Meet Our Directors

Susanne Wagner lives in the Annapolis Valley. She is a certified EAL facilitator, instructional designer and writer. After a life-long obsession with horses she sees the positive impact they can have on people. She happily lets her personal horse, Joe, participate in FSTRA programming. Susanne joined the FSTRA board in 2015 and is currently serving as the Chair of our organization. With her keen eye for innovation and sustainability and her previous business experience, Susanne has offered stability and a strong foundation for our organization to continue to move forward and expand our reach.

Amanda Brulé is a Valley girl through and through. She lives in Welsford with her husband, son and fur kids; and stays active with horseback riding, ringette, soccer and running. She is Vice-President – Sales & Residential Projects for Kentville based company Nova Solar Capital, and has a keen interest in social responsibility and environmental sustainability. Amanda joined our board in the Spring of 2016 and has been a huge asset to our team in providing direction and support for our organization.

Julie Gould joined our board in 2014 to serve as our Treasurer. After developing a horse addiction from an early age Julie pursued her Canadian Pony Club level “A” and represented CPC at a Show Jumping competition in South Africa, (although her real passion is in 3 Day Eventing). After graduating Mount Allison University, Julie spent some time living and competing in the States, working and travelling internationally alongside some elite equestrian professionals. When Julie is not busy providing accounting services to small business or volunteering, you can find her running her own farming operation and enjoying time with her husband and two daughters.    

Originally from Winnipeg, Samantha is raising her growing family here in the Annapolis Valley and has made a commitment and dedicated her energy to supporting her local community. Having always loved horses, Samantha joined our board in 2013 and immediately assumed her position as Secretary. She has donated countless volunteer hours to our program over the years and has been such an asset to the FSTRA team. Despite her active volunteerism and working a full time job in a management position at a local bank, her family still manages to find time to get outside and enjoy nature scavenger hunts.

Nina has served on the FSTRA board for the past 6 years. Working currently for Service Canada, Nina has also attained her Bachelor of Education and is a certified CanTRA Basic Instructor (CTRBI). She has always been involved with horses through breeding, training and showing in both Germany and Canada. Nina is passionate about therapeutic riding and spends her spare time teaching both her daughter and son, ages 8 & 6, how to love and care for their “hoofy” friends. Nina has been an active member in building and providing direction to FSTRA, while also helping to teach some of our therapeutic riding lessons over the years.

Brittany served as FSTRA's Executive Director for three years.  She has just completed her Bachelor of Education and is looking forward to working in the classroom this fall.  She has always been a rider herself and has her childhood horse at home.   

Nicole previously worked for FSTRA for two years in the role of Program Coordinator.  She now has her dream job working for Nova Scotia 4-H.  She herself is a rider and loves to spend her weekends cattle penning or walking her dogs.