STAFF

Tonya Danielly
Executive Director

Missy Hiebert
Equestrian Program Manager

Gale Nichols
Administrative Assistant

Cynthia Renteria
Volunteer Coordinator

Amanda Chico
Teacher

Samantha Chico
Teacher

Cheyenne Garcia
Teacher

Eilene Foronda
Teacher’s Aide

Loretta Murriel
Teacher’s Aide

Christina Paad
Teacher

Cynthia Renteria
Lead Teacher

Mariah Zizzo
Teacher’s Aide

Equine Staff

Samantha Chico – Riding Instructor
Samantha began volunteering at Ivey Ranch in the Fall of 2011 and worked her way up to gaining employment and becoming a PATH Registered Level Instructor. She has experience in multiple departments which include the Equestrian Center, On-site Daycare, and In-Home Respite. Samantha is currently pursuing a Master’s degree in Social Work at California State University San Marcos and continues to combine her passion for working with children and families at Ivey Ranch. She aspires to use her working knowledge to bring rider and horse together to develop a sense of self and confidence.

Savannah Hayward – Instructor
Savannah has been an instructor at Ivey Ranch since the Fall of 2017. Before that, Savannah was managing a dressage farm in Vermont. While in Vermont she graduated from Michigan State University with a Horse Management Certificate and, in the summers, she worked at a horse camp teaching beginners the basics of riding. Savannah loves helping people build bonds with horses that can help overcome obstacles while riding, and in their daily lives.

Missy Hiebert – Lead Instructor
Missy has over twenty years of experience with horses in all disciplines. She graduated from Montana State University with a B.S. in animal science, and competed for the university on MSU’s equestrian team. While working at Ivey, she has become a PATH certified, registered level instructor. She believes correct horsemanship and equitation are the foundation for a good relationship between horse and rider, and enjoys sharing her love of horseback riding with both new and experienced riders.

Elizabeth Marg – THR Instructor
Liz has been an avid equestrian all her life. She began volunteering at a PATH center in Arkansas in 2004 and then became a PATH Registered Level instructor in 2006, where it became her full-time profession for the next 10 years. After moving to San Diego in 2017, she was delighted to continue instructing on a fill-in basis at Ivey Ranch. Her background is in dressage, but she’s also dabbled in hunter/jumper, cutting, western pleasure and most recently, polo.

Amy Sheets – PATH Intl. Master Level Instructor and Lead Faculty/Evaluator for Registered, Advanced, and Master level certifications
Amy has over 25 years of experience teaching therapeutic riding, is a past committee chair of the PATH Intl. Riding Instructor Certification Sub-Committee, and has conducted workshops and instructor certifications across the United States and in Israel. Her equestrian background includes hunter/jumper, dressage, western pleasure, western trail, and cowboy challenge.
Quote from Amy: “I am thrilled to be a part of the Ivey Ranch team. The work environment is open and friendly and joyful! I feel like I have come home – teaching riders with special needs is truly where my heart is.”

Wendy Sears – Riding Instructor
Wendy has trained with International Grand Prix winners and Olympic Show Jumping qualifiers over the past 20 years. She has instructed children and adults in hunter/jumper equitation. Wendy associates the horse’s subtle ability to teach us about ourselves and eagerly shares her knowledge of horseback riding.

Edith Snyder 
Edith has over 12 years experience working with children with special needs. She got involved with horses after adopting her horse back in 2009 (unplanned). She introduced her god daughter, who is autistic, to her horse and saw first hand how special therapeutic horses are. In the spring of 2015 she started volunteering at Ivey Ranch and is now an Instructor in Training through PATH Intl.