Certifications: CTRI, Equine Specialist in Mental Health and Learning

When I was six, my mom took me on a scavenger hunt around town and the last stop was my very first riding lesson! My mom told me that I could have a horse if I prayed about it so I did faithfully until at age twelve we purchased property. Amazingly, the man who put in our insulation had a horse for sale, which ended up becoming my first horse. Though I fell in love immediately, learning to work with this challenging horse helped this insecure teenager learn confidence and persistence. We called our place Dream Acres and this was the beginning of God showing me how to dream big with him. This love for horses turned into a passion to help others experience the same healing power that I found myself which landed me at St. Andrews University majoring in Therapeutic Horsemanship and Equine Business.

I have been an instructor now for 8 years and building relationships with my students and seeing them grow over time and become independent is the best part of my job. I am so excited to be a part of a team full of dreamers who are passionate about helping those that society has overlooked. I cannot wait to partner with God in this journey and to see many find hope and healing!

Certifications: PATH CTRI

I have been around horses my whole life, competing in 4H horse shows as a teen and helping care for Belgian draft horses with my family while growing up in Northeast Ohio. I have always enjoyed being around kids as well, but during high school I had the privilege of ministering weekly to teens from inner-city Akron, along with babysitting occasionally for a young man with Autism.

In my second year of college in North Georgia, I was introduced to a program in the community that used horses to help children and teens that were either in the juvenile system or had parents that were incarcerated. This is where the Lord began to show me that He can use the things we love, along with our desires and giftedness to help the people we come in contact with.

After my daughter enjoyed a summer week of horse camp at a local equestrian therapeutic center, I began to volunteer regularly. Teaching horse skills to kids with different abilities has been the most challenging and rewarding thing I have ever done in my life. I never would have dreamed I could combine my love of horses with my love of kids, but God knew all along.

I have a lot of loves in life. My passion is volunteering/serving where I can make a difference and help others. I came into this industry with no horse experience or knowledge but over the years I have come to love these amazing creatures and seeing the difference they make in people’s lives. My own daughter has Cerebral Palsy and I have watched her grow and progress over the years, even competing at Special Olympics! I’ve worked as a volunteer coordinator for over 5 years and served as a volunteer at a therapeutic riding facility for over 6 years. I also serve as a volunteer at Rincon Church of God and keep the nursery on Wednesday nights. I also have three other children and am married to my wonderful husband.

Matthew started working for Blue Sky Acres in May 2021. His two favorite parts of his job are getting to drive the Ranger and getting to play the ukelele after his shift is over. Matthew has a special bond with Mr. Larry and even got a pair of overalls for his birthday so they could match! For more about Matthew’s story, click here.

Thomas began working for Blue Sky Acres in March 2022. Thomas has a very positive attitude and is a lot of fun to be around! Outside of his work, Thomas enjoys basketball. You can find more about his story here.

Erin began working for Blue Sky Acres in March of 2022. Erin is a great addition to our team and is known for her many questions, and has a lot of great suggestions to contribute! Outside of Blue Sky Acres, Erin enjoys spending time with family at the lake and cheering for the Georgia Bulldogs!