March 2022 Issue

www. EquineColicReliefUSA.com • Email: zebecash2@hotmail.com EAST COAST EQUESTRIAN March 2022 Page 55 Octavia Brown received the EQUUS Foundation Humanitarian Award at the Pegasus Awards Din- ner on January 13, 2022 during the US Equestrian Annual Meeting in Naples, FL. The EQUUS Founda- tion and the USEF established the Humanitarian Award in 2009 to honor a member of the equestrian world who has devoted consid- erable personal time to making the quality of life of our equine partners paramount. For over 50 years, Brown has been a pioneer in the development and growth of therapeutic riding in the United States, as well as internationally. She has dedicated her life to ensuring accessibility to horses for the disabled. A found- ing board member of the North American Riding for the Handi- capped Association, now known as PATH (Professional Association of Therapeutic Horsemanship International), she also served as president of the Federation of Rid- ing for the Disabled International and Horses in Education and Ther- apy International. Holding numerous instructor certifications and qualifications, including the PATH Master Instruc- tor and Equine Specialist, Brown founded Somerset Hills Handi- capped Riding Center in 1972, now formally known as Mane Stream. In 2003 she co-founded the Thera- peutic Riding Center at Centenary College and served as TRAC's Executive Director while also a Professor of Equine Studies. Currently retired from her role at Centenary College, Brown remains an Emeritus Professor. Brown has been honored with numerous accolades during her career including the New Jersey Horse Council Person of the Year in 1981, the PATH President's Award in 1989, PATH James Brady Professional Achievement Award in 1998, and most recently the Centenary University Golden Dome Award in 2021. Kelly Munz, Equine Studies Department Chair at Centenary, said, "Octavia has had a huge im- pact on the lives of the children and adults in the TRAC program and an internationally respected teacher of Therapeutic Riding, " and recol- lected one of Octavia's many words of wisdom in which she said, "Along the way, I learned some important lessons. Never lose your temper. Make sure the quiet people have a voice in the discussions, and control those with too much to say, including oneself." In accepting the award, Brown said, "What an honor to receive the EQUUS Foundation Humanitarian of the Year award! Being a pioneer in the field of equine assisted services means that I have seen the profession grow from a grass roots group of well-meaning people to a worldwide profession serving thousands of people with disabil- ities and challenges of all sorts. My greatest joy is watching people whose careers I have influenced carry the work to new levels of ex- cellence - as well as to think of the many people I have known who have benefitted from that amazing partnership offered by our horses and ponies." Octavia Brown Wins Humanitarian Award