Our Team
The JoyRide Team is the engine behind “making the impossible possible” for our clients. The staff is a caring group invested in the success of the clients and horses, and they use the highest levels of professionalism in their work. Riding instructors are certified through PATH Intl. as Certified Therapeutic Riding Instructors (CTRI). Our day program instructors come from a variety of backgrounds, and provide high quality instruction to all their clients.
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To view current JoyRide job openings, Click Here. To get to our application, Click Here.
Carrie Kennedy
Executive Director
Carrie was born and raised in Annapolis Maryland and has been living in Texas for the past 11 years. She has a Bachelor’s degree in Sociology and a Master’s degree in Business Administration. She has years of business operations experience, and a love of horses and serving her community. She enjoys spending her free time with her children, biking, swimming, and reading.
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Tiffany Wallace
Development Manager
Tiffany comes to JoyRide after attending Jamborees since it was founded. She has a passion for helping people, the community, and building relationships. She helped start a grassroots nonprofit and currently serves in a board position for 100+ Women Who Care-Cy-Fair, and has been involved with the organization for four years. She holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Business Administration and a double minor in Marketing and Spanish from The University of Houston. She enjoys brunch and random acts of kindness. She is married to her husband Alan, of 15 years, and together they are raising their 3 boys Owen, Kipp, and Cade, and their German Shepherd rescue, Glory. If she’s not on a baseball or soccer field you can find her spending time with her family in the country or hosting dinner parties.
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Blake Lewis
Office Manager, Equine Specialist in Mental Health and Learning
Born and raised in Texas, Blake has grown up with a love and understanding of horses that runs generations deep. She earned a Bachelor's Degree in Agricultural Services and Development with a Minor in Agriculture Economics from Tarleton State University. Her passion for therapeutic equine-assisted services stems from volunteering with T.R.E.A.T Rodeo in college. Blake completed her Equine Specialist in Mental Health & Learning certificate in May of 2024.
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Leah Henry
Volunteer Manager
Leah graduated from Western Washington University, studying the psychopathology of primates. Leah has worked with many populations, including individuals facing challenges with special needs, addiction, and mental health. She has interned at Chimp Haven and currently serves as a Behavior Consultant on the advisory board of a monkey sanctuary in Washington. Leah has a background in both volunteer work and management, as well as in equine therapy. Outside of work, she spends time with her two senior dogs—Koda and Ruby—and enjoys hiking, photography, road trips, and exploring new food spots.
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Tara Kennedy
Prep Day Program Manager
Tara is a local resident of Magnolia, and resides there with her husband, two boys, and many pets. Tara holds a Bachelor’s degree from the University of Houston-Downtown and brings extensive experience from her tenure in the Tomball and Magnolia Independent School Districts since 2009. For the past four years, she has been devoted to teaching Life Skills and Adult Transition to 9th-12th graders at Magnolia High School. Tara brings her enthusiasm and expertise to our Prep program, focusing on creating JOY, the practical application of vocational & life skills, and outdoor learning.
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Wendy Brewer
Prep Assistant Program Manager
Wendy was raised in New Waverly, Texas. She met her husband and married in 1995. Wendy and her family moved to Magnolia, Texas in 2006. Wendy and her husband ran the Texas Opry in Magnolia, which was a live country music show and café for 6 years. Wendy is a mother of 6 boys. This is the greatest and most important accomplishment of her life. Her son Mac, who attends JoyRide, is autistic. From teaching and caring for Mac, she found another joy and passion that she has is caring and learning from others with special needs. In her free time, she loves singing, traveling, and spending as much time as possible with her family.
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Amanda Weber
Day Program Mentor
Amanda graduated from Klein High School in 2009. That fall, Amanda began riding lessons at JoyRide. In recognition of her skills and commitment, she trained as a volunteer and became a sidewalker and a horse handler. Once the day program was formed, Amanda began working with the young adults as a mentor. Amanda, an avid equestrian competitor, has won many trophies, belt buckles, and ribbons galore as an Equestrian with Disabilities Rider in Quarter Horse shows. Still committed to learning, Amanda is currently taking reining lessons. She loves taking care of her 3 horses, Forrest, Bella, and Bodemeister.
