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) and therapists are credentialed through the American Hippotherapy Association as Hippotherapy Clinical Specialists (HPCS). Our day program instructors come from a variety of backgrounds, and provide high quality instruction to all their clients.
To view current JoyRide job openings, Click Here. To download our application, Click Here.
Director of Operations
TO BE ANNOUNCED
Director of Operations
WE ARE IN THE FINAL PROCESS OF SELECTING OUR NEW DIRECTOR! STAY TUNED FOR UPDATES!
Administrative
Staff
SHANNON BEATY
Office Manager
Shannon is a 6th generation Texan. Her love of horses began young, with her Shetland pony, Chigger. Her passion for working with different abilities started while focusing on Early Childhood Education & Development, and her time as a Special Ed Aide and assistant/admin at a Day Habilitation Program were rewarding. Ultimately, her focus became Higher Education office administration. She has fostered & volunteered with Frisco Humane Society for 20 years and supporting the NSA (National Stuttering Association) is important to her family. Shannon enjoys kayaking, hiking, and touring vineyards. She, her husband, Kevin and senior Boston Terrier, Quasi reside in Magnolia. Their grown children are in the Dallas/Ft Worth area.
PEGGY WAGNER
Bookkeeper
Founding Member
Peggy graduated from the University of Texas with a BS in Elementary Education. She taught elementary, Jr. high and pre-school for 10 years. She spent 25 years as a volunteer staff member of SIRE, Therapeutic Horsemanship, serving as a board member for 16 years and receiving the Lifetime Humanitarian Award in 2008. She was a volunteer staff and board member at JoyRide until 2017, when she took the job of Office Manager, handling billing, database management and other administrative tasks. Peggy has owned and ridden horses for most of her adult life. She currently is owned by Nugget, a palomino gelding. Peggy enjoys attempting dressage, getting away to the Texas hill country with husband, Roger, and visiting family in Colorado.
TO BE ANNOUNCED
Development & PR Manager
WE ARE IN THE FINAL PROCESS OF SELECTING OUR NEW DIRECTOR! STAY TUNED FOR UPDATES!
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. After being laid-off from his corporate job as a staff and account manager, the opportunity to join JoyRide’s staff as the volunteer coordinator presented itself in 2019. Craig is married to artist Sam Sartorius, and lives in Magnolia with a rescue Great Dane and one cat. He is also a doting father and grandfather.
Horsemanship
Programs
NELLIE SCHMIDT
Equine Manager
Equine Trainer
PATH Intl. Certified Therapeutic Riding Instructor
After growing up with horses in the Texas Hill Country, Nellie took her love of people and horses to Asbury University in Lexington, Kentucky, where she double majored in Equine Studies and Psychology, focusing on Equine Facilitated Mental Health. While in Kentucky, Nellie participated in the school’s Police Mount training program and taught therapeutic riding lessons for class credit. Over the years, she has worked under reining trainers like Jesse & Stacy Westfall, interned at a Thoroughbred Re-schooling center and spent many years riding on various drill teams. Nellie earned her PATH Intl. Certification in 2018. When not at JoyRide she can be found out at the barn with her Arabian Cross mare, Scout and rescue pup, Cap.
TO BE ANNOUNCED
Instructor
WE ARE IN THE FINAL PROCESS OF SELECTING OUR NEW DIRECTOR! STAY TUNED FOR UPDATES!
Corinna Roberts
Therapist in Training
Corinna has always loved working with and being around horses, especially her horses, Karl and Jackson. She grew up in Pennsylvania and received her Bachelor’s degree in Waxahachie, Texas. After graduation, Corinna moved to Eureka, Montana to work as the Equine Coordinator at an Equine Therapeutic Boarding School working in mental health with girls with behavioral issues. During her time in Montana, Corinna worked with the girls on horsemanship, horse therapy, taming and TIP training wild mustangs. Corinna is pursuing her PATH certification and is excited to share the joy of horses with all. When she is not at JoyRide you can find her exploring the outdoors with her husband Kyle and adopted pup Pretzel!
TO BE ANNOUNCED
Physical Therapist
WE ARE IN THE FINAL PROCESS OF SELECTING OUR NEW DIRECTOR! STAY TUNED FOR UPDATES!
STEPHEN FREEZE
Facility Assistant
Originally, from Aransas Pass, Stephen is a dad, horse owner, and all-round animal lover. After graduating from Texas Bible Institute, Stephen worked in the oilfields before becoming ranch manager for a Texas facility. His lifelong love of horses and wide range of experience, including tractor and electrical work, along with plumbing repair make him a perfect fit as JoyRIde’s Facility Assistant.
Day
Programs
JEN BENNETT
Day Program Manager
Certified Teacher in Special Education and Science
Jen has a Bachelor’s of Science degree in biological research and a background in medical research, psychology, and philosophy. She has been teaching science and special education since 2013. She is also on the Board of Directors of an animal rescue and has been active in horse and dog rehabilitation for over 15 years. Her passion is in teaching prevocational and vocational skills to young adults with special needs to help facilitate the transition from school to the workforce in the community.
ALICIA CAMPBELL
Day Program Mentor
Alicia came to us as an intern student from Lone Star Montgomery College, where she volunteered in both the riding and day programs. She graduated in 2019 with an Associate's Degree in Human Services and plans to continue her education to become a certified special education teacher. Once Alicia completed her hours as an intern, she was offered a permanent position working in the day program and has enjoyed every minute of it. When she isn't working at JoyRide, Alicia enjoys spending time with her friends and family as well as taking care of her many animals, which include 3 cats, 4 dogs and 2 bunny rabbits! (Fondly referred to as the Campbell Zoo)
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 to as a volunteer as both a sidewalker and a horse handler. Once the day program was formed, Amanda began working with the young adults as a mentor. Amanda provides individual assistance to several Prep participants and supports the teacher with instructional activities. Amanda, an avid equestrian competitor has won many trophies, belt buckles, and ribbons galore as an Equestrians 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.
Board of
Directors and Board Members
Jake Leissner
President
Bryce Speer
Member
Bill McDonald
Vice President
Rick Hornsby
Member
Roger Wagner
Treasurer
Scott Vann
Member
Steve Rohr
Member
Guy Hunter
Member