Willowind Therapeutic Riding

Willowind Therapeutic Riding Center, situated in the heart of Bar Harbor, ME, is a community-driven organization that has been making a significant impact on the lives of children and adults with physical and mental disabilities since 1998. Our mission is to help challenged individuals while bringing our rural heritage into the present. We are deeply embedded in the fabric of Mount Desert Island and the surrounding region, providing our services to families from Washington, Hancock, Waldo, Penobscot, and Cumberland counties.

At Willowind, we believe in the healing power of horses. Our therapeutic program is based on equine therapy, which incorporates horses into the healing process, promoting physical, occupational, and emotional growth. Our services cater to a wide range of mental health challenges, including attention-deficit, anxiety, autism, cerebral palsy, dementia, depression, developmental delay, genetic syndromes, traumatic brain injuries, behavioral issues, abuse issues, and many more.

Our services not only benefit the riders themselves but also their families. Our therapeutic program is designed to immerse the whole family, allowing them to work together to achieve a common goal. Through equine therapy, individuals can build confidence, self-efficiency, communication, trust, social and physical skills, impulse control, and learn boundaries.

Our Staff

Our dedicated staff members bring a wealth of knowledge and experience to Willowind.

David Folger, our co-founder, director, and primary riding instructor, is a graduate of the College of the Atlantic. He has a diverse background in commercial fishing, research science, carpentry, gymnastic teaching, college instruction, and family raising. David is a certified PATH (Professional Association of Therapeutic Horsemanship) riding instructor, bringing the international "gold" standard in therapeutic riding to Willowind.

Cate Schneider, our office manager, assists with various aspects of the office, including bookkeeping, grant writing, marketing, fundraising projects, and events. Cate hails from Bangor and holds a Masters of Education in Exercise Physiology from the University of Maine Orono. She relocated to MDI in 2016 from Grand Teton National Park in Wyoming.

Auria Mauras, our development coordinator, has been working at Willowind since 2014. She is involved in sustaining the center through fundraising events, community interaction, and facility development. A native of France, Auria cherishes the sense of community she has found on Mount Desert Island.

Rachel D'Angeli, our riding instructor, is also involved in horse care, farm maintenance, and volunteer coordination. Rachel moved to MDI from Philadelphia, where she pursued a career as a private chef after cooking in restaurants and working as a corporate flight attendant.

Our board members include David Schoeder, Board President, and Principle at the Food Partners and Francis W. Cole III, Board Treasurer, and IT Self-Employed.