Gisela Heimsath-Rhodes

Gisela, a native German, decided to see a bit of the world after she finished her Master’s degree in Education.

Shortly after she arrived in the United States she met her future husband Vernon Rhodes in Boston. They moved to a farm near Worcester, MA and converted it to a boarding stable and a therapeutic riding center. Combining her lifelong passion for horses with her teaching skills she initiated and taught the Interactive Vaulting program for the North American Handicapped Riding Association (NARHA), now PathIntl. She is an Advanced Riding and Credentialed Therapeutic Riding Instructor (CTRI).

When the aging school horses were looking at semi-retirement, the move to Newcastle, ME turned out to be perfect. It was in Maine that she had the opportunity to study herd dynamics in depth. Observing the horses as they roamed freely across large pastures, she came to appreciate how profoundly their living conditions influenced their physical and mental well-being, as well as their longevity.

Eventually Gisela became involved with the international organization HETI – Horses in Education and Therapy International - as faculty, board member, executive director and president.

She has never lost her passion for travel, exploring many countries as both a learner and a workshop teacher before eventually settling back in Germany in semi-retirement.

Her favorite pastime is photographing animals and capturing the natural beauty of Midcoast Maine and the many places her travels take her.

You can reach her at www.fairtidefarm.com