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Regina Pakstas-Smith
Equine Programs Manager, Certified Therapeutic Riding Instructor, Equine Specialist in Mental Health and Learning, PATH Mentor
Born in Maryland and raised in the New York/New Jersey area, Regina relocated to Texas in 2020 with her fiancé, Terry, her horse Lore, and dog Jasper. She loves hot wings, the color orange, and video games. She has 20 years of horse experience riding Western and English, but her favorite equestrian activities are jumping and trail riding. She has been a Certified Therapeutic Riding Instructor (CTRI) since 2016, having worked at two other programs prior to coming to JoyRide. She acquired her Equine Specialist in Mental Health and Learning Certification in 2022, and bases all interactions with equines on natural horsemanship. She has a Bachelor’s Degree in Psychology, a Master’s in Trauma and Crisis First Response, and is currently pursuing a second Master’s degree to become a Licensed Professional Counselor. She currently teaches Therapeutic Riding, Equine Assisted Learning, and hopes to be able to offer Equine Facilitated Psychotherapy at JoyRide Center in the near future. She is also currently pursuing a dual-certification through Natural Lifemanship as an Equine Professional and Practitioner, and to become an Advanced CTRI through PATH International. She couldn’t imagine a life without horses, or being in any other line of work, and loves the life she’s built here at JoyRide!
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Lorraine Ostrowski
Certified Therapeutic Riding Instructor and Equine Specialist in Mental Health and Learning
Lorraine is a PATH CTRI and an equine specialist. Lorraine brings many years of experience with her. Lorraine has been a PATH CTRI since 1994 and has held her Equine Specialist certificate since 2019. Lorraine spends her free time crafting and with her family.
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Erica Morales
Certified Therapeutic Riding Instructor
​Erica is a proud Texan who has been around horses all her life. She has worked various jobs, including being a rodeo competitor and a nurse, and has managed businesses for 10+ years. Erica has always had a passion and calling to help people and horses, which led to her pursuing her PATH CTRI journey in 2022. Erica specializes in building confidence in beginner riders and getting riders of different levels out of their head. She believes in having fun and empowering them to learn new skills. Erica lives in Willis, TX, with her amazing husband, silly teenagers, her army of chickens, and her rescue dog Hunny Buns. She enjoys gardening, farming, fishing, and riding/driving her Rescue Draft horse, Bill the Belgian.
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Lily Johnson
Certified Therapeutic Riding Instructor
Lily was born and raised in The Woodlands, Texas. Her love of horses began in her youth. With 5 years experience at Therapeutic Riding Centers, Lily got her PATH CTRI in January of 2024. When she is not at JoyRide, you can find her at Texas A&M pursuing her Engineering degree.
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Beverly Klinger
Certified Therapeutic Riding Instructor, Physical Therapist
Bev was born and raised in Florida and relocated to Texas in 2020 with her husband and two daughters after spending 7 years overseas in Qatar and Mozambique. She is a Physical Therapist with her Bachelors in Health Science from the University of Florida and her Doctorate in Physical Therapy from Nova Southeastern University. She has always had a love for horses and began her therapeutic riding journey by volunteering for years before acquiring her CTRI certification in 2023. In her free time, she loves spending time with her family and 2 dogs, traveling and volunteering at her daughter’s school.
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Terry Ballard
Facility Manager
Terry was born in Paducah, Kentucky, and grew up around horses on his family farm. While in Paducah, Terry volunteered at two equine facilities and felt his calling was to help others with the use of horses. Terry has 32 years of residential and commercial construction work and personal equine experience. Terry relocated to Texas in 2022.
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Travis Cain
Facility Coordinator
Travis was born in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. Graduated from Klein High School in 2006. He was awarded his Eagle Scout rank in the Boy Scouts of America in 2006. From there he went on to serve in the United States Marine Corps and United States Army. He held many roles over a span of 7 years in the oil and gas industry. Retired from the US Army in 2022. He attended Operation Equine in January of 2023. He is married to his wife Melissa of 6 years and together they raise their 2 daughters Shelby and Charlotte. Travis has a big heart for animals and loves serving his community.
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Board of
Directors and Board Members
Scott Vann
President
Leonard Kalfayan
Vice President
Guy Hunter
Treasurer
Mary Brezina
Secretary
Madeline Brogan
Member
Bryce Speer
Member
Tatia George
Member