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	Name: Fern Bonchek Type of therapeutic riding certification: NARHA Advanced Instructor Position: Executive Director & Instructor Email: fbonchek [at] indiana.edu The person at PALS that has seen it all and been there from the beginning is Fern, the Executive Director and Founder. Before she started PALS, she obtained a B.A. degree in Psychology with a specialization in Human & Animal Interactions and worked at other therapeutic riding centers from California to New York since 1995. Fern started PALS because she wanted to bring her experience in therapeutic riding back home to Indiana. Fern served as the chair of the Higher Education Committee of NARHA from 2004 - 2006 and now serves as a committee advisor. Fern is a NARHA Registered On-Site Workshop/Certification Associate Evaluator and an adjunct instructor at Indiana University in the School of Health, Physical Education, and Recreation (HPER). Fern's life isn't all work, she enjoys hiking, rock climbing, camping, and of course riding her personal horses.
	Name: Jennifer Lung Type of therapeutic riding certification: NARHA Registered Instructor Position: Head Riding Instructor Email: jllung [at] indiana.edu Pictured here with her horse Goodbar, Jennifer has worked with and loved this horse since she was 10. They used to compete in Western, English and costume classes at local shows through the 4-H, but today they like to spend their time at PALS. Jennifer has a B.S. in Outdoor Recreation and a minor in Environmental Interpretation, and is certified to do Person Centered Planning for people with disabilities. She got involved because she loves the people, riders and volunteers. “It is the greatest reward to see the rider smiling, learning new things, and most of all, having fun!” Jennifer said. “There are several people that I work with that are very hard to find activities that they like to do. However, therapeutic riding has become their favorite thing. They look forward to seeing the horses and people, and it makes me feel great to know we are all contributing to brighten their day.”
	Name: Becca Bryan Type of therapeutic riding certification: NARHA Registered Instructor Position: Instructor Email: rhbryan [at] indiana.edu Becca is a recent graduate of IU, and focused her studies on Art History, Studio Art, Psychology, and French. Becca has always loved horses as well as being involved with people in the community, so she was very excited to join PALS as a volunteer in the fall of 2006. Becca has trained in English flatwork and jumping, and also enjoys trail riding. With the progression of her own skills in riding, she decided that she'd like to take the next step and train to be an instructor at PALS. Continuing her theme of combining her personal interests with a career, Becca is hoping to enter a masters program in Art Therapy in the near future.
	Name: Sandy Gaier Type of therapeutic riding certification: Meredith Manor Riding Master VI & Teaching, Level II and Equine Massage Therapy Certificates, NARHA Registered Instructor Position: Instructor & Horse Trainer Email: zywars [at] hotmail.com Sandy is so excited to be involved with PALS! She recently moved to Bloomington from Parkersburg, West Virginia where she ran a recreational lesson program. She taught jumping, dressage and western as well as running a summer horsemanship camp. Sandy is a Riding Master VI graduate of Meredith Manor International Equestrian Centre in Waverly, West Virginia where she received certification in Teaching as well as Equine Massage Therapy. She has a soft spot for ponies and loves to spoil the ones at PALS. In her free time, Sandy can be found riding Eeyore or playing with her dachshund puppy. Sandy holds a B.A. in Studio Art from Marietta College and hopes to pursue a Masters degree in education.
	Name: Taryn Lyman Type of therapeutic riding certification: NARHA Registered Instructor Position: Instructor Email: tlyman [at] indiana.edu Pictured here with her favorite PALS horse, Lola, Taryn has been involved with PALS since the spring of 2007. She found out about the PALS program from its involvement with Indiana University, where she is currently working on double majors in Spanish and Exercise Science, with a minor in Psychology. Taryn grew up with horses, and has always loved all types of animals, so the PALS barn was exactly what she needed when she arrived in Bloomington! Taryn is also involved with the Student Athletic Board on IU’s campus, and she is employed at Inside Scoop, the candy store in the College Mall. When she’s not working she loves to read, spend time with her dog, Xena, and hang out with her friends.
	Name: Christopher Wood Position: Advocate for Community Engagement (ACE) Email: woodcn [at] indiana.edu As an Advocate for Community Engagement (ACE), Chris meets the needs of PALS through partnerships with classrooms at Indiana University, finding relevant courses willing to take their knowledge from the classroom and apply it in a meaningful way in the community. He began working with PALS in 2009 through his position with the Office of Service Learning at the University. Formerly he has had some experience working with horses at YMCA Camp Carson, in Princeton, Indiana. Chris is a junior majoring in Anthropology and Classical Civilization at IU, with minors in Biology, Sociology, and African Languages. He is also involved with the Little 500 on campus, and enjoys reading, cycling, and exploring Bloomington in his spare time.
	Name: Barb Bonchek Type of therapeutic riding certification: NARHA Registered Instructor Position: Volunteer Instructor Email: bbonchek [at] gmail.com Barb has been at PALS from the beginning when she helped develop it, but therapeutic riding has always been of interest to her. She started developing her knowledge and love of horses many years ago, through owning horses and showing them in Eventing and Dressage. Barb owns a farm where she spends her free time working with horses, gardening, and drawing. Her fondest memory was when she saw a special rider of her’s trot off-lead for the first time. In the future Barb would love to see PALS continuing and eventually getting its’ own facility!
	Name: Elisa Duncan Type of therapeutic riding certification: NARHA Registered Instructor Position: Volunteer Instructor Email: pals [at] indiana.edu Elisa is a Licensed Mental Health Counselor and Licensed Family and Marriage Therapist. She is a past president of the Indiana State Hospice Organization and specializes in Grief Therapy. Elisa has also owned her own horses, taught beginning riding lessons and managed a 40 stall Equestrian Center. She is trained in Dressage and hopes to utilize her skills as a therapist and horsewoman to benefit the riders at PALS. Elisa is married to Doug and they share their farm with 2 dogs, 2 cats and an old pony! She feels very blessed to be a part of PALS and looks forward to a long association.

*** All PALS instructors are NARHA Certified Therapeutic Riding Instructors or are supervised by a NARHA Certified Instructor at all times.