Riding Instructors
Krista Aguilar - Office Manager
kristajoy_mission@hotmail.com
Krista Aguilar was born and raised Northern Brazil to missionary parents. Krista has an extensive background in raising horses and teaching horseback riding. She bought her first horse when she was 14 years old with money earned from babysitting. She attended a vocational college in California to study horses and then studied equine reproduction at a junior college in the Dallas area. In 2001, Krista started the first riding school in her hometown of Porto Velho, Brazil. She taught many children and adults the basics of horseback riding. She became interested in the therapeutic aspect of riding and took a course on equine therapeutic riding in 2003. After completing the course, she began incorporating some therapeutic riding students into her program. When she started seeing very good results, she became more excited about therapeutic riding. To increase her knowledge, she came to the USA in January 2005 to take a course at Equest Therapeutic Riding School in Wylie. Throughout the years, Krista has bred, raised and trained many horses in Brazil. Krista began teaching at Hannah's Horseshoes of Hope in the Fall of 2005.
Jaclyn Hyde
Jaclyn_hhh@hotmail.com
For as long as she can remember, Jaclyn Hyde has had a great love for horses. At the age of ten she began English riding lessons. This was the beginning of her lifetime hobby. While living in Georgia, she showed with the Georgia Junior Hunter Jumper Association (GJHJA), once riding under the equestrian instructor of the University of Georgia. After moving back to Texas, she began riding western pleasure, and then found herself riding in the North Texas High School Rodeo Association. Jaclyn has worked with many different professional trainers and breed affiliations. She enjoys all disciplines of horseback riding: English/Western, Jumping, Pleasure, Trail Riding, Cutting and Roping.
During her undergraduate studies, Jaclyn worked for YMCA Camp Flaming Arrow in Hunt, TX. While there she spent her time as Head Wrangler, Lifeguard and Night Activities Assistant. The YMCA had a set of special sections each summer dedicated to special needs kids and families.
In her senior year of college Jaclyn served as the Tarleton State Texan Rider, school mascot, for the University. Jaclyn served as a representative for the university with her horse, Taylor.
Jaclyn graduated from Tarleton State University in May 2000 with a Bachelor's Degree in Animal Science and returned to work on a Master's in Agriculture. While working on her Master's Degree, Jaclyn was a Graduate Assistant in the Animal Science Department, which gave her the opportunity to work with the TREAT Program (Tarleton Equine Assisted Therapy). In May of 2002 she finished school with a Master's in Agriculture and a better understanding of how equine assisted therapy benefits students of all ages. In June of 2002 Jaclyn attended the instructor training course at Equest in Wylie, TX.
In the Fall of 2002 Jaclyn began working with Sherman ISD in the special education department. She enjoys working with children and this gives her the chance to work with special need children in an educational environment.
Eileen Leek
Eileen Leek brings a number of years of equestrian experience to HHH. She began her love affair with horses in England where she grew up. Eileen has been riding for over 25 years and has competed in Dressage, Eventing and Show Jumping. She volunteered with Equest Therapeutic Riding Center in Wylie for three years and has been a Registered Instructor at Riding Unlimited in Ponder, TX, for the last two years. Eileen was a working member of the Dallas Pony Club while her daughter was involved with the Club and was secretary for the Dallas Dressage Club for 4 years. She currently owns a 5 year old American Warmblood which she is training and is competing in Dressage. She holds a License as an Insurance Service Representative and is also certified in CPR and First Aid as are all other instructors.
Gail Pace
Advisor
Gail is a graduate of Smith College with a BA in Zoology. She has been associated with Equest Therapeutic Riding Center since 1985. Most recently, she was their Head Instructor from 1996 to 2006. She continues to instruct at Equest part-time. Gail performs NARHA Instructor Certification - workshop faculties � Lead Evaluator. She is also the Lead Site Visitor on NARHA Accreditation visits. Gail has coached local, regional, national and international competitions in dressage, English equitation, Western, and Drill Team. She serves on the NARHA Riding Certification Committee and the NARHA Equestrian Committee. In 2006 Gail was named the NARHA Instructor of the Year. HHH is most fortunate to have had Gail serve as an Advisor since HHH’s inception. She is currently working as Lead Instructor for the Horses for Heroes Program at HHH.
Jillian Wilkison
Jill is an instructor with HHH and a Special Education teacher in the Greenville, TX, School System. She is dedicated to creating a safe and positive learning environment that will make a difference in her students lives by increasing self-confidence, motivation and trust.
Jill received her B.S. Degree in Animal Science from Texas A&M University in Commerce as well as her M.Ed. Degree in Special Education and her M.Ed. Degree in Elementary Education. Jill is a dedicated, resourceful, and innovative instructor who strives to help students change marginal actions/ideas into good actions/ideas, and supports her colleagues in facilitating each student’s social and intellectual growth by creating an atmosphere of mutual respect and open communication.
Jill began riding in 1983 and has competed in the United States Pony Club Nationals Dressage. She has also competed in Hunter/Jumper, Dressage, Combined Training, Sport Horse, Western/English Pleasure, Halter and Showmanship.
Jill and her husband, Jason, own a Delta Certified Therapy Dog, Daisy, and two horses, Magic and Marabella.
Hannah's Horseshoes of Hope