Meet The Team

The staff and Board of Directors at A Broken Spur Riding Academy, are comprised of individuals from many personal, and professional backgrounds. While we vary in our day-to-day careers and interests, we’re all bonded by a passion of helping the community and appreciation for the effect, power, and immeasurable value that horses have when it comes to improving our quality of life.

Many of us are lifelong horse owners and/or equine professionals, while others have an immense background in community involvement and human resources, and yet we have all witnessed in one form or another, first hand the benefits of Equine-Assisted Learning or Services. When it comes to emotional, mental, and physical conditions. The incredible work that is achieved through our Equine Assisted Services is difficult to accurately describe without witnessing it firsthand. There are countless testimonials from our clients, family, community members, and volunteers that will all attest to the humble, unassuming effect of a horse on a person in need.

STAFF MEMBERS

Sarah Dorsey

Sarah is the 2023 PATH International Region 3 Equine Caretaker of the Year

Founder/Executive Director/ Lead PATH Intl Certified Therapeutic Riding Instructor, PATH Intl Equine Specialist in Mental Health and Learning

Sarah is our Founder and Executive Director as well as a PATH International Certified Therapeutic Riding Instructor and is also a PATH International Certified Equine Specialist in Mental Health and Learning. She has lifelong experience in both medical field and horsemanship. Sarah started with horses as young as 8 years old taking lessons at Hidden Springs Farm in Summersville, WV. She has a knack and passion for horses and a sensitivity to those individuals with disabilities since she herself has struggled with a cardiac disability since when was young. Sarah has an Associates Degree in Applied Science from New River Community and Technical College from which she graduated in 2018, with a focus on Medical Assisting and currently works in Orthopedics as a Nationally Certified Clinical Medical Assistant. She also has background of being a Certified Nursing Assistant for 18 years and a Phlebotomist for 4 years. Sarah has worked with individuals with disabilities all over from handicap to individuals with mental health issues and elderly individuals and so much more.

Sarah's equine career began in 2015 when starting at Glade Springs Equestrian Center as a trail guide giving trails to the public and stablehand doing things such as grooming horses, cleaning stalls, tacking horses and basic horsemanship care. Sarah learned while at Glade Springs Equestrian Center of the PATH International Program where you can provide equine assisted activities and therapies. To become a PATH International Therapeutic Riding Center Sarah started her training at Healing Strides in VA but due to traveling she decided to complete the rest of her training at Beyond Wishes right in her backyard in Hinton, WV. After a period of time and family circumstances Sarah Ended up moving to Rock Springs, WY where she finished the remaining of her training in Casper, WY at Reach 4 A Star Riding Academy took her PATH International test and completed her finals steps to becoming a PATH International Therapeutic Riding Instructor. Sarah after the long journey of becoming certified temporarily while living in Rock Springs, WY become the Founder and Executive Director of Windy Mountain Farms a PATH International Member Center but due to more family circumstances her journey did end there after a brief period and Sarah moved back to Beckley WV.

Her journey with Equine Assisted Activities and Therapies has not yet ended though. She is the Founder and Executive Director of A Broken Spur Riding Academy here in the heart of WV now in Beaver, WV. She is PATH International Certified and has PATH International Member Center Status for A Broken Spur Riding Academy. She is building what she hopes to be an inspiration the to WV Community.

Bri Hartwell, PATH International Instructor in Training

Bri started her horse journey at 10 years old. Her Grandpa Jack is the one who inspired hef to start riding and once she learned how she went straight into showing. As she got older she knew she wanted to make her career into a life revolving around horses so she began studying more about the different types of training. Eventually she was able to finally start breaking colts and fillies and showing them to giving lessons. Bri trained two summers with big time quarter horse trainer Donnie Dickerson down in Mount Airy, NC who taught her everything she knows today about training and breaking. Bri has over 15 plus years of experience with these majestic animals and enjoys teaching and sharing her knowledge with students who are ready and interested in learning. Bri is the newest member of our team.