About Us
Staff:
Kirby GillispieExecutive DirectorKirby Gillispie is responsible for fundraising and managing the overall organization ans insuring the financial stability and sustainability of Hearts. Kirby is a long-time resident of Santa Barbara County and active member of the non-profit community. Kirby has developed, managed, and funded non-profit agencies for 25 years, most recently as Director of Development for Tres Condados Girl Scout Council. She is also a family therapist.
Connie WeinsoffProgram Director, PATH International Certified Advanced InstructorConnie is responsible for training the staff and planning and developing all the equine programs at Hearts including the Veteran's program. She is also responsible for assessing potential horses for the program as well as overseeing their care. Connie is a lifelong horse enthusiast, owning and showing her own horses as a teen in Pony Club and 4-H. She was one of those "horse crazy" girls that never outgrew it even after college, marriage, two kids and ten years in the corporate world. She began in therapeutic riding as a volunteer and quickly found a career as a certified therapeutic riding instructor. She is an "Advanced Therapeutic Riding Instructor" certified by PATH International (Professional Association of Therapeutic Horsemanship) as well as a national instructor evaluator. In 2004, Connie was appointed one of three state representatives on therapeutic riding by PATH Interantional. She has been a therapeutic riding instructor since 1992 and at Hearts since 1996. She took on the role of Hearts interim Executive Director in 2006 thru February 2008, when she returned to the position of Program Director. Connie was named the 2009 PATH Region 11 Instructor of the Year.
Alex KincaidVolunteer Director Robbie Elconin
PATH International Certified Registered InstructorRobbie is an instructor and Robbie is also responsible for scheduling all of the riders. She's been riding since she went away to summer camp when she was 10-taking English/jumping lessons and doing a lot of trail riding. She volunteered at Hearts before she became a certified instructor in April 2006. Robbie graduated from UCSB with a BA in Sociology and then got her early childhood teaching credential. She became a certified childbirth educator and taught classes for several years and also worked as an instructional assistant and a special education aide in local public schools. Robbie has volunteered at CASA, the infant center at Transition House, and at the SB Breast Cancer Resource Center where she also served on their Board. She loves horses, the challenge of teaching, and Heart's philosophy of focusing on our student's abilities rather than their disabilities.
Working with cattle proved to be very popular with our riders, staff, and even the horses! And a great opportunity to build focus, coordination, and horsemanship skills.
P.O. Box 30662, Santa Barbara, CA 93130 805.964.1519
Suzie grew up on a horse farm in NH. Started riding and showing at a very young age, in pony hunters, equitation, hunters, junior jumpers, and 3-day eventing. Had the opportunity to train with Jessica Ransehousen and George Morris, which helped to develop a solid background in both dressage and jumping. As a member of the US Pony Club in Vermont reached B level at thirteen and competed in National Rallies as a teenager. During college her years she spent summers working for trainers in Ireland, Switzerland and the US. Horses took a back seat to ski racing for several years, but eventually she found way back to the horse world helping friends with their young horses over the years. She first came to Hearts as a volunteer, and became a PATH International certified instructor in September 2009. It was my passion for working with horses that brought me to Hearts, though it is my passion for what horses bring to our students that makes me want to be more committed to therapeutic equestrian activities.
Alex Kincaid came to Hearts as an intern in January 2011. After completing her degree in Sociology at Westmont College, she came to join the Hearts staff as the Lesson Manager. Alex has trained and competed in a variety of equestrian sports, including Western Pleasure, Reining, Team Penning, and English/Hunter Jumper riding. She brings her horse knowledge, people skills and past work experience as an Assistant Teacher and Publicity Coordinator to her current job at Hearts.
“I am thrilled to be working in partnership with such amazing volunteers and horses and, of course, the Hearts staff. In my job, I get to watch people heal and grow through their horseback riding lessons every day—I couldn’t think of anything better!”
Denise Weniger is a dual citizen of the United States as well as Switzerland. Denise moved to Santa Barbara in June 2010 from Switzerland. Her passion has always been horses and working outside in nature. Ever since she was a kid, her dream was to own a ranch some day in the US. Denise has been riding since she was 6 years old mostly in Western with some experience in English and in Spanish saddles. She has been training horses using natural horsemanship, on and off for 10 years.
Denise started as a volunteer at Hearts working in lessons and schooling horses in 2010 and quickly became interested in learning more about therapeutic riding. She had not heard of it before, while living in Switzerland. She studied hard and became a certified therapeutic riding instructor in September of 2011. Besides teaching at Hearts, Denise is very involved in combined driving with a mentor here in Santa Barbara, and she hopes to begin competing soon. Her future plans may include getting certified in therapeutic driving.
"To help people with special needs is such a great experience and when you succeed, its one of the best feelings in that moment. I love to share my experience with my students to help and they have given me a lot in return. I have learned so much from them since I've been here and for that I am truly grateful. “
Serena Bos
PATH International Certified Registered Instructor
Eagala Certified Equine Facilitator
Serena was an instructor at Hearts from 2007-2009 and took some time off to have her two children. Returning the end of 2011, Serena has an extensive background in horses. Besides being a PATH certified therapeutic riding instructor, she is certified in Eagala as an equine facilitator. Serena has had experience working with "at risk" populations as well as people with special needs.
