Who We Are
KFTHC's Founders
Cheryl and Mark Martin
Cheryl
Cheryl has loved equines for as long as she can remember. As a child she collected horse figurines, read every book she could find about horses, pretended she was a horse (a black stallion with a white mane and tail), and begged her parents to buy her a horse or pony. Her begging produced Rosita, a burro. Cute but completely unsuitable for a small child she soon vanished, passed on to another begging child, perhaps.
At 12 Cheryl attended Camp Louella May in Somerville, OH and spent several weeks learning to ride English. Then at 14 she found a farm in Hamilton, OH and took lessons riding Western. It was from this farm that Cheryl's parents bought her her first horse, a small Quarter Horse named Bay Lady. Influenced by the Lone Ranger, the Cisco Kid and Roy and Dale Evans and living life at a gallop, she rode barrels, did pole bending and very nearly killed herself in her pursuit of speed. This did slow her down, somewhat.
Eleven months after the purchase of Bay Lady, May 1, 1965, a buckskin filly foal May Day, was born. A big surprise!
Cheryl has loved equines for as long as she can remember. As a child she collected horse figurines, read every book she could find about horses, pretended she was a horse (a black stallion with a white mane and tail), and begged her parents to buy her a horse or pony. Her begging produced Rosita, a burro. Cute but completely unsuitable for a small child she soon vanished, passed on to another begging child, perhaps.
At 12 Cheryl attended Camp Louella May in Somerville, OH and spent several weeks learning to ride English. Then at 14 she found a farm in Hamilton, OH and took lessons riding Western. It was from this farm that Cheryl's parents bought her her first horse, a small Quarter Horse named Bay Lady. Influenced by the Lone Ranger, the Cisco Kid and Roy and Dale Evans and living life at a gallop, she rode barrels, did pole bending and very nearly killed herself in her pursuit of speed. This did slow her down, somewhat.
Eleven months after the purchase of Bay Lady, May 1, 1965, a buckskin filly foal May Day, was born. A big surprise!
College, marriage, work, motherhood, divorce and city life put Cheryl's horse obsession on hold for 25 years. Then she married her best friend and across the street neighbor, Mark, and moved to the Knobs or Kentucky. He had a horse!
Riding smooth gaited horses on the trails and forgotten roads of Kentucky were how Cheryl and Mark spent their spare time. They also had a working team of Belgian Mares, Susie and Sandy, who taught them how to drive and work horses. Frank Jenkins was Mark's and Cheryl's human instructor and left his team in their care for several years.
Riding smooth gaited horses on the trails and forgotten roads of Kentucky were how Cheryl and Mark spent their spare time. They also had a working team of Belgian Mares, Susie and Sandy, who taught them how to drive and work horses. Frank Jenkins was Mark's and Cheryl's human instructor and left his team in their care for several years.
Cheryl began working in early intervention in 1990 and began serving children as a private provider of developmental intervention and primary level evaluation in 1998. She has retired from this work but fondly remembers driving through Appalachian Counties to serve children birth through three years old in their homes.
In 2004, Cheryl heard about using horses for therapy. She did some research and decided to seek NARHA Certification as a Riding Instructor for the disabled. Six years and 11 horses later KFTHC is a growing, expanding riding center and Cheryl is an Advanced Certified Therapeutic Riding Instructor and the Executive Director.
Life is Good!
In 2004, Cheryl heard about using horses for therapy. She did some research and decided to seek NARHA Certification as a Riding Instructor for the disabled. Six years and 11 horses later KFTHC is a growing, expanding riding center and Cheryl is an Advanced Certified Therapeutic Riding Instructor and the Executive Director.
Life is Good!
Mark
Mark's first riding experience at nine months old was when a man came through his Dayton, Ohio neighborhood with a pony. This gentleman would go from house to house taking pictures of children. Mark, in his diaper had his picture taken. His brother Terry had to hold him on.
With childhood heroes like the Lone Ranger, the Cisco Kid, Roy Rogers and Gene Autry it was no wonder that Mark had a longing for being on horseback.
When he had the opportunity to move to Appalachian Kentucky he was thrilled and bought his own horse. Soon he tempted Cheryl down with horseback riding tales and the rest is history. Their first cabin was built from logs on their farm pulled in with Susie and Sandy, a lovely team of Belgian mares.
As it turns out, Mark is a natural with horses and a talented natural Horsemanship practitioner. He is KFTHC's Horse Master and spends many hours in "conversation" with KFTHC's wonderful equines.
Mark's first riding experience at nine months old was when a man came through his Dayton, Ohio neighborhood with a pony. This gentleman would go from house to house taking pictures of children. Mark, in his diaper had his picture taken. His brother Terry had to hold him on.
With childhood heroes like the Lone Ranger, the Cisco Kid, Roy Rogers and Gene Autry it was no wonder that Mark had a longing for being on horseback.
When he had the opportunity to move to Appalachian Kentucky he was thrilled and bought his own horse. Soon he tempted Cheryl down with horseback riding tales and the rest is history. Their first cabin was built from logs on their farm pulled in with Susie and Sandy, a lovely team of Belgian mares.
As it turns out, Mark is a natural with horses and a talented natural Horsemanship practitioner. He is KFTHC's Horse Master and spends many hours in "conversation" with KFTHC's wonderful equines.
When he had the opportunity to move to Appalachian Kentucky he was thrilled and bought his own horse. Soon he tempted Cheryl down with horseback riding tales and the rest is history. Their first cabin was built from logs on their farm pulled in with Susie and Sandy, Frank's lovely team of Belgian mares.
As it turns out, Mark is a natural with horses and a talented natural Horsemanship practitioner.
He is KFTHC's Horse Master and spends many hours in "conversation" with KFTHC's 11 wonderful equines.
He is KFTHC's Horse Master and spends many hours in "conversation" with KFTHC's 11 wonderful equines.