Meet Our Team

Carol Petitto, Ph.D.

Carol is the executive director and founder of On Eagles’ Wings Therapeutic Horsemanship Center. She is a certified PATH therapeutic riding instructor, PATH Equine Specialist and a PATH mentor. Carol was also an elected official for PATH International as the PATH Region 3 Representative for WV, VA, NC and SC for five years. As an adjunct professor at West Virginia University, she developed and now teaches the classes in the equine-assisted activities and therapies minor that is part of the equine studies program.

She also helped develop and facilitate a WVU Professional and Continuing Education course on EAAT through WVU Academic Innovations with fellow On Eagles’ Wings therapeutic riding instructor Patty Harman. In her past life before being PATH professional, Carol was a long-time breeder of Appaloosa and Arabian horses. Carol is married to Jim (otherwise know as the facility maintenance guy!), and has two sons, Michael and Brian, and has two granddaughters, Giana and Vivia, and one grandson, Ross.

Joey Curtis

Joey is an integral part of our barn staff. His attention to detail and love for the barn and horses shines through every day that he is here. A bonus for Joey is that he is also is a riding student!

Stephanie VanGilder

Stephanie is the center’s Office/ Barn Manager, as well as a PATH Intl. certified riding instructor. Since 2017, Stephanie’s roles have evolved from volunteer, to Americorps VISTA, to her current roles in the office and barn. Stephanie is currently enrolled at West Virginia University, pursuing a degree in multidisciplinary studies. As an animal lover, working at OEW is her dream! She loves watching therapeutic horsemanship change the lives of our participants every day! Stephanie enjoys following WVU football, baking and spending time with her family & fur babies. If you have any administrative questions please contact her via email at oneagleswingswva@gmail.com

Patty Harman, M.S.

Patty is a certified PATH therapeutic riding instructor, PATH Equine Specialist and a PATH mentor. She has volunteered as a riding instructor for individuals with disabilities at On Eagles’ Wings since its inception. Patty has been involved in the horse industry for many years as the owner of a small horse boarding facility, riding instructor, and as a past visiting lecturer of several equine related courses at West Virginia University. She received many years of formal equestrian training in dressage and jumping as a student at both Meredith Manor and Morven Park International Equestrian Institute. Patty currently works as an Assistant Learning Specialist with the WVU Athletic Department. She is married to Chuck and has two children and a granddaughter, Charlie (Paige) and Anne (Lucas and Elizabeth). In her free time she enjoys spending time outdoors with her family and friends.

Claire Chantler, M.B.A.

Claire is a PATH International registered instructor. She has volunteered at On Eagles’ Wings since she moved to West Virginia in 2009. Claire grew up on a horse farm in Maryland where she helped her mother teach English riding lessons and summer camps. She also competed in 4-H, local three phase events and hunter paces. Claire has two bachelor’s degrees in business and French as well as an M.B.A. from Loyola University Maryland. Claire currently works as an advocate for people with disabilities at the Northern West Virginia Center for Independent Living. She lives in Morgantown with her husband Paul, daughter Alison and son Keegan.

Jacob VanGilder

Jacob is our special events coordinator and has volunteered since 2018. With more than 11 years of visual merchandising, event planning, and landscape design background. Jacob has “grown up in a barn” being around horses since he was little. Jacob previously has volunteer experience at various horse camps, animal rescues and child care in the north central West Virginia, and southern PA region. In his free time Jacob enjoys restoring his family’s original farm, WVU sports and of course spending time with his fur babies.