757.721.7350

2626 Heritage Park Drive
Virginia Beach, VA
23456

Office hours:
Monday - Friday
8:30 am - 4:00 pm

Locate our facility

Staff

Barbara Ford

Founder, Executive Director, Head Instructor
Founded EQUI-KIDS in 1989
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 NARHA (formerly 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
Attends Spring Branch Community Church

Certifications & Awards:

Therapeutic Riding Instructor for pilot program – Va. Beach 4H
Certified by the Cheff Center for the Handicapped, Augusta, Michigan
Registered Instructor NARHA
Trained as EFMA Equine Specialist
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 NARHA, 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)

Ellie Hardnack

NARHA Certified Registered Instructor and Administrative Assistant
2002 - present

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
Graduate of 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 Riding Instructor

Jill Arnone

Development Director
2005 - present

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

Jennifer Riley

Volunteer Coordinator
2009 - present

B.S. Business Management from Old Dominion University
Senior Profession in Human Resources (SPHR) Certification
Currently enrolled and completing the Certificate of Non Profit Management program – Tidewater Community
College/Norfolk Foundation
Currently pursuing certification as Registered Therapeutic Instructor with NARHA
18 years business management experience with financial corporation
6 years as Training and Human Resource Director
Volunteered with EQUI-KIDS since 1994
Member of EQUI-KIDS Board of Directors for 3 year term, currently on the Advisory Board
Member of the EQUI-KIDS Volunteer Committee since 1995
Youth Group Leader at Courthouse Community UMC
Member of NARHA, EFMHA

Alex Ford

Stable/Farm Assistant
2006 - present

Attends First Colonial High School, Graduating 2009
Will be attending Northern Arizona University in fall of 2009, Kinesiology
Member of: National Honor Society, Spanish Honor Society, Mu Alpha Theta
Owner of Arabian, Akwa, on loan to EQUI-KIDS for lessons

Ashley Ford

Stable/Farm/Office Assistant
2006 - present

Attends First Colonial High School and ATC (Advanced Technology Center), Graduating 2009
Will be attending Regent University in fall of 2009, Psychology
President of the First Colonial SCA
Member of : National Honor Society, SCA City Wide
Owner of Dutch Warmblood, Magic, rides dressage
Currently pursuing certification as Registered Therapeutic Riding Instructor with NARHA

Shaun Gayhart

Stable/Farm Assistant
2008 - present

Born in London, England
2008 Graduate – First Colonial High School-played 4 years baseball & 2 years volleyball
Attending Tidewater Community College, Fire Science
Will be attending Norfolk State University in Fall of 2009–will be playing baseball for NSU
Owner of two Nigerian Goats, Toag and Aztec who amuse everyone at the farm!
Currently pursuing certification as Registered Therapeutic Riding Instructor with NARHA

Rhonda Delgiudice

Stable Assistant
2009 - present

Born in Frankfort IN, resident of Virginia Beach since 1989
15 years Restaurant Management experience
Co-owner of fitness facility
Currently employed as morning Stable Assistant
Is an avid animal lover and has a fabulous Great Dane named Brinks

“Feel I have my true calling working with horses. The horses are always happy to see you come to work in the morning! I plan to be here for awhile.”

Daryl Holland

Stable/Farm Assistant
2009 - present

Native of Seattle, Washington
BA in Political Science from University of Washington
MA in Human Relations & Personnel Management from Webster College, St Louis MO
Retired Naval Officer, Surface Warfare – steam propulsion engineering, damage control, firefighting
EQUI-KIDS Board Member for several years, served as Secretary and Treasurer, served on numerous board committees, currently member of Advisory Board
Semi-retired as building manager for 16 years from property management firm
EQUI-KIDS volunteer for 20 years – volunteer positions include: 13 years Saturday barn helper, routine maintenance of farm equipment, assists in property maintenance
Daughter, Karen was an original EQUI-KID. Told her she had to learn how to drive a horse before a car. Karen advanced to an independent rider, now drives a car. (Dad still does stalls)

“Was told I would be taught how to groom a horse once I mastered cleaning stalls. Slow learner. Still cleaning stalls.”