Program Staff

Walker's boasts an exceptional riding staff to work with its students. They bring decades of teaching experience as well as competitive experience to campus.

Kathleen Battiston

Director of Riding Program

(860) 408-4354

Year Appointed: 2006

kbattiston [at] ethelwalker [dot] org

Read More About Kathleen

Kathleen Battiston oversees Walker's entire riding program, including competition and summer programs. An accomplished horse woman who continues to compete on the national circuit, she is a former Connecticut Hunter Jumper Association Champion and placed fifth in the nation.

With a degree in business and a background in finance and management, Battiston's combination of equestrian expertise and business acumen benefits Walker's riding program tremendously. She believes in a balanced approach to our Equestrian Program, whereby riders of all abilities and interests have the opportunity to excel competitively or recreationally.

Co-Founder of the Farmington, Connecticut Horse Show, Battiston combines her support for equestrian programs with academics by serving on the board of the Farmington Valley Academy Montessori School. Her family lives on a local horse farm.

Hillary Rheinheimer

Head Equestrian Trainer

(860) 408-4354

Hollins University - B.A.

hrheinheimer [at] ethelwalker [dot] org

Read More About Hillary

Hillary Rheinheimer is an accomplished rider in hunter/jumper and hunter seat equitation with extensive showing and training experience, a well known name in the equestrian world. Rheinheimier’s list of equestrian accomplishments both on the national horse show and Intercollegiate circuit make her an outstanding match for Walker’s program, where student riders compete both locally and around the nation.

She has qualified for and competed in the prestigious ASPCA Maclay, USET and USEF Medal Finals, placing in the top 15 in all. She has won the CHJA Medal Finals and was reserve champion at the New England Equitation Finals, Reserve Champion at the Cacchione Cup Finals, and in college, winner of the International Intercollegiate Show Jumping and Team Dressage Competitions.

At Hollins University, she was voted Athlete of the Year and Old Dominion Athletic Conference Rider of the Year for four consecutive years. She has owned a training and showing facility since 2006, and for over a decade has trained riders at every level. In addition, she has extensive experience in equine care.

In 2011, Rheinhemier was inducted into her alma mater, Hollins University's, Athletic Hall of Fame.