Michelle Winters

Michelle Winters was born and raised in Millerton, NY. She has always loved horses and when she was 16 years old her dreams of working with and riding horses came true. At that time Michelle became a live-in nanny for a family who owned a show barn, which allowed her riding career to take off. She was an avid eventer and showed in the local horse shows as well. But when the family sold the farm to move down south her horse involvement ended for about 10 years. 

Michelle moved away from Millerton and now lives in Columbia County. She is married and has 3 children, 2 step kids, and four grandchildren. Once her kids were older, she volunteered on a horse farm in Columbia County for a while, she eventually went on to work at a Therapeutic Riding Center where she met Jackie Wikane and they became fast friends.

 A year after Jackie left her position and purchased her own farm, Michelle quit her job and became a volunteer at Hope Rising Farm. When asked to be on the Board of Trustees she gladly accepted. A few months later she was offered the volunteer coordinator position, and again she gladly accepted. The following year Michelle took on the role of program manager. Michelle is also certified in EAP (Equine-Assisted Psychotherapy) and EAL (Equine-Assisted Learning).

Her love for horses and helping people has landed her right where her dreams were meant to take her.