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Our Staff

OUR STAFF

The Sprout staff work tirelessly to provide the highest quality care, service, instruction and therapy to over 125 individuals each week. With over 100 combined years of horse experience the staff at Sprout bring a vast amount knowledge and experience to their work. Their love for horses, passion for service and commitment to excellence has allowed Sprout to impact thousands in its community.

Brooke Waldron

Anna Koopman

Nancy Davidson

Klaudia Taylor

Lacy Warner

Pam McAfee

Kate Cunningham

Kat Hayes

Vicki Baker

Heather Henken

Lynn Bronson

Judith Greer

Mike Carney

Christy Warner

Teralyn Carlson and Terri Youngblood

Gray McDaniel

Emma Johnson

Ethan Khuu

Anzhella Glasgow

If you’ve been a part of Sprout, THANK YOU!
If you are new to Sprout, please come visit and see our work in action!

"Sprout is a place where victories, both large and small, are celebrated... because victory is amazingly significant to someone who struggles daily."

Physical Address:
 40685 Little River Turn Pike Aldie, VA 20105

Mailing Address: P.O. Box 8 Aldie, VA 20105

info@sproutcenter.org

Newsletter:

Phone: (571) 367-4555
Fax: (571) 668-4470

Brooke Waldron

Executive Director

Masters In Education - VA State Licensed Teacher PATH Intl Advanced Instructor and Mentor ARIA Level II Dressage Instructor and Barn Manager USEF Certified Safe Sport Coach"

Brooke Waldron is the Founder and Executive Director of Sprout. Brooke holds a Bachelors degree in Pre-Veterinary medicine and a Master’s Degree in Education. Brooke is a VA-state licensed teacher, Advanced Level Therapeutic Riding Instructor through PATH Intl and a Level II Barn Manager and Dressage Instructor. Brooke believes in the power of horse-human bond and the life-changing aspects of equine therapies. Brooke is a dedicated professional and “POSSABILITARIAN” that works to develop the ABILITIES of her students in saddle, the barn and beyond. Brooke is a PATH Intl. Certified Mentor and works to train new industry-leading professionals at Sprout.

Brooke moved on to the Sprout farm in 2009 and set to work building the organization from the ground up. Her innovation, work ethic, knowledge and attention to detail have allowed Sprout to rise from a dream to a bustling non-profit serving thousands each year. She was honored as a “30 Under 30” Top Entrepreneur and later earned the “40 Under 40” designation in Loudoun County for her unmatchable efforts in bringing good to the world around her.

Anna Koopman

Operations Director

"PATH Level II Therapeutic Driving Instructor and CTRI ARIA Level II Driving and Stable Management, Level I Recreational Riding Instructor ARIA Level I Recreational Riding Instructor FEI 3* Level Combined Driving Competitor USEF Combined Driving Committee Board Member United States Driving for Disabled"

An avid equestrian her entire life, Anna Koopman brings a well-rounded competition-oriented background to the Therapeutic Driving Program at Sprout Therapeutic Riding and Educational Center. As a child she participated in 4-H and Pony Club; competed in eventing and hunters; and was on the Equitation Team at Mount Holyoke College. After college her competition focus has been on Combined Driving and is part of Team Koopman. Since 2003 they have traveled extensively competing in events on the east coast. In 2023 Anna and her horse Chandler Creek Eclipse competed at the FEI World Championships for Ponies in Oirscot, Netherlands. They learned a lot from the experience and continue to pursue international aspirations with dreams of bringing home a medal for the USA. At Sprout, Anna is our Operations Director, with her hands in almost every aspect of the program. She oversees the facility, herd health, coordinates volunteers, teaches Sprout Driving Program and steps in to teach adaptive riding when needed.

Nancy Davidson, M.T.S.

