Therapeutic Riding Staff

Alicia Roe, Program Manager

      Alicia’s mother competed in hunter/jumper shows growing up in the New York area, and had Alicia herself in lessons by the time she was 8 years old.  Alicia rode throughout her high school years, gaining experience in hunters, dressage, and ‘hunt paces.’  During her time at Centenary College in New Jersey, she also worked as a groom and exercise rider at an “A”-Circuit show barn in Long Island, NY. 

      In 2002, Alicia decided to move to San Diego, where she became involved as a volunteer with Helen Woodward Animal Center’s Therapeutic Riding Program.  During this time, she was also employed as a part-time instructor for the riding school at North Coast Equestrian Park, a local boarding and training facility.  At North Coast, she taught beginning-level riders in individual and group lessons, as well as camp settings. Working with the horses and clients in the therapeutic riding program, Alicia realized she had found her calling.  She immediately began working towards her PATH Intl Registered Instructor Certification.  HWAC staff was very supportive in assisting Alicia to achieve her certification.  She learned a tremendous amount about how to adapt her previous horse knowledge to the special needs of clients from the team of instructors they had on staff.

      As soon as she achieved her certification in 2003, Alicia was hired by HWAC as a full time instructor, and has made it not just a full time job, but a life-long career and passion.  In 2005 she was named as Program Manager, and has continued to build on the long-standing program philosophy of improving the lives of others through interaction with horses.  In her capacity as Manager, she has also been honored to mentor many people in their own certification process, including all three HWAC instructors now on staff, and several former ones.  Currently, Alicia is working towards her PATH Intl Advanced Instructor certification.  She has completed the workshop portion and was highly recommended to proceed for her certification.   
 

Katie Wooldridge, Barn Coordinator/Instructor 

While growing up in Ramona California, Katie had the opportunity to own and care for her own horses from a young age. She joined the United States Pony Club at age 8 and worked her way up through the ranks.  While in Pony Club she learned how to ride, train and teach; at the same time getting a strong education in horse health care, stable management, and safety.   For 10 years Three Day Eventing was her focus and she competed locally and regionally. In 2000 dressage became her main focus and she competed regionally and nationally for Pony Club.  In 2003 Katie began her own business as a mobile trainer, teaching clients and training horses.  In 2005 Katie began working for Helen Woodward Animal Center part time in the barn.  Within 6 months she became full time and began working towards her PATH Intl. certification as an instructor.  In 2006 Katie passed her certification.  She now works part time for HWAC and is a part time mobile trainer while also caring for her own horses at home.  The staff, volunteers, and students make working for HWAC an amazing experience.  

Gretchen Davis, Administrative Assistant/Instructor

Born and raised in San Diego, Gretchen began riding and showing locally in the hunter and equitation divisions at age 12.  She spent all her junior years riding and working at BlackLand Farm, formerly located in Bonita. As a working student she assisted in horse care and preparing students for lessons.  She even traveled with BlackLand Farm owner Sally Black up and down the California coast as a groom for the farm’s outstanding Hunter Breeding division horses.  Upon graduation from high school, she attended Virginia Intermont College in Bristol, VA.  During summer and winter breaks, she would return to San Diego to teach camps and beginner riding lessons at a riding school in Rancho Bernardo.  At VI, she also competed on the school’s IHSA team. In 1996, she graduated with a B.A. in Business Management, with a minor in Equine Studies, and the next year married Drew Davis, whom she met while at school.  She worked as assistant barn manager and instructor at Webb Valley Ranch, a 40 acre facility in northeast Tennessee until returning home to San Diego in 2000. 

      Immediately upon return to San Diego, she began working with Sally Black, this time at North Coast Equestrian Park, a boarding stable and riding school in Encinitas, first as an instructor, then as Riding School Director. It was during this time that she met future HWAC Therapeutic Riding Manager Alicia Roe, when Alicia worked for the North Coast riding school as an instructor.  After nine rewarding years with North Coast, Gretchen decided it was time to step into a position that would allow her to spend more time with Drew, and their two children, Annie and Molly.  Upon speaking with Alicia, she learned that HWAC would soon be in need of a full-time instructor and administrative assistant.  Excited by a new challenge that would allow her to still utilize her 15 years of teaching experience, Gretchen began volunteering with the therapeutic riding program and started the process to become a PATH Intl. Registered Certified Instructor.  She passed her certification in June of 2009, and began working full time for HWAC in August of 2009.  The students have been fun and rewarding, and she is so happy to be a part of the therapeutic riding team! 

Allie Sarnataro, Instructor

      Allie, born and raised in New Jersey, began riding at the age of 12.  By 14, she became a working student, receiving lessons in exchange for assisting less experienced riders in preparing their horse for lessons. She also competed on the local hunter/jumper circuit.  Summers found Allie working for the local Girl Scout camp as supervisor of the horseback riding program.  During this time period, she also volunteered for the Special People United to Ride therapeutic riding program, and was even named Volunteer of the Year in 2004. In May of 2008, Allie graduated with an associates degree in Business Administration from Ocean County College. 

      Allie moved to San Diego in September of 2008 and immediately began searching for another therapeutic riding program to volunteer at.  The diversity of the Helen Woodward Animal Center and the strong reputation of its therapeutic riding program, in particular, drew Allie to volunteer here.  After a year of stellar volunteer work, Allie approached Program Manager Alicia Roe about the possibility of joining the HWAC therapeutic riding staff.  She joined PATH Intl., and quickly achieved Instructor-In-Training status.  We were very excited to have her join the team as a part time instructor in November of 2009. In March of 2010 Allie passed her PATH Intl. Certification with flying colors and is now an official Certified PATH Intl. Registered Instructor.