Meet Our Staff
Executive Director
Amy MacKay
​Amy has been working with FSTRA since 2016 in varying capacities. After a decade in the field of Physiotherapy, she has decided to turn her energy toward other pursuits, one of which is the Executive Director role for FSTRA. She is passionate about investing in relationships and building a strong community to support riders and families alike. Amy, her husband, and their two boys moved to the Valley in 2022, fulfilling a long-time dream of raising their family here.
Program Coordinator
Katie Roberts
Katie spent 10 years working as a Registered Nurse in the Emergency Department before joining FSTRA’s team in 2021. Katie has been an avid equestrian since the age of 10 where she began her equine career at the Halifax Lancers and has maintained her love of horses ever since. Katie has now merged her passion of working with both people and horses as she orchestrates FSTRAs active and diverse programs on a day-to-day basis. Her personable nature and warm, welcome demeanor has allowed her to quickly become a valued addition to the team.
CanTRA Certified II Coach & Owner of RWS
Alissa Cue
Alissa Cue, owner/operator of Rohan Wood Stables, is the head coach for the Free Spirit Therapeutic Riding Association. Alissa is a certified therapeutic riding instructor (CTRII) through FSTRA’s parenting body CanTRA (Canadian Therapeutic Riding Association).
An Honours Graduate of the Equine Science Certificate Program at Guelph University, Alissa began her riding career at the age of seven in British Columbia. After moving to Winnipeg Alissa joined pony club as a teenager and attained her B Rating. She has maintained her affiliation with pony club by establishing Evangeline Pony Club at Rohan Wood Stables in the Fall of 2003. As well, Alissa sits on the Regional Board as the current Nova Scotia PPG Chair and is a National Director. In 2005 Alissa achieved her Equine Canada Level 1 Coaching Certification. Alissa was also the recipient of the Equine Canada/NCCP National Competition Coach/EC Level 1 Coach of the year. Alissa can be found most weekends at a Pony Club function or coaching and competing at Hunter and Jumper shows around the Maritimes.
CanTRA Certified II Coach
Jessica vanNostrand
Jessica is a graduate from the University of Guelph after obtaining her Bachelor of Bio-Resource Management in Equine Management. Jessica is a certified therapeutic riding instructor (CTRII) through FSTRA’s parenting body CanTRA (Canadian Therapeutic Riding Association). She has worked for RWS prior to attending post-secondary schooling and has since assumed a full time position with RWS as their Recreation Program Coordinator and coach. Jessica is an Equestrian Canada certified instructor (IOB) and a certified Young Horse Trainer. She has obtained her HB2 rating in the Canadian Pony Club and volunteers her time with Evangeline Pony Club helping to run the adult Horsemasters program. In addition to all of Jessica’s responsibilities and roles with RWS, she also coaches our therapeutic riding programs, develops programming and volunteers for our events.