Staff
 | HELEN PICARD Executive Director Helen got involved early on with Whispering Manes when, in 2012, she organized a fundraising event to raise awareness and critical funds for the newly established Therapeutic Riding Center. In 2014, she joined the board of directors and is the immediate past chair. Prior to joining Whispering Manes as Executive Director, Helen was an adjunct professor of business and business communication at Florida International University and Miami Dade College. She has over 25 years of experience in sales and marketing management, business development, project management, and strategic consulting. Helen is passionate about community involvement and has led many campaigns and fund-raising events for a wide range of nonprofit organizations. She is a past president of the Junior League of Miami and of the Organization of Women in International Trade (OWIT). Helen received an MBA from Nova Southeastern University and a bachelor’s degree from Barry University. She is an avid tennis player and enjoys reading, traveling, and cooking. |
 | ROBIN BRAMSON, PATH International CTRI, ESMHL Program Director/Head Riding Instructor Born in Montreal, Canada, Robin started volunteering at a therapeutic riding program in Atlanta, GA in 2002. She soon realized that this was the career path she would follow. Robin completed the PATH certification in 2009, and began teaching part time in Broward and coaching the Broward County Special Olympics Equestrian Games. She continues to expand her knowledge of horses and of therapeutic riding by attending a variety of workshops including PATH International workshops, Centered Riding workshop, Horse Powered Reading training, and several natural horsemanship seminars. In January 2012, Robin taught the first therapeutic riding lessons at Whispering Manes, then in September that year, Robin joined our staff as the full time Program Director/Head Riding Instructor |
 | SARAH PINON, PATH International CTRI Born and raised in Miami Florida, Sarah started riding at the early age of four and competed at Ascot farm. She started volunteering at Whispering Manes in her senior year of high school. Only after switching her major five times in college did Sarah realize that she wanted to become a PATH International Registered Instructor. Under the mentorship of Robin Bramson, Sarah passed all of her exams and received her certification January 1, 2019. Sarah now teaches part-time on Fridays and Saturdays. She also teaches at summer camp. |
Facility
In the spring of 2015, Whispering Manes Therapeutic Riding Center moved into its permanent home on 5 beautiful acres in an area of central Miami-Dade County known as Horse Country. The land and the brand new, state-of-the-art 12-stall barn, covered riding arena, and 6 paddocks were donated to Whispering Manes by Nancy Hector, a local philanthropist and advocate of children’s causes. The new facility will better allow Whispering Manes to fulfill our mission of providing equine assisted activities to people with disabilities within the Miami-Dade community. Set back off the road, our quiet and private facility is beautifully landscaped with oak and banyan trees. The serenity of the farm makes it the ideal location for those looking to bond and interact with our horses in a therapeutic program. Additionally, in this central location we are better able to serve a community of families who would otherwise not have access to equine assisted activities.
Our Future
Whispering Manes is extremely grateful for the new facility because it has allowed us to expand our programming and become an even more valuable resource for the community. Aside from large and comfortable stalls for each of Whispering Manes’ horses, the new barn houses Whispering Manes’ program offices, a covered viewing patio, and a climate controlled indoor seating area for parents and caregivers to comfortably observe classes. The covered arena makes year-round riding feasible, allowing us to increase our capacity, while keeping the weather from interfering with classes.