Our Staff

Barbara S. Ford

Position: Founder, Executive Director, Head Instructor
Length of service: Founded EQUI-KIDS in 1989
Background/experience: Over 40 years horse experience

And anything that needs to be done! Some days she is in the office researching and writing grant proposals, other days you may find her in the barn mucking stalls!

• Founded EQUI-KIDS in 1989 with one pony and six students
• Member Therapeutic Riding Association of Virginia
• Member North American Riding for the Handicapped Association
• 4-H Horse Club Leader
• 4-H Horse Judging Leader
• Graduate – Southern Seminary Junior College
• Graduate – Old Dominion University
• Substitute teacher (special education)
• Member First Presbyterian Church

Certifications/awards:

• Therapeutic Riding Instructor for pilot program – Va. Beach 4H
• Certified by the Cheff Center for the Handicapped, Augusta, Michigan
• Registered Instructor – North American Riding for the Handicapped Association (NARHA)
• Board member – Therapeutic Riding Association of Virginia (TRAV)
• Advisory Board member of Special Olympics VA Member: NARHA, TRAV, EFMHA, AHA
• Awarded the James Brady Professional Achievement Award by the North American Riding for the Handicapped Association, November 2005
• 2006 Graduate – Certificate of Non Profit Management – Tidewater Community College/Norfolk Foundation
• Planning Committee member of the VA State Animal Response Team (SART)
• Member of the Chesapeake County Animal Response Team (CART)

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Ellie Hardnack

Position: Certified Registered Instructor, Administrative Assistant
Length of service: Since 2002
Background/experience:

• 18 years working with horses, trained with JoAnn Robertson – Aspiring Heights Farm - 11 years
• Competed in Maryland & Pennsylvania (Hunter/Jumper)
• Groomed, exercised, cared for horses. Substitute riding teacher in Maryland
• Attending Regent University - BS in Psychology

Certifications/awards:

• 2004 - 2006 TRAV Board of Directors
• 2004 President, USS Carter Hall Family Support Group
• March 03-July 04- EQUI-KIDS Volunteer Committee
• EQUI-KIDS Equine Caregiver Project Leader
• NARHA Certified Therapeutic Instructor

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Position: Development Director
Length of service: Since 2005
Background/experience:

• 11 years experience working with non-profit organizations
• Served as the Development Manager for St. Mary’s Home for Disabled Children
• Held positions of Tour Operations Supervisor, Garden of Lights Supervisor, and Group Coordinator at Norfolk Botanical Garden
• Charter Member of Norfolk based Sertoma and most recently served as president

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Position: Stable Hand
Length of service: Since 2007
Background/experience:

• A Utah native, she is a graduate of Cox High School and ODU
• Member of the Cox and US ODAC swim teams.
• Her previous employment was as a Personal Trainer, but her true love is being outdoors and working around horses.
• She has participated in the Multiple Sclerosis Society MS 150 bike ride and that is where she met her husband who is in the Navy
• In her spare time, she likes to snowboard, ride mountain and road bikes.
• She also loves to paint and travel when she can.

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Position: Barn Manager

Kate Larsen has been the Barn Manager at EQUI-KIDS since 2007. Her background is in horses and riding. She received a degree in Equine Science and Communication from Centenary College and has lived in the Hampton Roads area since graduation in 2003. She also teaches at Naval Air Station Oceana, and in her spare time, shows, works out and hangs out with friends. Although not a horse whisperer per se, she does know all the horses on a first name basis and can tell you all their innermost secrets. Kate loves being part of EQUI-KIDS  where every day she witnesses small miracles in the interaction between her four-legged friends and the individuals we serve.