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the story behind HEARTS of the Herd
Helping Equines Assist, Reach, Teach and Support

Hearts of the Herd is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that was founded in 2023 to provide Equine Assisted Services for children and adolescents in the Frederick County Maryland area.  It all began with a book and an email.  After reading the book Project Solomon, about an Equine Assisted Service program in Michigan, founder Beth Cangemi reached out to the author to find out more; knowing first hand the benefits this type of programming could have for the students she supported in her teaching role.  This led her down an unbelievable path that connected her to so many amazing program directors around the country providing these services.  Seeing the positive impacts the various programs across the country and world are making and knowing the needs of our children and teens in our area, it soon became a mission to create a program like this here in Frederick, Maryland.  

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Meanwhile, Caitlyn Reed was on her own path as a mental health provider learning about how she could apply equine assisted learning/therapy into her practice.  Caitlyn was busy doing her research and making her own connections.  The two women connected and decided to combine their love for horses and teaching/counseling to help foster an environment and experience to empower individuals to become their best selves through the incorporation of equines.  With the incredible support of family, friends, others in the field, and a supportive board, Hearts of the Herd is now a reality. 

​Our team is eager to share with others the powerful hearts of our herd.

Meet our Board of Directors and Team

Beth Cangemi

Founder & President of the Board 
Educator/EAGALA Certified Equine Specialist 

​Beth graduated from Syracuse University in 2001 with a BS in Inclusive Elementary Education and a minor in Non-Violent and Conflict Change.  She then received her Master's Degree in General Education in 2005 from SUNY Brockport.  Beth has more than 17 years of teaching experience at the elementary level in New York, Texas and Maryland. Her experience has included teaching pre-School, 2nd grade, 4th grade and math intervention for grades PreK-5 the last 9 years for Frederick County Public Schools.  Beth is now a Physical Education teacher.  
Beth has always had a love for horses and riding. A horse owner herself, she received her EAGALA Equine Specialist Certification to provide these services, as well as a certification in the Horse Powered Reading program. Being able to connect both her experience as a teacher and with horses together to help kids is a great passion of hers. She is excited to help this program grow and to help as many of our youth as it can.

Service Provider Team Members 

Caitlyn Reed

Secretary & Mental Health Provider

Caitlyn is a Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor and a school counselor in Frederick County with over ten years of experience working with children ages 4-18.  She has an undergraduate degree in psychology from the University of Maryland, College Park and a master’s degree in counseling from The George Washington University.  Caitlyn utilizes a strengths-based approach when working with clients and believes that connection and acceptance are necessary for client growth and progress.  She has experienced firsthand the healing power of spending time with horses and looks forward to sharing that opportunity with children in Frederick County.

Tiffany Shaw

Mental Health Provider, LCSW-C
Tiffany has been a practicing clinician since 2007 earning her clinical degree from the University of Maryland, Baltimore.  She has been in the role of a mental health therapist since graduation and find working with clients one on one, in groups, and family systems is something she has strong passion for. She is a registered cognitive processing therapist which is a specific modality for those with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder. Tiffany's experience has been working with children, adolescents and adults with a commitment in her work to create a space for individuals to heal and grow. She currently owns Shire Counseling and Coaching which is a Group Practice providing mental health therapy both in person and via telehealth.  

Jay Wagonblott

Treasurer 

Jay is a seasoned professional with over twenty years of diverse financial services experience including investment banking, asset-based lending at a leveraged loan fund, adjunct financial and accounting professor for both BS and MBA programs and more than thirteen years of increasing leadership roles within business banking at M&T Bank. Within business banking as a Senior Vice President and Regional Manager, Jay has experience working with, and helping to finance, a wide range of customers across many different industries including not for profit organizations. Jay is a graduate of Ithaca College receiving his BS in Business Administration, Canisius College for his MBA, and the Consumer Bankers Association Executive Banking School.