Our Team
Our Team
Donna Lombardi
Donna Lombardi
Donna Lombardi
Our Team
Donna Lombardi
Our Team
Donna Lombardi is an AQHA (American Quarter Horse Association) Professional Horseman, with over 35 years of experience training, riding, and working with horses. Donna has managed barns with over 40 horses, and has devoted her life to nurturing and taking care of her horses.
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Her love and care for the horses has been the driving force of her success in the many competitions she has won, including winning Top Ten Riders 29 times as well as many other championships. Donnas has built a career teaching, training and coaching people on interaction with horses, and has developed high standards and a strong emphasis on natural horsemanship.
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Donna teaches with relaxed and professional atmosphere. Her students have been champions and top ten at the Quarter Horse Congress, qualified for the Congress youth team, youth world championship and multiple circuit championships.
As part of her ongoing learning, she has studied “The power of the herd” theory and “Touched By a Horse” Soulfulness Theory. Donna continues to study “Healing with Horses in Treatment of Trauma”, and has thousands of hours of experience working with kids and adults to develop their personal growth through their interaction with horses.
Donna Lombardi is an AQHA (American Quarter Horse Association) Professional Horseman, with over 35 years of experience training, riding, and working with horses. Donna has managed barns with over 40 horses, and has devoted her life to nurturing and taking care of her horses.
​
Her love and care for the horses has been the driving force of her success in the many competitions she has won, including winning Top Ten Riders 29 times as well as many other championships. Donnas has built a career teaching, training and coaching people on interaction with horses, and has developed high standards and a strong emphasis on natural horsemanship.
​
Donna teaches with relaxed and professional atmosphere. Her students have been champions and top ten at the Quarter Horse Congress, qualified for the Congress youth team, youth world championship and multiple circuit championships.
As part of her ongoing learning, she has studied “The power of the herd” theory and “Touched By a Horse” Soulfulness Theory. Donna continues to study “Healing with Horses in Treatment of Trauma”, and has thousands of hours of experience working with kids and adults to develop their personal growth through their interaction with horses.
Donna Lombardi is an AQHA (American Quarter Horse Association) Professional Horseman, with over 35 years of experience training, riding, and working with horses. Donna has managed barns with over 40 horses, and has devoted her life to nurturing and taking care of her horses.
​
Her love and care for the horses has been the driving force of her success in the many competitions she has won, including winning Top Ten Riders 29 times as well as many other championships. Donnas has built a career teaching, training and coaching people on interaction with horses, and has developed high standards and a strong emphasis on natural horsemanship.
​
Donna teaches with relaxed and professional atmosphere. Her students have been champions and top ten at the Quarter Horse Congress, qualified for the Congress youth team, youth world championship and multiple circuit championships.
As part of her ongoing learning, she has studied “The power of the herd” theory and “Touched By a Horse” Soulfulness Theory. Donna continues to study “Healing with Horses in Treatment of Trauma”, and has thousands of hours of experience working with kids and adults to develop their personal growth through their interaction with horses.
Donna Lombardi is an AQHA (American Quarter Horse Association) Professional Horseman, with over 35 years of experience training, riding, and working with horses. Donna has managed barns with over 40 horses, and has devoted her life to nurturing and taking care of her horses.
​
Her love and care for the horses has been the driving force of her success in the many competitions she has won, including winning Top Ten Riders 29 times as well as many other championships. Donnas has built a career teaching, training and coaching people on interaction with horses, and has developed high standards and a strong emphasis on natural horsemanship.
​
Donna teaches with relaxed and professional atmosphere. Her students have been champions and top ten at the Quarter Horse Congress, qualified for the Congress youth team, youth world championship and multiple circuit championships.
As part of her ongoing learning, she has studied “The power of the herd” theory and “Touched By a Horse” Soulfulness Theory. Donna continues to study “Healing with Horses in Treatment of Trauma”, and has thousands of hours of experience working with kids and adults to develop their personal growth through their interaction with horses.
