Jolene Rowland
Jolene Rowland joined our team toward the end of 2014. On a more personal note, she married Andrew St John Rowland on September 16th 2017. Jolene holds a Bachelor of Arts Degree from Ramapo College of NJ, USA, which she obtained during her ten years abroad. She has worked in the social service field assisting homeless families, runaway youth and ageing out foster children. Jolene completed the Bronze Level EAPISA (Equine Assisted Psychotherapy Institute of South Africa) course as a Horse Specialist in March 2018. Jolene plans to complete her clinical counselling degree in Psychology in the near future. Her love for helping children is paralleled only by her love of animals.
Chaneese Pruis
Chaneese started as a volunteer with Tumanako in 2016. Initially thinking it was just another community volunteer job, it has since turned out to be her passion. She loves working with the children in particular, having developed the enthusiasm and dedication the therapy needs in order to help create that unique magic with the horses. She enjoys riding and training both of Tumanako’s Boerperds, but most rewarding for her is seeing what these amazing creatures are capable of achieving with their riders - so much so that Chaneese has decided that this is what lies ahead in her career. She currently studies at the South African College of Applied Psychology with the aim of developing her skills and to then further her career into Occupational Therapy. In her spare time she rides her horses, spends time with her adopted rescue donkey called Liefie, and trains with her dogs.
Greme Banda
Greme started with Tumanako in late 2019 during the building phase of the yard as a labourer. As time wore on, we became so impressed with his work ethic and desire to learn more - as well as his obvious liking for the horses - that Greme became a permanent member of our team and groom to Rooigras Bakgat, TJ Patat, and most recently Carel Hancke Marmer. If you ask him who his favourite horse is, he says BG - not surprising since Greme helped nurse him back to health from a terrible illness in early 2020. Greme is also starting to learn how to ride, and will continue his training on his favourite horse once Bakgat has completed his recovery to full health.
Robyn Freeman
Robyn Freeman has always had a great passion for riding horses and working with children. She has completed her studies in Early Childhood Development in addition to multiple short courses on Child Development, Play-Assisted Learning and Child Counselling. She has recently completed her diploma in Child Counselling and intends on furthering her studies in Psychology, as well as becoming more involved in Equine-Assisted Psychotherapy, Equine-Assisted Learning and Hippotherapy. When not working with Tumanako, Robyn's other passion is breeding Madagascan Tenrecs and African Pygmy Hedgehogs - you can learn all about her work with them here: www.aspikelife.co.za.
Angelique Polonia
Angelique Polonia has been working for Tumanako Equine Therapy since 2014 and has been working with horses for 14 years at Autumn Leaves Farm. She is currently studying Bpsych at CTI Bedfordview campus and has a passion for working with children. She is planning on becoming a special needs teacher or a clinical psychologist and later getting involved in Equine Assisted Therapy (EAP). Angelique owns an Anglo-Arab named Prince Azamar and has adopted Rooigras Bakgat (or BG as he is affectionately known) as her own. Andrew just pays the bills.
Kiara Lubbers
Qualified as an Occupational Therapist, Kiara has a passion for children and horses, with a special interest in hippotherapy, as well as sensory and learning difficulties. In her working career, she has gained 5 years of experience working with young children and children with disabilities as a horse riding instructor and assistant at Tumanako. Kiara is currently completing her community service year and hopes to start her Sensory Integration course next year.
