“A Place of Peace”

​Katelyn was born and raised on a 300-acre cattle farm. From a very early age, she knew she wanted to work with children and animals when she got older. A member of 4-H, she spent ten years showing cattle, sheep and pigs and learned leadership and teamwork from being on the international winning livestock team of 2017. Katelyn, at the age of 18 years old became a PATH Certified Therapeutic Riding Instructor and is employed at Lasata. Her job enables her to help children and adults learn about horse safety, work on communication and relationship skills, and build strength. Katelyn believes all of her past experiences have made her who she is today, and working with the Lasata community has allowed her to fulfill her dream.

Carolyn grew up in Somerset County NJ’s horse country. She started riding when she was 9 years old and was love struck immediately. Just the smell of a tack room is like coming home.

Carolyn lives in West Chester where she and her husband raised their 3 sons. In 2007 Carolyn started teaching horseback riding at a therapeutic farm in Chester County and in 2009 received her PATH Certification. Throughout the years she has been teaching horseback riding and horsemanship skills to students with and without disabilities. Carolyn has been a coach for Chester and Delaware counties Special Olympics Equestrian Teams since 2013. She also has extensive experience working with horses and veterans to aide in healing. Carolyn is excited to be part of the Lasata family where she will continue to share her knowledge with students of all abilities. When not on the farm Carolyn enjoys hiking, kayaking, skiing, travel and family.

Jen started volunteering for Lasata in April 2019. By July, she began working as one of the barn staff, feeding the horses every other weekend. As a preschool teacher, she has spent the past 16 years at Our Lady of Consolation Early Learning Center. She shares, “Ever since I was a little girl, I’ve loved riding and spending time with our equine partners. Volunteering and working at Lasata is a wonderful way to combine my love for horses and helping children, and I’m grateful for the opportunity to be a member of the Lasata family.” Jen lives in Coatesville with her husband, Neal, and 2 children, Haylie and Jacob.

Penny is a chestnut quarter horse mare foaled in 1999. She arrived in the spring of 2014, as a horse deemed hopeless by several trainers. Our farm family met her and quickly surmised she was far from hopeless. We simply needed to help her find who she was meant to be. We accepted her in our program and surely she began to shine. She carries an amazing load here at Lasata. She’s faithful, steady, kind and careful with her riders. Her forte has become building confidence in new riders and helping riders with disabilities realize their true equestrian potential. She’s marked accordingly in that the arrow blaze on her face reminds us who sent her our way.

Sophie is a Quarter Horse/Belgian cross who is an amazing teacher for those who are patient to learn. She’s opinionated and determined, yet a team player when she feels safe, purposeful and valued. She’s the herd leader amongst her peers. Her current claim to fame…back rubs for humans. She demonstrates perfectly the adage; “I will scratch your back if you scratch mine.” Sophie is sturdy and strong with a wide base of support, perfect for those with challenged balance. Her resume includes foxhunting and carriage driving.

Willow was born and raised here at Lasata. Her prior owners were hopeful she would make it as a racehorse, but lucky for us she didn’t. She is a big beautiful bay thoroughbred mare with a long flowing mane and tail. She has a very unique personality. She is very sensitive, yet dominant and prefers you make requests to her in a gentle and quiet manner. She has a special place in her heart for small people. Regardless of her size, she loves to nuzzle them and tuck them close to her. She has been started under saddle, but is primarily used within the program for equine assisted learning and psychotherapy sessions.

Beau arrived in 2010 as a 3 year old needing some education. After graduation, he went home with his owner until Fall of 2015. His owner wanted more for Beau’s life, so he made his home here. He is a dark bay mule who should have been born a golden retriever. He loves deeply. People can’t help but smile at him, whether it’s his antics, his funny looks, or his loud bray. Beau is trained under saddle English or Western. He has the most elegant movements you will see from a mule, as if he floats on air.

Max was born in 1993. He is a buckskin pony who has taught countless kids how to ride. He was utilized as a camp pony for years over the summer months at a camp in Chester Springs. He also spent many days on the hunt field. In his day, he would showcase himself proudly over any fence you faced him to. He enjoys equine assisted learning and psychotherapy sessions, grooming sessions, walk and trot lessons with little tikes, gulping grain slushies and munching lush grass with the very few teeth he has left in his head.

Jonah’s lot in life is to make people smile. His giftedness was evident the moment we met. In 2007, we “rescued” 3-year-old Jonah from a cemetery in inner city Baltimore, where a llama was setting out to eat him alive. He demands attention and will hee-haw his way right into your heart. He loves to be groomed, is instrumental in equine assisted psychotherapy and learning sessions and is an ace in the hole when it comes to teaching patience. He wants me to tell you, no one gallops and bucks simultaneously as well as he can. Come see for yourself. You’re guaranteed to get the giggles.

