Our World-Class Trainers
Daniel Jobin
Daniel Jobin's relationship with horses stems from childhood. From age 8 he competed in several western events, taking home Grand Champion in and Reserve Champion in numerous Barrel Racing and Western Trail Riding events throughout Upstate New York.
After graduating from Fairport High School, Dan became a Firefighter, EMT, and Paramedic, serving with distinction for 17 years in various agencies around the Rochester area. Throughout his years of service as a first-responder, he felt a calling to do even more for the community he served.
His chance came on the heels of disaster. On Sept 9th, 2019 while commuting by motorcycle to the Laddermen’s MC annual 9/11 charity ride, a distracted driver cut Dan off. The ensuing crash put him in the hospital with fractures in just about every bone in his upper body, damaged vertebrae, and brain inflammation from the impact.
His career as a first-responder was over in a flash. During the course of his nearly four year long recovery, Dan has pushed through the pain, rebuilding his physical ability, from ground zero. He realized there were many first-responders, and others, just like him who had experienced traumatic events and that putting one's self back together didn't just involve healing the body, the heart and mind were critical components to wholeness.
The accident reconnected Dan with his childhood love of horses. Striving to get back on his feet, he could never go back to firefighting. He soon realized he could serve the community in a different way: Share his love of these majestic animals with people of all abilities. He could start an Equine Therapeutic Program for First Responders and Veterans, the first of its kind in the Mendon Area. The idea quickly gained traction. The demand for such a program exceeded his expectations.
The question was, where to start? Dan luckily found a little slice of Heaven on Earth at Lone Oak Stables. Dan knew almost instantly Lone Oak was fertile ground for his Equine Therapeutic program.
Dan currently manages the lesson program at Lone Oak Stables and serves as Director of Before the Last Call, his Equine Therapy Program for First Responders, Veterans, Military and their families. He is also developing a Therapeutic Riding program for people of all abilities at the stables. He is a PATH International professional member and is certified as an Equine Specialist in Mental Health and Learning and Veteran Resources for Certified Instructors. He plans to continue building his ability to facilitate by earning his Certified Therapeutic Riding Instructor certification by Winter 2025.
Cody Coopenberg
Cody Coopenberg's love of horses began with his first lesson at 3 years old and has never stopped since. He entered his first rodeo at age 6 and since has gone on to ride in many others. Growing up in Stockdale, Texas, a cowboy country town south of San Antonio, a life on horseback was inevitable. Always keen to lend a helping hand, Cody helped a family friend on a small ranch, caring for and riding horses. It was here he fell in love with the cowboy lifestyle.
In 2003 after his grandmother passed away, Cody moved to Holley, New York where his grandfather had been a firefighter and fire police veteran. He had instilled in Cody a reverence for the fire service, spending countless nights listening to the scanner, hearing the dispatch calls. Cody felt a calling to follow in his grandfather’s footsteps, and in 2006 Cody became a trained fire explorer and passionately ingrained himself into the fire service. He became a full-fledged firefighter in 2008 serving his community for three years.
The call to service didn’t stop with Cody’s work in the fire service. By 2011, Cody joined the United States Army as an infantryman and was soon on his way to Basic Training at Ft. Benning, Georgia. Later, while stationed at Joint-Base Lewis McChord, Washington, Cody spent leave on active duty with his fire department to keep his skills in tip-top shape.
Cody deployed to Afghanistan in 2012, where spent four months in a combat zone. Mere months into his first deployment he sustained a life altering injury when a generator exploded in his face covering his torso in second, third and even fourth degree burns. He spent five months in the hospital, underwent multiple surgeries and skin grafts. His doctors gave Cody a grim 10% chance of survival
Cody defied the odds. By 2013, and out of the Army, Cody renewed his passion for horses and the cowboy way, competing in a team roping and winning a coveted buckle that would come to represent more than a mere silver or gold medal; The buckle symbolised a homecoming, to a life that had given him purpose and facilitated his service of others. Cody now knew that, despite his injuries, he could still do what he loved most: Working with horses and sharing his love of them with others.
Today Cody works with Before The Last Call, our Equine Therapy Program for veterans and first responders, as an Equine instructor.
Donna Gouger
Donna grew up on a farm in Clarendon, New York where her family raised pigs, cows, goats, rabbits, chickens, and even had a horse. She has always had a love for animals, but horses were always her favorite.
At age 16, she began her career as a first responder, becoming a Junior Firefighter and CFR with Clarendon Fire Company. She has been a member of Clarendon Fire Company, Hamlin Volunteer Ambulance, and is currently a social member of Hamlin Fire Department where she enjoys helping with fundraisers and events.
She has served with Monroe Ambulance as an EMT for the last 20 years. Donna is also a member of the AVA Auxillary at the Hamlin VFW Post 6703 where she volunteers as a bartender and serves food.
Donna is passionate about Before the Last Call 's mission to make Equine Therapy accessible to Veterans and First Responders.
She serves Before the Last Call as its Volunteer Coordinator, supervises our event planning, and is always ready and willing to go the extra mile.