & continues to build her skills through lifelong education.

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, HPCS - Executive Director

Marsha Fino, MD - President

Gina Halstead-Smith - Secretary, Governance Committee Chair

Joy Berringer - Treasurer, Finance Committee Chair

Auberly Fisher - Board Member, Development Committee Chair