620 Garwood Road, Moorestown, NJ 08057
Vera Hallowell
PATH, International Certified for Therapeutic Instruction, and Manager of Majoda Stables. A decade of experience teaching at Majoda Stables and an expert in her field, Vera has a strong background in Natural Horsemanship, and is a supportive and caring teacher of children and adults alike!
Diane Baker-Hallowell
After many years of teaching riding at other barns, Diane started her own program at Majoda Stables in 1992. Diane has always been interested in giving novice riders a solid and safe opportunity to learn how to ride horses for pleasure and fun. With a degree in Special Education, Diane developed a therapeutic program which runs in conjunction with our other programs.
Bill Hallowell
With a life long background in Special Education, Bill has an ability to work with our Therapeutic students in a way that promotes communication, social skills, and relationship building.
Lisa Gerfin
Lisa is a PATH-certified riding instructor, and has extensive experience teaching young adults with special needs, and is a certified job coach. She was educated at The Boggs Center of Rutgers University, where she studied education in developmental disabilities.
Lisa is a very talented artist and has created beautiful art with many of the Majoda horses as her subjects.
Joanne Dunston
Joanne is a PATH-trained riding instructor and has extensive experience as a special needs teacher. Her warmth and enthusiasm endears her to all her students. She teaches riders of all abilities. Joanne serves on Majoda's Board of Directors.
Donna Lambertucci
Donna works with riders who are new or returning, adult or children of all abilities. She has a lifelong love of the sport and is an active horse enthusiast, committed to Majoda and our program. She also serves on Majoda's Board of Directors.
Lydia DeHart
Lydia DeHart
Lydia DeHart
BIO COMING SOON
Colleen Heavens
Colleen started volunteering and riding at Majoda in 2022. She had fallen in love with horses as a kid, and more than two decades later, has found great joy in getting back in the saddle. But at the heart of her work with Majoda are two of her greatest passions: animals and community. Colleen is a mental health advocate and also serves on the board of NAMI Philadelphia (National Alliance on Mental Illness), with deepening interests in animal-assisted therapies and the power of animals to help heal—both physically and mentally. Likewise, she works in online community development for a healthcare tech startup, connecting people living with chronic conditions who are looking for support and connection. Her background is in writing and marketing, and she holds a Master's of Communications from Penn. Colleen is also an aspiring goat owner and farm animal enthusiast.
Merrilee Torres
Merrilee grew up a horse-crazy girl and was lucky enough to have her own horses and work on farms for several years. Due to work, family, and life in general, she was away from horses for 15 years until she and her daughter began volunteering at Majoda in 2021. Volunteering prompted her return to riding, joining the TRAM board and teaching beginners. By day, Merrilee is a Geographic Information Systems (GIS) specialist and manages the GIS mapping program for Burlington County. She also teaches Geography as an adjunct at Rowan College of Burlington County. Both Merrilee and her daughter thoroughly enjoy working with the Majoda human/animal family and feel especially fulfilled when they can help horses through bodywork, groundwork and riding. Merrilee looks forward to supporting the Majoda mission and is grateful for the many opportunities to continue learning and growing here.
Mary Wirth
Throughout her career and afterward, Mary pursued many interests but always returned to horses. Her cumulative 14 years of formal instruction and four years’ experience as an American Riding Instructors Association-certified instructor of Western and Hunt Seat equitation ultimately led her to Majoda. Her passion for teaching (especially) novice riders of all ages, with or without physical or cerebral challenges, stems from her belief that learning to ride is therapeutic for all students.
Donna Lambertucci
Donna was active with and around horses most of her childhood and adolescence. Donna rediscovered her passion for horses about 5 years ago and discovered therapeutic riding at Majoda where she has happily served on the Majoda board since 2021.
Shannon Ratajski
Shannon began with Majoda in 2021 as a volunteer while her daughter took riding lessons. She has since joined the board, started riding, and instructs the therapeutic riders. Shannon holds a Master's of Education in special education and is a Learning Disabilities Teacher Consultant. She and her husband own and operate Fuzzrocious Pedals, a boutique guitar pedal company where Shannon hand paints the enclosures. Majoda has allowed her to combine her love of animals and servicing individuals with special needs.
Amy Shaman
Amy's daughter is the reason she started volunteering with Majoda in 2020. She has a love and respect for horses that she never knew was missing from her life. She also loves spending time with all of the kitties at the barn. Amy spent some time in the corporate world where she worked in marketing and event planning before switching to the field of education. A former teacher with a Master's Degree in Literacy Education, Amy now spends much of her time volunteering as a leader for Cub Scouts Pack 15 and BSA Scouts Troops 15 B & G in Mount Laurel.
Dr. Robyn Steiner
- Dr. Rob, a graduate of Delaware Valley University, received her BS in Animal Husbandry, and went on to receive her VMD in 1992 from the University of Pennsylvania. Dr. Rob has been affiliated with Majoda since 2007 when her daughter began riding there, and has since that time helped to care for the small animals at the farm. She is currently Chief of Staff at Cinnaminson Animal Hospital and sole proprietor of Equine-point therapeutic equine services. Dr. Rob more recently has been assisting in the wellness of the horses at Majoda as she has a degree in equine acupuncture, a certificate in therapeutic massage, and also does laser therapy. Dr. Rob loves being at Majoda not only because of the animals but because of the people that make up the amazing community that exists there.
Jocelyn Cooper
Jocelyn's journey with horses began years ago at a cozy private stable, where she had the privilege of caring for a small but spirited herd of three. This experience blossomed into a dedicated volunteer role at Majoda beginning in 2024.
Holding a Master's Degree in Clinical Mental Health Counseling and enriched by a background in nonprofit management, Jocelyn is deeply passionate about cultivating safe, brave, and inclusive spaces for all. She firmly believes in the profound healing and restorative power of community, and the unique ability of animals and nature to deepen our connection with ourselves and others, fostering a sense of groundedness and wellbeing. Outside of her professional and volunteer work, Jocelyn finds peace and joy in movement, often exploring the outdoors on long walks with her rescue pups, Oliver and Pablo. She is excited to be part of the Majoda community.