Program Coodinator

Nancy Davidson is a life-long rider and competitor having shown horses up and down the east coast and in the midwest. She has fox hunted and has dabbled in endurance riding. She has competed extensively in three-day, hunters, equitation and jumpers. She was a member of the Sweet Briar College IHSA (Intercollegiate Horse Show Association) team for all four years of college and has co-coached the Sprout Riding IEA (Interscholastic Equestrian Association) team for the past three years. Nancy has been teaching hunt-seat equitation to emerging riders for nearly 25 years. She holds certifications from ARIA (American Riding Instructor’s Association), PATH Int’l. (Therapeutic Riding Instructor and an Equine Specialist in Mental Health and Learning) and IEA (coach certification). Nancy is also a member of the DEI taskforce for IEA focusing her efforts on ensuring accessibility for competition for all riders who wish to compete on middle or high school teams. She graduated from Sweet Briar College in 1982 majoring in religion. In 2009 Nancy received a Master in Theological Studies from Virginia Theological Seminary. Nancy completed an independent study that examined our right relationship with animals. She is thrilled to be a part of an organization that helps riders develop a trust relationship with horses through kindness and gentleness. Nancy focuses on fitness in the saddle, proper and effective rider position and unwaveringly believes that all riders who want to advance in the sport can do so with hard work and discipline. Nancy and her husband Mike have been married for almost 40 years and have three grown daughters.

Lacy Warner

Instructor

PATH Certified Therapeutic Riding Instructor USEF Certified Safe Sport Coach ARIA Level Two Certified Riding to Hounds ARIA Level Two Certified Huntseat on the Flat

Pam McAffee

Instructor

PATH Certified Therapeutic Riding Instructor ARIA Level 2 Dressage and Recreational Riding

Pam has been a professional riding instructor in Northern Virginia for over 30 years. She has taught at many local lesson barns and managed a few lesson programs through the years as well. Pam was drawn to therapeutic riding first as a volunteer and then becoming certified as an instructor in 2011. Pam is also certified by ARIA as a level two dressage instructor and she has graduated with distinction from USDF L judge program.
Pam loves using the fundamentals of dressage to teach the basics of balance and control to her riders. She especially enjoys sharing her love of horses with other horse-crazy folks. The Sprout family of staff, volunteers and participants is an amazing group of posibilitarians that Pam is proud to be a part of.

Occupational Therapist

Operations Director

AHA Level 2

Kate has been a licensed and registered occupational therapist in Virginia since 2001, after graduating from the University of Scranton in Pennsylvania with a degree in occupational therapy and a minor in psychology. She has provided therapy in the subacute, hospital, outpatient and home settings. She has held rehabilitation director roles for multiple programs developing teams and improving clinical rehabilitative care. Before joining Sprout she was the executive director for a multidisciplinary, all-inclusive model of care program in Northern Virginia where she oversaw all aspects of clinical care, program operations and insurance benefit management. Kate has completed her level I American Hippotherapy Association training in order to provide therapy using equine movement as a treatment protocol. She began her passion for riding growing up in Bucks County, Pennsylvania. After moving to Northern Virginia, she volunteered at therapeutic riding facilities in the area. She enjoys seeing the immediate effect of treating with horses, the joyful spirit created by everyone involved and the outcomes that can be achieved.

Kat Hayes

AHA Level 2

Vicki Baker

Instructor

PATH Certified Therapeutic Riding Instructor

Vicki grew up in the Finger Lakes of New York State where horses and riding became her passion at an early age. While going through some family challenges as a child, she found the barn to be her happy place, and the horses were her best friends and therapy. For this reason, she committed to a life of partnering with horses to improve the quality of lives of children and adults who were facing their own unique challenges. She founded a small program, Stony Hollow Farm Therapeutic Riding in 1998, with 9 horses. She takes great joy in seeing how the relationships between horse and rider provide physical, emotional, cognitive and social benefits. In 2014, she moved to the beautiful horse country of Virginia and shortly thereafter earned her PATH Certification as a Therapeutic Riding Instructor. Vicki comes to Sprout with many years of working with therapeutic riding programs as an instructor and equine manager. Her philosophy is to try to meet the participants where they are, emotionally, physically and cognitively, to best set them up for success.

Heather Henken

Instructor

PATH Intl. Certified Therapeutic Riding Instructor, ARIA Certified Dressage level II & Hunt Seat Eq. Flat level II

Lynn Bronson

Event Coordinator

Lynn began volunteering at Sprout in 2012. She lives in Ashburn, Va with her husband John and her son Grant. John & Lynn also have two older sons and now two grandchildren. Lynn met Brooke while Brooke was her son’s 7th grade science teacher. Lynn was born & raised in Northwestern Indiana where she had experience riding horses with her friends. Before retiring in 2011, Lynn was a bank officer at Virginia Heritage Bank and has over 24 years in the banking industry. She now enjoys working at Sprout as the co-office manager.

