gretchen schulz
Executive Director
PATH Intl. certified therapeutic riding instructor
Gretchen grew up riding and volunteered with a local Special Olympics equestrian team in junior high. In college, she had the opportunity to volunteer at a PATH Intl. Center, where she also completed the Instructor-in-Training program. She joined Ride for Joy as a volunteer in 2016 before becoming an instructor and the Executive Director.
Additionally, Gretchen has over a decade of experience working as an educator in public schools and universities, as well as developing and facilitating professional development opportunities for teachers. She is currently a doctoral student at Boise State University, where she is studying Equine-Assisted Learning.
Sandy James-Sherman
LeAd instructor
PATH Intl. certified therapeutic riding instructor
Sandy began riding horses through Pony Club at age 15. Around that time, she started volunteering for a therapeutic riding program in Southern California.
In 2004, Sandy obtained her certification as a Registered Instructor with PATH Intl. She joined Ride for Joy in 2014, bringing years of experience at two other therapeutic riding facilities.
Her educational background is in Recreational Therapy and she likes to practice what she preaches through a dedication to health and recreation. Sandy enjoys cooking, hiking, snowboarding, gardening, camping, triathlons, and, of course, riding.
bailey garner
PATH INTL. Certified Therapeutic Riding Instructor
Bailey began volunteering with Ride for Joy in 2015 as part of a senior project. The fit was immediate and she stayed on, enjoying all aspects of the volunteer process, while also hoping for an opportunity to make it a career. When the job of Volunteer Coordinator opened, she jumped at the chance to join the staff in 2019.
Outside of Ride for Joy, you can probably find Bailey working at the Once Upon a Horse or spending quality time with her family and friends. For fun, she rides three day eventing, stadium jumping, and cross country.
Bailey has been with the Ride for Joy team in some capacity since 2017 and loves to work with all the staff, students, and amazing volunteers.
KristyLee Ricketts
Path intl. certified therapeutic riding instructor
Kristylee grew up on the Big Island of Hawaii until moving to the mountains of western North Carolina in high school. Since graduating from Western Carolina University with a B.S. in Recreational Therapy, she has moved all around the US, with her favorite and longest-term stint being in Alaska. She moved to Idaho in November 2017 and found RFJ just a couple months later in February of 2018. She has loved it so much that she has no plan of moving again anytime soon!
Kristylee grew up with all sorts of animals and has been riding since she can remember. As much as she has always loved horses, it wasn't until her high school senior community service hours at a therapeutic riding stables that she knew she needed to work with animals and children permanently. During her first two hours at the stable, she got to witness an eight year old boy on the autism spectrum get on his horse and say the first word his mom had ever heard. “Fun!" he said.
Between her experiences working with kids with emotional and behavioral disabilities, her passion for seeing joy awakened in their hearts, and having a history with and respect for those who serve in our armed forces, Kristylee is thrilled to be a part of the RFJ family that reflects all three.
Natalie Steilling
Path intl. certified therapeutic riding instructor
Natalie grew up in Washington State where she started riding at the age of 10 and moved to Idaho in Fall 2022. She first became interested in therapeutic riding because she grew up close to a therapeutic riding center and liked to watch the riding lessons over the fence. Through her experience as a volunteer at that center in her teenage years, she chose to purse a career as a PATH Intl. instructor, recreation therapist and occupational therapy assistant.
Natalie graduated from Western Washington University with a degree in Therapeutic Recreation in Winter 2017. Natalie holds a degree as an Occupational Therapy Assistant (COTA) from Green River College and has spent 4 years as a pediatric COTA in outpatient therapy. Natalie enjoys enriching the lives of kids with disabilities through play and equine assisted activities.
Outside of work, Natalie enjoys training in dressage on her personal horse, hiking, exploring and traveling.
Chanel Jensen
equine manager
Originally from Grand Junction, CO, Chanel moved to California where she obtained a Bachelor of Science degree in Agricultural Communications and a minor in Equine Science, from Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo.
Chanel never grew out of her "horse girl" phase and worked for dude ranches and horse trainers before moving to Idaho in June of 2023. She has experience in many different riding disciplines, but her specialty is in cutting and reined cow horse.
When Chanel moved to Idaho, she searched high and low for the perfect position to advance her career in the equine industry, and becoming the equine manager at Ride for Joy was the perfect fit. In turn, she has discovered a new passion for helping others and teaching that has inspired her in future endeavors.
Brian Ames
Program assistant
Brian was born in southeastern Idaho moved to Arizona at 4, then back to Idaho at 9 years old. While growing up he had some horse experience, but it was very limited. At 14, while at a ranch his grandparents bought for retirement, he learned the value of making sure the saddle is secured correctly.
After high school, Brian joined the Navy SeaBee's as a CM. After a medical discharge, he worked in the automotive industry until moving to Boise. He then tried taking some computer classes and got a job doing tech support for a telecommunications company, but found it to not be for him.
After having some more medical issues that discontinued his ability to work, Brian joined Ride For Joy as a participant in the Veterans Program. After being asked to help with some smaller sessions, Brian then continued on to become a dedicated volunteer, spending most days possible at Ride for Joy.
Besides being at Ride For Joy, you can also find him with the Boise Chapter of Team River Runner, running whitewater in a raft or leisure paddling on flat water.
Shea Cobb
volunteer coordinator
Instructor-In-Training
Originally from Las Vegas, Nevada, Shea moved to Boise to attend college at Boise State University. She will graduate in May 2023 with her B.S. in Psychology, and plans to get her M.A. in Social Work.
Although Shea didn’t grow up around horses, and only recently began riding lessons herself, she has always had a passion for animals. She has a particular interest in animal-assisted interventions, and was beyond excited when she discovered Ride For Joy through a web search.
She began volunteering with Ride For Joy in the summer of 2022, and absolutely loved her volunteer experience. Shea strives to enable other volunteers to experience this same joy with the program, and share RFJ’s mission with anyone she can.
Outside of her time at Ride For Joy, Shea enjoys spending time with her beloved deaf rescue pup, Snow. She also likes playing board games with friends, learning as much as she can, and trying new things.
Lucy Pekovich
Program and Fundraising Coordinator
Lucy began working as the Program and Fundraising Coordinator at Ride for Joy in February 2024.
Since graduating from Boise State University with a B.A. in English, her experience with Treasure Valley nonprofits has championed her continued passion for working with marginalized communities across the state of Idaho. She is looking forward to continuing her work in community engagement and advocacy at Ride for Joy.