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The Ridgebury Team
Katy Schermann
Co-Founder & Executive Director
Katy started in the finance world working at Bridgewater Associates and later on at the Blackstone Group. Her entrepreneurial spirit led her to create a personal assisting and concierge firm which she successfully ran and grew for over 8 years before selling. Following her heart she created and co-founded Ridgebury Farm and Stables leveraging her passion of helping children, horses, and her entrepreneurial background. Katy has also studied Equine Science at the University of Connecticut and enjoys her involvement in the Wilton Pony Club with her two daughters.
Assistant Director
Whitney holds a Bachelor of Arts from Sacred Heart University, and a Master of Arts in Special Education from Fairfield University. Whitney has worked as a therapist for children and young adults with a variety of special needs for nearly a decade and believes in the unique benefits that horses can bring to neurodiverse individuals. She is also a lifelong rider, and owns Pip and Storm. Whitney is passionate about making riding an accessible sport for everyone and has seen the transformation in her clients when she incorporates horses in her therapy. She has the distinct ability to combine her knowledge and experience of horses and best practices in therapy and we are thrilled to have her as a part of Ridgebury Farm.
Whitney Gearin
Ian Schermann
Ian Schermann
Director of Operations and Development
Ian has worked in both entrepreneurial environments, corporate and non-profit settings for over 15 years focusing on business operations and human resources. Ian is responsible for the back-end operations of the farm and holds certifications in human resources, project management and operations management. Ian is also responsible for the non-profit development including grants and strategic planning. Ian’s knowledge of best practices for systems and project management allows us to operate seamlessly, unlike any other barn.
Christy Murray, DPT, MS
Physical Therapist
Dr. Christy Murray, DPT, is a Doctor of Physical Therapy with over 25 years of experience working with the world's leading hospitals, home care companies, professional sports teams and rehab facilities. She has special training in pelvic floor rehabilitation, myofascial release, yoga, personal training, group fitness, and equine assisted physical therapy. Today, Christy operates her private practice in Ridgefield, CT and New York City, dedicated to
Women's Holistic Health. Christy’s expertise centers around optimizing “the core” for women
in need for strengthening their belly area and pelvic floor. In her practice, Christy combines evidence-based therapies with innovative techniques, customizing holistic treatment plans for the
unique needs of each patient.These plans can extend beyond pelvic floor and belly strength
improvement to include total body strength and rehab therapies. Christy is a graduate of Northeastern University and Simmons College with Master’s of Science and Doctor of Physical Therapy degrees. She resides in Connecticut and is married
with three kids, two dogs, 1 cat and six chickens.
Judith Liu
Psychotherapist
Judith Liu a licensed clinical social worker who specialized in Animal-Assisted Psychotherapy (AAT). She has been working within this specialized space with Canines and Equines. She is a certified Eagala practitioner which specializes in providing Equine Assisted Psychotherapy (EAP) and has experience working with various populations. She is trained in modalities such as Cognitive Behavioral therapy (CBT), Acceptance Commitment Therapy (ACT) and Dialectical behavioral Therapy (DBT) which are effective with treating clients who struggle with Anxiety, ADHD, Depression, and trauma. Judith is currently completing her certification in Natural Lifemanship.
Rachael Chamberlain
Clinical Director and Occupational Therapist
Rachael is an occupational therapist practicing in pediatric, nature-based and animal-assisted therapy for the past 10 years. She has supported children and families in therapeutic and residential schools, clinics, community settings. She utilizes a naturalistic approach to therapy by following the child’s inner drive to play as a catalyst to build skills. She fosters functional life skills and empowers independence from a young age. Through the years, she has witnessed the magic of nature and animals in therapy while working in open green spaces with a variety of animals including dogs, horses, camels, goats, cows and chickens.She has her Masters in Occupational Therapy and completed additional trainings in hippotherapy, sensory integration, building blocks for infant movement, trauma and attachment, primitive reflex integration, DBT, and D.I.R Floortime.
Phil Allen
Property Manager
Phil holds a Bachelor of Science Degree in Meteorology focusing on Atmospheric and Earth Sciences from the University of North Carolina at Charlotte. He has worked with farms in North Carolina and is meticulous in his work and care for both the landscape, barns and overall property. He oversees the safety of the staff, animals, and visitors by keeping the farm a beautiful and functional place for all to enjoy.
David Wildman
Barn Manager
David comes to us with a lifetime of experience both in horses and carpentry, a wonderful combination for a farm! He owns Ace, and takes the utmost pride in ensuring that our therapy herd receives the best care possible at all times. David also brings many of our therapy ideas to life with his carpentry skills.
Haley Levesque
Program Coordinator and Trainer
Haley’s love for horses began at the age of five when she began taking riding lessons at a small stable in Westchester County. Throughout her life she continued to ride as much as possible while also exploring her love for art and design. As an adult, Haley began working in Social Media and Marketing, but continued to ride and began volunteering at a Therapeutic Riding Center. After a few weeks of Volunteering as a Side Walker and Horse Leader, she took the plunge and began her training at Pegasus Therapeutic Riding in 2017 to become an Adaptive Horseback Riding Instructor. Haley earned her PATH Intl. Therapeutic Riding Instructor Certification in 2018 and has taught and worked as a Volunteer Coordinator at Riding Centers throughout New York State.
Kimberly Levesque, DPT
Physical Therapist
Kimberly received a Bachelor of Health Science and Doctorate of Physical Therapy from Springfield College. During her education, she had an opportunity to partake in a Global Health Initiative for Fall Prevention in Trinidad and Tobago. Her first job at Gaylord Specialty Healthcare has allowed her to gain experience with patients of all ages and with varying diagnoses. She has experience working in equine-assisted therapy, inpatient, outpatient, homecare, and has experience working with complex orthopedic injuries and poly traumas following life-altering events. She is a certified adaptive and inclusive trainer, has advanced manual therapy training in the McKenzie Method of Mechanical Diagnosis and Therapy, and is working towards her certification in Hippotherapy with the American Hippotherapy Association. She has been an author of clinical publications and started her own adaptive exercise program to help anyone with a long-term impairment from any injury or chronic condition get back into the gym and life-long wellness. In addition to her professional experience, Kimberly is a lifelong equestrian who started riding when she was 5 and has competed on the Maine State Equestrian Team as well as the Springfield College Equestrian Team. She is a mother to a 14 year old and has multiple fur babies, including a 29 year-old pony named Buddy.
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