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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Hayley Lang
Prep Day Program Manager
Hayley comes from a multi-generational Texan family. She has always had a passion for those who are neurodivergent and education. Growing up she enjoyed spending time on her family farm and discovered her love of horses, which led to her volunteering at therapeutic riding centers. She has a B.S. in Special Education, along with 3 certifications in Special Education. Hayley taught special education for six years in public schools, four of which were in Transition Programming for 18 to 22-year-olds. JoyRide combines both her love of horses and her passion for giving neurodivergent adults a place to interact with others purposefully and work with equines.
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Regina Pakstas-Smith
Equine Assisted Learning Program Manager
Regina was born in Maryland and raised in New York. She relocated to Magnolia, TX, from Western Kentucky with her dog Jasper, where she was the barn manager and PATH CTRI at two therapeutic riding facilities. She has been a PATH CTRI for 6 years, with a degree in Psychology from the College of Saint Rose and a Master's degree in Crisis Counseling and Trauma from Liberty University. Regina has been riding horses for 18 years and has 2 horses, Peppy and Duke. She has interned with international horse-icon Alycia Burton for 6 weeks during a tour of the United States, has a background in hunter/jumper and dressage, and teaches from a natural horsemanship perspective. She is passionate about her work and fully believes that therapeutic riding is her strength and calling in life.
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Karen Somma
Therapeutic Riding Program Manager
Karen has loved horses all her life and was blessed to own her own horse as a young adult. After graduating from Southern Methodist University with a bachelor's degree, she worked for attorneys for 20 years and raised her son in the suburbs of Houston. In 2008, she volunteered for a therapeutic riding center and immediately fell in love with the industry. Karen became a CTRI in 2011 which was quickly followed by Equine Specialist in Mental Health/Learning and Mentor credentials. She has a passion for assisting people with disabilities to gain strength, increase communication skills, develop confidence, and have fun through interaction with those magical creatures known as horses.
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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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Craig Arny
Volunteer Coordinator
Craig grew up in Houston with a love of both horses and volunteering. He discovered the combination of both at SIRE in 2002, where he volunteered for a few years until JoyRide was founded in 2009. He has been a volunteer at JoyRide since the beginning. Craig joined JoyRide’s staff as the volunteer coordinator in 2019. Craig is married to artist Sam Sartorius and lives in Magnolia with a rescued Great Dane and one cat. He is also a doting father and grandfather.
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Blake Lewis
Office Manager
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. She joined our team in February 2022. Blake has dreams of one day, opening her own non-profit to provide therapeutic equine-assisted services to children and adults.
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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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Lorraine Ostrowski
CTRI and Equine Specialist
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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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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Erica Morales
Instructor in Training
Erica is a proud Texan who has been around horses all of her life. She has worked various jobs, including rodeo competitor, a nurse, and managed a Veterinary Hospital for 10+ years. Erica has always had a passion and calling to help people and horses, which led to her pursuing her PATH CTRI. Erica lives in Willis with her husband, son, 3 Silkie chickens, and her rescue dog, Hunny Buns. She enjoys gardening, farming, fishing, and riding/driving her draft horse, Bill. ​
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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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Board of
Directors and Board Members
Scott Vann
President
Leonard Kalfayan
Vice President
Guy Hunter
Treasurer
Mary Brezina
Secretary
Rod King
Member
Madeline Brogan
Member
Bryce Speer
Member
Gary Mahaffey
Member