Director and Head Trainer- Sarah Ritchie
Sarah Ritchie is the Director and Head Trainer at Heartbeat Connections Animal Rescue and Therapy Center. Her unwavering passion for animals and their well-being is at the heart of everything she does. After navigating her own personal trauma, Sarah found profound healing through animal communication and training—a discovery that not only transformed her life but became the driving force behind Heartbeat Connections. A certified AKC Canine Good Citizen Instructor, Sarah brings both expertise and heart to her work. She has spent the past five years professionally training dogs and the last two years working with horses, with a particular focus on those facing euthanasia due to behavioral issues and horses trapped in the slaughter pipeline. Her mission is to give these animals a second chance by helping them build the skills they need to live safely and confidently alongside humans. Sarah is also a member of the International Association of Animal Behavior Consultants (IAABC) and has trained through the Karen Pryor Academy, maintaining a firm commitment to least intrusive, minimally aversive (LIMA) training methods. She believes deeply in the power of the human-animal bond and that healing is a shared journey— one that humans and animals can take together.