Tel: 917-725-0884
Our Human and Equine Team
Inna Danieli, LCSW, PsyA & MBA
The journey to equine facilitated professional work for Inna is a journey of passion. Highly driven by her desire to enhance traditional talk therapy while expanding the therapeutic field into leadership and management development, Inna initially created a equine assisted personal and professional growth program at Whispering Pines Farm in Sparta with her equine specialist partner Donna Lombardi.
After Donna's departure from New Jersey (see the updates), Inna and her three horses settled in Branchville, NJ where she established Wise Horse Ranch with her husband Ilan Danieli, who is an experienced business executive and a horse lover.
Inna Danieli is practicing equine-assisted psychotherapy using multiple modalities including Herd model and is a certified EAGALA practitioner.
Keren Talmor, MA
When it come to non-verbal communication and understanding body language cues, Keren is the master in the field. She brings to the team about 20 years experience communication with preverbal infants, parents' coaching of children from infancy to adulthood.
Keren's intuition is one of her many incredible assets.
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Keren with Kody
Doreen Higham
Doreen has been around horses her entire life and is the owner of three horses at Wise horse Ranch - Dasher, George and Cartman.
As equine specialist , Doreen's job is to ensure everyone's safety in the arena. Her quiet presence is essential for successful
Doreen's two horses with a friend​
Ilan Danieli, MBA
Ilan is a big animal lover who brings to the team the practical approach for organizational development and team-building expertise. With over 25 years experience in management in private and public sectors, Ilan is irreplaceable asset when corporate executive team arrive to the ranch for professional development.
Ilan with one of the horses at the ranch
Kody
19-year-old “sweet-as-a cookie” Appaloosa horse with adorable “chocolate chips” dots all over his strong body, Kody is one of the favorites humans choose to spend time with. Kody’s good-natured personality makes him a curious, gentle, human-loving member of the herd. His kind and tender temperament makes him a wonderful and a reliable herd member, and often makes him a bit of a push over near other more dominant members of the herd. Kody teaches humans how to become leaders by following them precisely how the Leader’s role is to be used correctly.
Kody - Sweet Chocolate Chips Cookie
Master
This majestic 17-year-old Thoroughbred is your ultimate combination of beauty and power. His presence is captivating. As a young horse, Master was a winner on the race track (his official name was “Master Mariner”), yet he was subjected to the pressures of the perfection demanded in order to win. The ongoing stress as youngster left Master with the remanence of some anxiety. Master teaches humans the gentle use of power, and how to be the leader you would like to have.
Master in the field with the herd​
Snow
Don’t be mistaken by Snow’s relatively smaller size. This 14-year-old half Arabian/half Quarter horse carries the quiet power of a wounded healer. Although we don’t fully know Snow’s story, we do know he encountered some form of rough treatment from humans. It shows in his careful approach to seeking connections with humans – but only on his terms: natural curiosity combined with the life experience of seeking control. The latter makes Snow a great teacher of boundary setting and discovery of the personal space.
Snow in the winter
George
This massive 14-year-old Quarter horse with his shiny black color radiates with elegance and strength. George is a Western barrel racing horse and still participates in the horse shows. He loves interacting with new people who show up for personal development and management skills workshops. His solid presence adds to the sense of safety.
George in the watcher role
Dasher
​What does it take to be the head of a tribe? Maybe it is the “dashing” personality? It is clearly the not the age in Dasher’s case. This 21-year-old chestnut Quarter horse is not the oldest in the herd, but carries the undeniable true leader’s role. Dasher’s powerful non-verbal cues move horses around with no drama or aggression. His demeanor is cool and stable – he knows what he wants and gets it with minimum amount of energy required for the task, while preserving relationship among the herd members. A natural leader.
Dasher is a slow eater and prefers his grain mixed water
Cartman
The name says it all! Cartman received his name from a character in the South Park TV show. He is an 18-year-old miniature horse with a very independent mind, yet with a strong connection to the herd. Cartman seeks connections with humans with his full heart and enjoys touching and hugs. His small size removes the intimidation humans sometimes feel when being close to a full-size horse. Cartman is curious and will teach humans the meaning of gentle touch and vulnerability. George took upon himself the role of Cartman’s protector.
Cartman during summer time