Kathy Christensen
In 1991, Kathy married her husband, Mark, and together they raised their three children on a small Christmas tree farm in East Lyme. For ten years, Kathy and two close friends led the Grassy Hill Bears 4-H Club, creating meaningful opportunities to bring community and animals together. Through this work, she witnessed firsthand the profound impact animals can have on people of all ages.
While raising her family and caring for the farm, Kathy also spent twenty years working as a Unit Coordinator on the oncology floor of a local hospital, supporting patients and families through challenging seasons of life.
When her oldest son joined the Army Reserves and was deployed to Cuba, Kathy stepped into the role of Family Readiness Leader for his MP Unit. Supporting military members and their families deepened her commitment to service and strengthened her belief in the healing power of the human–equine connection. Inspired by these experiences and her years working with both children and adults, Kathy earned her PATH International certification as an Equine Specialist in Mental Health and Learning. She went on to develop a small equine program on her farm serving Veterans, First Responders, and youth.
At High Hopes, Kathy teaches horsemanship classes. She also played an integral role in launching the Parkinson’s Pilot Program. She has experienced many meaningful moments of connection between horse and participant, helping grow what is now a thriving and impactful program that continues to serve as a model within the organization.
Kathy is currently expanding her skills in the art of carriage driving, with the hope of sharing this experience with Parkinson’s participants as well as Veterans and First Responders. She serves as President of the Connecticut Valley Carriage Driving Club and enjoys learning from seasoned drivers. At home, she works with her pony, Sunny Sunshine, whom she is gently convincing to become her future driving partner.
When she is not at High Hopes, Kathy can often be found on her farm with her grandsons, teaching them about nature, plants, horsemanship, and the importance of community service. She brings that same sense of compassion, curiosity, and connection to her work at High Hopes each day.