Simmie is a Halflinger gelding born in 2009. He was foaled, raised and “broke” by an Amish family who felt he was good for nothing. When we met him, he had been chain tied to a hay feeder for some time, standing in several feet of his own waste. His feet were in terrible disrepair, and his coat was caked with feces. It didn’t take us long to fall in love with this guy. He’s quirky, opinionated yet willing and very communal. He’s also extremely easy on the eyes. Simmie’s forte is best displayed with riders with attention challenges such as his. He has a profound way of keeping riders on task.

Zoe is a gray and white paint jenny donkey, foaled in 2012. She is a precious soul with the kindest spirit. She will sit in your lap if you allow her to. Zoe is owned by a family from West Chester who graciously allows her to be part of our programs. Zoe is a wonderful teacher of groundwork tactics and is gifted in making the little folks feel safe.

Diva is a drafty built black mare foaled in 2000. She was a gift we received when we moved to our new facility in the winter of 2016. She is owned by a family from Unionville. Diva had been a show pony most of her life, teaching countless children how to ride. She is an extremely gifted mare. She can instill confidence in the most timid riders. She’s patient, extremely clear in her needs, energetic when she’s called to be, all the while steadfast and dependable. However, don’t dare get in the way of her food. And don’t even think about being late with her dinner. Her name is so fitting. We are honored to have been given the opportunity to work alongside this mare.

Doodad was adopted from LAPS (Large Animal Protection Society) in October of 2018. LAPS had seized him from his prior owner because of severe neglect. When LAPS took over ownership of Doodad (they had named him Creamsickle), they and New Bolton Animal Hospital had extensive work to do to bring him back to health. He was born in 2003 and gelded in 2017. He has very dominating behaviors within his herd, which makes for great teaching opportunities. In hand, he has fantastic manners. One of Doodad’s favorite things to do is jump. He has the most beautiful proud form. Doodad is used extensively within groundwork lessons and equine assisted learning and psychotherapy work. His personality makes him appear much grander than he is, but in actuality he stands a mere 31” tall. Many love Doodad!

Mabel was adopted from LAPS (Large Animal Protection Society) in October 2018. LAPS had seized her from her prior owner because of severe neglect. Mabel is a matriarch of her herd. She came to us along side her daughter Hazel. Mabel is always mannerly. Many who want and need consistency and dependability within horse behaviors adore her. She loves to be loved. She loves long walks in the woods and grooming sessions without time constraints. She is a pretty little lady, aside from her black body and mane and tail, she has white legs and a white blaze. She is trained to ride and drive. She is the tallest of our miniature horses at 33” tall.

Jazzy “Jazzy Conclusion” is a big black quarter horse/paint cross mare that is out of “Conclusive Mister”, a very accomplished show horse. Jazzy was purchased from a dear friend in 2019 and was 10 at the time. In her young life she had succeeded in the show circuits and was very accomplished as a hunter/jumper. Her owner wished to retire from the show scene so she sought us out in hopes we could put Jazzy to use for her life’s next chapters. We are very grateful to work alongside this beautiful mare. She is very talented and extremely versatile. She works with our most advanced riders and horse handlers and can easily transition to working with those who are newer in their skills.

Uber is on loan to us by a lovely family minutes from our farm, to which we share this fine fellow. He was born in 2013 and has lived a full, and accomplished life already. He was a ranch hand, a racetrack pony, he took a 4-year-old boy down into the Grand Canyon and did some rodeo work. He is so fun to look at with his giraffe spots. He is a very well rounded horse and very versatile within his skillset. He works with new horse enthusiasts on up to those who are seasoned in their skills.

Ellie is a black miniature mare standing 32.5” tall. She and her son Jack were purchased from New Holland Horse Sales in 2015. Ellie was born in 2010 and is owned by a family who works here at Lasata. She is an interesting horse, generally keeping to herself but also seems to pick her favorite people. We have watched her eyes brighten and feet move toward those in her midst to whom she finds interesting. Ellie is capable of taking a rider and is an excellent horse to use to teach the skill of lunging. Ellie loves to be walked and groomed. She and her son are used predominately for equine assisted learning and psychotherapy.

This fella is the son of Ellie, born in 2015. A family who works here acquired the pair in 2015 from a rescue that picked them up at New Holland Horse Sales. Jack was one month old when they adopted him. He is very easy to look at (you may need to get down on your knees to do it) he’s a 31” tall bay miniature horse. He has a fiery personality and is always ALWAYS looking to get into something. He and Doodad have a blast playing together throughout their day. Jack will do anything you ask of him and more. If you are giving someone else attention, he’s likely to gently pull on your clothing or pick up something in his mouth to make you laugh, hence putting the attention on himself. He makes us laugh every single day. A true gift in our equine assisted learning and psychotherapy work here at Lasata.