MEET OUR (HUMAN) STAFF
Juliet Wahlenmayer, MA, NCC, LPC
Director of Glade Run Adventures
Julie has been with Glade Run since 1996, shortly after graduating from Slippery Rock University with a degree in Environmental Studies. Her desire to help individuals to grow emotionally through experiences in nature led Julie to complete her Master’s degree in counseling from IUP in 2016. Julie holds numerous specialty certifications in therapeutic horsemanship, counseling and horticultural therapy. Julie’s favorite thing about working at Glade Run is witnessing the impact that experiences have for individual growth and the amazing people that she is honored to work alongside.
BS, Environmental Studies, Slippery Rock University
MA, Community Mental Health Counseling, Indiana University of Pennsylvania
NCC (Nationally Certified Counselor), since 2017
NARHA (North American Riding for the Handicapped) Certified Instructor 2001
PATH (Professional Association of Therapeutic Horsemanship) ESMHL (Equine Specialist in Mental Health and Learning) Certified 2018
PATCH (PA Council on Therapeutic Horsemanship) Phase 3 Qualified Instructor, 2004
re-certification 2011
EAGALA (Equine Assisted Growth and Learning Association) MHP (Mental Health Practitioner) and ES (Equine Specialist) certified , 2017
National Conference Presentations:
AHTA (American Horticultural Therapy Association) 2002, 2006
NARHA (North American Riding for the Handicapped Association) 2001
HAS (Herb Society of America) 2011
Violet Murphy, Therapeutic Horticulture Program Specialist
Violet comes to Glade Run after completing a degree in Horticulture Technology from Bidwell Training Center. Her externship at another therapeutic horticulture program, Hope Grows, prepared Violet for this role through experience in plant care, program development, including the development of a taxonomy project with school aged children and working in the beehives. Other positions that have helped to prepare Violet for this new role were in developing children’s programs for the Laughlin Memorial Library and as a floral designer. Violet shared that she’s enthusiastic about taking on this new role for an organization that she believes is invested in providing a holistic approach to the community we serve. Outside of her horticultural interests, Violet is a painter, writer and avid reader. Mister Rogers is one of her role models and she’s an animal and dog lover, enjoying time with her Plott Hound named Charlie.
Horticultural Technology, Bidwell Training Center
Carey Bailey, Therapeutic Animal Program Assistant
Carey spent just about every summer of her youth at Glade Run Stables as a junior volunteer. After high school Carey pursued her passion for all things equestrian and earned her Bachelor’s degree in Equine Science from Bethany College in 2011. She returned to Glade Run first through a summer position assisting with camps and lessons and then accepted a full time position after graduation. Carey says that her favorite part of working at Glade Run is the warm, friendly, and inviting environment.
BS Equine Science, Bethany College 2011
PATCH (PA Council on Therapeutic Horsemanship) Phase 2 Qualified Instructor
PATH (Professional Association of Therapeutic Horsemanship) ESMHL (Equine Specialist in Mental Health and Learning) Certified 2018
Cindy Skalyo – Head Riding Instructor/Therapeutic Riding Supervisor
Cindy grew up as a horse crazy kid with non-horse crazy parents. She started taking riding lessons when she was 9 years old and was able to purchase her first horse when she was 16 and could work to help pay the bills! Cindy attended Otterbein College where she holds a double major in Equine Sciences and International Studies. After college Cindy held a corporate job, but after the birth of her daughter she decided to go part time and get back into teaching riding lessons. Lucky for us she came to join the Glade Run Adventures family to do that teaching! Cindy loves to bring joy into people’s lives and show kids how to safely love and enjoy horses. She especially loves that “aha moment” when her students figure out something new that they never believed they could do.
Otterbein college – BA equine science – BA international studies. Pony club graduate C-3 PATH certified therapeutic riding Instructor
Brittany Buchanan, Therapeutic Riding Instructor
Riding since she was 14, Brittany now rides both English and Western, and loves endurance riding with the two horses she adopted while running Redemption Ranch, a horse rescue. With four children of her own (her youngest with significant vision impairment) Brittany is an advocate for mental health awareness and for the blind. “Horses have saved me so many times. I’m most excited about helping others connect with horses in ways that help them thrive,” shares Brittany. Fun fact about Brittany – she can back up a horse trailer better than her car! That’s a skill that is useful in Adventures, and we welcome Brittany to the Adventures team.
Shannon Pingenot, Therapeutic Riding Instructor
Shannon joined the Glade Run Adventures team in the spring of 2022, bringing with her a lifetime love of horses. Her first pony melted her heart (and stomped on her foot) at age 4. She grew up in her local Pony Club, learning many English disciplines and graduated at level C-3. Riding involved eventing, hunter, dressage, quadrille, pas de deux, trail rides, and humane fox hunting.
As a teen, she discovered that giving lessons about riding was just as invigorating as riding itself. She therefore went on to earn a bachelor’s degree in secondary education so she could further enjoy teaching. She’s taught and coached high school students for many years in many subjects related mostly to history and science. More recently, she earned her master’s in the history of science, became a mom, took part in a preschool co-op, and did foster parenting before moving to Pennsylvania. The move to the Pittsburgh area allowed Shannon to reconnect with horses, and in turn, her love of teaching others about the wonders of horses. She’ll tell you that “Watching a horse and rider bloom together is one of the most rewarding feelings!”
