The GMHA Board of Directors is excited to announce Jessica Brodie as the new Executive Director of The Green Mountain Horse Association, effective April 13, 2026.

Jessica (Jess) has an extensive equestrian background and is committed to the same GMHA values of trail conservation and land stewardship that guide and define GMHA’s mission.

Sarah Carlan, GMHA Board President, said, “Many of you may already know Jess. She has been a proud member of our community for years, and her love of horses and Vermont's land runs deep. That connection isn't incidental; it's exactly why we believe she is the right person to lead GMHA into its next chapter. I know she is eager to connect with all of you. You'll be hearing from her soon, and I hope you'll join me in giving her a warm GMHA welcome.”

She continued, “As for our long-time Executive Director, Bruce Perry, words can't fully capture what he has meant to this organization. His 7 years of dedicated leadership have shaped GMHA in ways we will feel for decades to come. We are deeply grateful, and we wish him a retirement that is every bit as wonderful as the work he gave us. Don't worry, he will not be riding off into the sunset just yet. Bruce will be remaining with us to see the flood mitigation projects to completion.”

Jess has been a competitor and volunteer with GMHA since the late 90s. With her Thoroughbred event horse, she was a regular competitor at the Spring, Summer, and Fall Horse Trials alongside her Flatlands Equestrian Center family, trained by Tom and Joan Davis. Jess also acted as a seasonal GMHA intern, as part of her course requirements to obtain a B.S. in Recreational Management and Policy from the University of New Hampshire. 

Over the past 20-plus years, Jess has served in a variety of leadership roles in the Parks and Recreation field. For the past seven years, Jess has served as the Executive Director of the Vermont Recreation & Parks Association. In this role, Jess worked with Parks & Recreation professionals, agencies, non-profits, and businesses to provide resources, training, and events that support the parks and recreation profession as a whole throughout the state of Vermont. Before that role, Jess served in the municipal parks and recreation sector as a Parks & Recreation Director in three different suburban communities in Massachusetts. 

Jess is a graduate of the NRPA (National Recreation and Park Association) Director’s School, received her Certified Parks & Recreation Professional (CPRP) certification in 2009, and is also the co-founder of the Brownsville Base Camp (a nonprofit, nature-based summer camp for children grades K-8) located in West Windsor, VT.

For the past two years, Jess was a consultant to GMHA, acting as the GMHA Centennial Campaign Manager. To date, the GMHA Centennial Campaign has raised over $4 million for GMHA.

In her spare time, you can find Jess with her own two horses, twin 9-year-old daughters who also ride, 12-year-old son who is an avid mountain biker, and enjoying hiking, biking, skiing, running, and other fun outdoor adventures.

Founded in 1926, the Green Mountain Horse Association (GMHA) is one of the nation’s oldest continuously operating horse organizations. For one hundred years, GMHA’s magic has enriched the lives of thousands of horse lovers. As GMHA prepares to enter its second century, we turn our focus to sustainability and resilience, and to deepening our commitment to GMHA’s core missions of youth education, land protection, and promoting good horsemanship. 

GMHA hosts competitive, educational, and recreational equestrian events in five disciplines at our 100-acre facility in South Woodstock. As a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization, GMHA is dedicated to holding equestrian events, educating equestrians of all ages, and preserving trails and open space. With over 800 members and thousands of competitors, GMHA is a vital community of equestrian enthusiasts.

To advance our mission, GMHA actively supports local land conservation, as well as the development and maintenance of trail networks. GMHA embraces its role in the larger community, providing a welcoming venue suited to diverse program needs, hosting equestrian activities, competitions, and educational opportunities in multiple disciplines for all ages and abilities, and emphasizing overall youth development in the cultivation of the next generation of equestrians.

Donate today and help ensure the magic for future generations.

For more information, please contact Bruce Perry, Sarah Carlan, the GMHA Board President, or call 802.457.1509.