Judith Greer

Office Manager

"PATH Level II Therapeutic Driving Instructor and CTRI ARIA Level II Driving and Stable Management, Level I Recreational Riding Instructor ARIA Level I Recreational Riding Instructor FEI 3* Level Combined Driving Competitor USEF Combined Driving Committee Board Member United States Driving for Disabled"

Judith Greer came to Sprout through her son John, who is a rider at Sprout. She quickly discovered that Sprout was much more than another therapy for her son, but more so a magical community where everyone belongs, and everyone has a place and a purpose. Enchanted by the magic she was determined to find a way to be more connected and make a contribution to the organization by joining our staff team. Judith brings her years of professional experience to the office operations helping with everything from client billing, supply orders, bill processing and records compliance. She loves having the opportunity to make a contribution to an operation that has such a monumental impact for its community.

Mike Carney

Barn Manager

Beard Guy

Mike Carney, aka Beard Guy, became fascinated with horses at an early age. He began his involvement at Sprout while the program was in its infancy and continues to be relentlessly dedicated to our equines today. Mike brings over 30 years of equine management, care and horsemanship to our program and provides top-notch support to the horses that work for our deserving riders. As a fixture in the barn, Mike is the “go-to guy” for all questions about horses, feed, tack, schedules and barn work.

Christy Warner

Operations Director

Weekend Barn Staff and CARROTS Coach

Weekend barn manager/sharer of delicious food, Christy has worked at Sprout since the winter of 2018. She brings over 20 years in licensed animal nursing experiene, a unique sence of humor and approach to life and a passion for helping others reach their fullest potential. She has facilitated the CARROTS and CII programs teaching/coaching young adults through work and life skills since 2020 and continues to love every minute of it. Always willing to cover extra shifts, work late or arrive early, Christy brings a sense of peace, comrraderie, and humor to staff, volunteers and riders.

Teralyn Carlson & Terri Youngblood

Lesson Support Team

Terri Youngblood and Teralyn Carlson are also known around the barn as “Grain Girls” or TnT! Terri joined the Sprout team in 2018 and Teralyn in 2020. Being a Sprout possiblitarian gives both Terri and Teralyn a deep sense of purpose, fulfillment and drive to learn more about their equine partners. It gives them great satisfaction to interact with riders, families, volunteers, staff, and horses. With a friendly smile and open heart, they help prep for and work in lessons. Their energy and encouragement helps get the job done on time. The Sprout community is truly family.

Gray McDaniel

Barn Assistant

Gray is Sprout’s resident cowboy. He would be quick to tell you he’d rather ride western than English any day. Gray started as a volunteer at Sprout in high school. Then he became a student and now is also an employee. Gray has always had a love of animals, especially horses. He began his relationship with horses by doing trail rides on family vacations. Gray still loves a peaceful ride in the mountains of North Carolina or the beaches of Georgia while visiting family.

Emma Youngblood

Ethan Khuu

Barn Assistant

Ethan has been an invaluable member of the Sprout community since 2018. As a neurodivergent individual, he brings personal insight into navigating daily challenges and understands the significance of dedication and an inclusive, supportive community like Sprout. Initially starting as a volunteer, Ethan quickly demonstrated his commitment by immersing himself in barn operations and supporting riders. His passion for learning about horses led him to actively participate in riding, which strengthened his bond with the animals. Additionally, he embraced the role of a volunteer trainer, where he enjoyed teaching others about horses and inspiring the next generation of barn supporters. Ethan’s journey is truly inspiring, showcasing his dedication to fostering a safe, healthy environment for both horses and humans. For him, working at Sprout is more than a job—it’s a meaningful part of his life and a way to give back to others.

Anzhella Glasgow

Barn Assistant

Anzhella has been riding for over 15 years and has a deep passion for animals, especially horses. Over the years, she has built meaningful relationships with these animals, finding joy and pride in her interactions with them. Anzhella has been closely affiliated with Sprout for most of her equine journey, where she has honed her barn and equine care skills under the guidance of Mr. Mike, Anna Koopman, Brooke Waldron, and many others.