Ernie Purcelli   

Instructor

Ernie began riding over twenty years ago and was a competitor in mounting shooting and a member of the PRCA for many years. The father of two girls, Ernie retired from his Chicago printing business in 2000 and moved to the Bitterroot in 2003.

Ernie has been generously giving of his time to Bitterroot Therapeutic Program since 2005 and with his expertise and guidance countless riders of have attained their personal goals which have carried over into the everyday lives. With Ernie’s encouragement and high expectations his riders attain levels of self-confidence, focus and self-worth.

  Mary Cline   

Consultant

Mary Cline moved from Maryland to the Bitterroot Valley in 2009. A horse lover and rider all her life, she also has 35 years of experience with special needs children, specializing in those with hearing loss.

Mary graduated with a Masters degree in education of the deaf from Gallaudet University. She established the Cochlear Implant Rehabilitation Program at Johns Hopkins Hospital in Baltimore. She has lectured all over the world educating children in learning to listen and sign to meet their communication potential. She is combining her love of horses and children as an consultant at Bitterroot Therapeutic Riding and is delighted to be in Montana and working with BTR.

   Ann Hardenberg    

Equine Coordinator

Ann was born in Hagen, Germany. As a child there, she took English riding and vaulting lessons and 20 years later western riding. She moved to the United States in 1998 and settled in Sandpoint, Idaho where she owned and trained her own horses and worked as a therapeutic riding volunteer.

Ann worked as a trail guide outside Cody, Wyoming and then as a ranch hand for horse owners in Idaho and Montana before settling in the Bitterroot Valley. Ann has been the equine coordinator for BTR since 2005.

Linda Olson     Program Director Born in Seattle, Linda completed her education and moved to Los Angeles where she married and had two children, Dean and Griffin. She was a fashion model, and held business management and various office positions. In 1974 Linda moved her family to Alaska and began working on the Trans Alaska Pipeline. Jobs with the Pipeliners, Labors, and Hotel/Restaurant Workers unions provided a drastic change and memorable eight year experience. On a visit to Montana she met her husband Donald and twenty years later the two founded Bitterroot Therapeutic Riding in Corvallis. They could not have imagined the impact their horses and facility could have on those with special needs. Entering its 12th year of operation BTR continues to grow and provide a much needed service to the people of the Bitterroot and Missoula valleys.

   Joan Scheffer    

Instructor

Joan is a fourth generation Montanan and has been married to her husband Scott for 34 years. They share their lives with two horses, two dogs and three cats. Joan competes in endurance riding and enjoys the many wilderness trails of Montana. Her love of horses  and a medical career as an orthopedic nurse spanning over 30 years has more than prepared Joan to guide our students.

Horses have always played an important role in Joan’s life and influenced her other passions which are teaching wilderness medicine and EMT classes for Aerie Backcountry Medicine. Joan is a Registered Nurse working as a Certified First Assistant in orthopedic surgery for Missoula Bone and Joint.

As well as teaching classes in this area, Joan is certified in Advanced Wilderness Life Support and by PATH as a therapeutic riding instructor. She recently completed a manual titled “Wilderness First Aid & Safety for Horse and Rider”, due to be published soon.

   Laura Monson    

Administrative Assistant

Laura has worked as an office manager and book keeper for 25 years. She has also run her own business as a graphic artist and internet designer for the last 10 years.

Although she didn't grow up around horses, they have always fascinated her and held a special place in her heart. Seeing the results of therapeutic riding first-hand with her brother who is challenged and rides in the BTR program, Laura felt it was important to give back..

She enjoys volunteering her expertise to Bitterroot Therapeutic Riding and using her artistic talent in the promotion of therapeutic riding..