Equipeople Team

Caroline Lane

Caroline was born and grew up in a large, old house near Kilcock, surrounded by horses, dogs and cats. She went the usual Pony Club and hunting route into a career with horses. In 1980 she did her BHSAI exams in England and a couple of years later went back to complete the BHSII qualification. The following ten years consisted mainly of instructing and grooming international three day event horses. In 1990, she got sense and started to go into the business side of the equine sector and set out to learn as much as she could about marketing. This led to her working as Marketing Manager for a large leisure company and then for a major riding centre. In 1994, she married Stan and a year later set up Equipeople. In 1997, she and Stan had a son, Logan who is the apple of his parents eye.

Donna Channing

Donna has had a very varied and interesting career and has tried her hand at most things. She has worked abroad doing a number of jobs but decided to settle down in Ireland over 20 years ago when working for British Airways. Donna has also has an interesting sideline as an extra in films and on television. There’s hardly a wedding in Fair City that hasn’t involved a part of Donna’s anatomy, usually her arm or shoulder, seldom her face because apparently it cuts down on the extra work if your face is seen too often! Perhaps her most high profile role was as one of the crowd braying for Mel Gibson’s head at the end of Braveheart. Now Donna looks after the employee side of Equipeople and the developing outbound programme. Her interests include the study of crystals and the medicinal values of herbs.

Zoe Sacre

Zoe was born in London and studied Equine Management in Somerset. She travelled extensively in Europe and America before going to Australia to visit her family who by that stage had emigrated. She has a wide range of experience having worked with horses and in the hospitality industry. In 2004 Australia once again beckoned but this time Zoe returned with a most unique souvenir, her beautiful baby daughter Faith. Faith is now 6 years old and the centre of Zoe’s life. Never having intended to have a child, Zoe is now a doting mother who can finally decide what colour her hair really should be. Apart from Faith, Zoe’s passions include Buffy the vampire slayer and Science Fiction.

Mandy Humphries

Mandy looks after student placements. Hers is the voice at the end of the line for our students and hosts and one of the friendly faces they could expect to see for their visit. Having worked in Barclays Bank for over 20 years, some of those in the complaints department, she is well equipped to help new arrivals get around any little ‘settling in’ issues. Mandy came to Ireland in 2007 from Essex in England bringing with her a cat, a dog, and two teenage sons and, having ‘finally’ recovered from the journey, is happily settled near our Portarlington Office. Her family has grown somewhat to include 3 horses, another dog, numerous hens and a 30 strong herd of cattle! When she manages to grab a minute to herself she likes to immerse herself in the pages of a good science fiction or fantasy novel coupled with the essential cup of good strong coffee.

Erika Baker

Erika Baker is originally from Belgium and moved to Ireland in January 2005 with her horse, Alice, to explore the wonderful equine world of Ireland after having completed her Bachelor Degree in Equine Studies and Business Management in Writtle College, England. She gained experience in the Irish Thoroughbred Industry by working in numerous places such as studs, at the sales and a bloodstock agency. Erika went on to do a Masters at NUI Maynooth in Project Finance and Venture Management and decided then perhaps it was time to settle down. She got two dogs, two fish, rescued a pony through the ISPCA and had a beautiful baby boy called Lukas who is now 2. Erika helps her husband run their cattle farm. Being Belgian with an English father means Erika speaks Dutch, English, French and a little German and is happy to practice her language skills at any time!

Aoife Hanratty

Originally from Dublin, but living in County Kildare for almost seven years, Aoife graduated from Gurteen Agricultural College with a Bachelors degree in Equine and Business Studies and also holds a certificate in Accounts and Payroll. A true horsy girl, Aoife has worked in both hands on and administrative roles in numerous stud farms, polo yards and equine veterinary practices. Aoife was recently married to her husband Gerry, who works at the Irish National Stud, and they moved into their new house in July 2011. Aoife and Gerry own a thoroughbred mare and four half-bred horses, which they break and train themselves. They also own a white boxer called Murphy and recently became the proud parents of five one month old chicks, whom they are hoping are not all cockerels!

Contact Equipeople if you wish to talk to one of the team