Reinbow Riding Center, a therapeutic horsemanship center based in Rutland County, has elected Jacquelyn Bode Marston of Castleton, Donna Merkle of Rutland and Sharon Lickerman of Mount Holly and New York City to its board of directors. In addition, Mary Jane Osborn will now serve as an honorary board member.
Marston, a clinical psychologist in private practice in Rutland, strongly believes in the special human/animal connection to promote healing. She has worked in community mental health and holds a license in alcohol & drug counseling. Marston and her husband have bred, trained, competed and enjoyed Morgan horses for decades.
Merkle is a retired school teacher who has taught and worked with hundreds of young children with special needs. As an adjunct faculty member at the University of Vermont and Castleton University, she also taught graduate courses to other educators. In addition, she has served as president of Vermont Council on Reading and was an active board member for the New England Reading Association.
Lickerman brings years of expertise in child development as a Montessori educator and also represents the Association of Montessori Internationale at the United Nations. She was affiliated with Reach Within, an organization empowering abused and neglected children. Her own daughter has experienced the profound impact of programming at Reinbow Riding Center.
Osborn is the founder of Reinbow Riding Center and has served as instructor and program director of the organization since its inception in 2008. She has retired, but continues to support the organization as a dedicated volunteer. Osborn continues to be active with the Vermont Horse Council.