STAFF

We have 9 NARHA certified instructors and 5 therapists on staff all working together with our 24 horses to make Ride On happen! Here are bio's from some of our wonderful staff.

Bryan McQueeney - Executive Director
Bryan is the co-founder of Ride On and volunteered for seven years before being hired as Executive Director. With over 20 years experience in therapeutic riding, he has lectured, written and consulted nationally on a wide variety of leadership and program development, finance, board performance and human resource issues. He is a past Region 11 representative for the national organization, NARHA, and past President of the state networking association, CALNET, and has also served on the NARHA Administrative Committee and remains active in an advisory role with other centers. Bryan is an active horseman who enjoys trail riding and horse camping. He is a former ETI Corral President and spent four years working to preserve equestrian trail access and open space in the San Fernando Valley. He has a degree in economics and political science from Occidental College.

Gloria Hamblin - Program Director and NARHA Advanced Instructor
Gloria is the co-founder and Program Director of Ride On. She has a degree in Recreational Therapy and has worked with physically disabled, geriatric, developmentally disabled and emotionally disturbed children and adults for 30 years. A graduate of Cheff Center she taught disabled riders, coached several international dressage teams for the USA as well as the 1996 USA Paralympic Equestrian Team in Atlanta. Gloria is also a NARHA Associate Evaluator for On-Site certifications and workshops. Since 1994 she has taught riders and worked to make Ride On the best place it can be.

Joann Benjamin - Director of Therapy Services/Hippotherapy
Joann is a physical therapist who has been involved in equine assisted activities since 1983. She incorporates hippotherapy into her clinical practice at Ride On and is Board certified as a Hippotherapy Clinical Specialist. She has taught about the use of hippotherapy in the US and abroad and is a faculty coordinator with the American Hippotherapy Association (AHA, Inc), active in reviewing and developing curriculum. She served on the Board for the AHA, Inc, and on the Health and Education Committee for NARHA, the National accrediting organization. She enjoys serving as an International classifier for FEI ParaEquestrian and is working with the United States Equestrian Federation (USEF) to foster competition for riders with disabilities nationwide.

Bridget Banyai – Executive Assistant / Development Assistant
Bridget recently joined the Ride On team and will be providing executive assistance in the areas of fund development, event coordination, and office support. In the past, she has taught swimming and snowboarding to children, assisted with Special Olympics events, and worked closely with many families of children with disabilities. She has also managed a respite program and a group home for children and teens with disabilities. She has recently been involved in volunteering development assistance for local non-profits and enjoys spending her free time at the beach.

Katie Spannaus – Head Instructor
Katie joined Ride On in March 2009 and recently passed the NARHA Registered Instructor certification. She grew up in Connecticut training horses and teaching lessons with an emphasis on balanced seat and classical equitation. Katie is now Head Instructor at Ride On and excited to be part of such a dynamic team.

Trudy Epstein - Occupational Therapist
Trudy is an occupational therapist and has her Level II Therapist designation with the American Hippotherapy Association/NARHA and is certified as a Hippotherapy Clinical Specialist. With over 30 years clinical experience in occupational therapy she has worked in physical rehabilitation, pediatrics, and early intervention. Riding hunter/jumpers since childhood, Trudy discovered the smooth gait of Tennessee Walking Horses which she has enjoyed both riding and showing over the last five years.

Brooke Hampton - Physical Therapist
Brooke Hampton is a physical therapist specializing in sensory integration and autism spectrum disorder. She has been part of the hippotherapy team at Ride On since 2004. Brooke grew up riding hunters and jumpers at Foxfield Riding Academy. Brooke lives in Newbury Park with her husband and 8-year-old son.

Brie Wilson - NARHA Registered Instructor
Brie has been a dedicated volunteer and supporter of Ride On since she was old enough to get involved. She is a great horse woman and has a wonderfully positive and bright attitude which is infectious with our riders and volunteers. Brie recently passed her NARHA Registered Instructor certification and teaches at both facilities as well as taking care of the horses at the Thousand Oaks ranch.

Tio Ayala - Facilities Maintenance
Tio has worked for Ride On since 2001 and is responsible for many of the improvements that you will see if you visit either of our ranches. He brings a wide array of facility experience to Ride On.

Dee Dee Patton l - NARHA Registered Instructor

Ruth Stern - PT, Patty Taylor - PT, Barbara Levine - LMFT

Jennifer Reicharz - Instructor

Whitney Stone - Volunteer Coordinator