Spotlight on Our New Sunday Instructor
Claire Langway
We are pleased to welcome Claire Langway to our Stride Ahead family. Starting this month, Claire will be teaching our Sunday afternoon riders. She is a PATH Certified Therapeutic Riding Instructor with many years of experience teaching. We’re delighted she has signed on as one of our SA instructors.
When asked to give Stride Ahead information that would help everyone get to know her, she provided the information below. It was so informative of her experience and background, we decided to send it out to everyone.
In her own words:
I grew up in Central Florida where my parents raised beef cattle, and I had my first pony at 4. Horses have always been a big part of my life, and after growing up as a "ranch hand", I started riding English as an adult (and supporting my own horses). I moved to Atlanta after graduating from FSU and exercised polo ponies in my spare time. I became involved in the horse community and spent many years showing hunters, eventing and fox hunting.
At the age of 50, my company (Fannie Mae) offered to pay for an MBA, so I decided to retire my horse in Florida with my parents. For the first time in my life, I was not involved in horses and I found myself experiencing depression. I heard about the therapeutic program at Chastain and started volunteering there with Pam Smith; the rest is pretty much history as I discovered a true passion for what I had always internalized about the powerful influence horses have on emotional well-being. I also was able to witness the amazing effects that therapeutic riding could produce for those with physical challenges. In short, my road to becoming a PATH Certified Therapeutic Riding Instructor led me to a second career that allowed me to use my lifetime experience and also contribute greatly to those who have yet to discover the incredible healing effects of building a bond with a horse.
After teaching for several years at Chastain, my husband and I moved to Central Florida where I became involved with Heartland Horses Equine Activities & Learning (HHEAL) in Avon Park Florida. I served as Executive Director for 9 years until my grandchildren in Atlanta brought us back to Georgia in 2023. I was teaching at Rising Star in Marietta until November 2024, when the I-75 traffic just got to be unmanageable.
I am thrilled to join the team at Stride Ahead!
Welcome, Claire! We’re so happy you’re now a part of our Stride Ahead family.
Thank you, Claire!
If you would like to make a donation in honor of Claire and all of our wonderful volunteers who make Stride happen, thank you.
