Mary Constantino

Region: Central

“I see many parallels in our lives, business and personal, that are magnificently impacted by horses that even go beyond the fact North Carolinians spend 1.4 billion dollars annually on equine goods and services.” Mary Constantino knows these numbers speak to the impact the horse industry has on the state of North Carolina. But Mary Constantino brings a lifelong passion and commitment to people and horses with her in every area of her life. The parallels continue. She combines a lifelong passion for horses with her multi-year professional experience in mental health management and clinical research. Mary states: “I can never underestimate and will never underestimate the positive impact of animals, and in my case horses, on people’s lives.” From a child and passionate horse owner, her formal equine training taught her many of the business lessons she applies today in the world of mental health and clinical research. At an event barn she learned the lessons of feeding, grooming, medical care, and horsemanship.

Over the years, she has trained with local and national dressage and event riders and continues to ride dressage horses today. To augment her work at major institutions, she is trained in Equine Assisted Psychotherapy, has volunteered with handicapped riding programs and teaches children to ride at no cost to them. Mary possesses the keen understanding of the horse care industry and its economic impact on the state of North Carolina without forgetting anyone. She holds dear the many connections to horse owners, barn owners, breeders, and trainers throughout the region. Mary is an exceptional networker and would like to use her coordinating, teaching, organizational and communication skills to support the North Carolina Horse Council by promoting membership, and supporting its education and the equine health and welfare divisions. Her long history of service to the community includes serving on the NC State University Social Work Advisory Board, producing the Social Work department newsletter, coordinating funding raising events, developing presentations on type II diabetes, guest lecturing at NC State University, conducting simulation interviews for undergraduate students and volunteering for the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation.