NIKKI LANDA Executive Director |
Nikki is a fifth generation Nevadan who grew up on family ranches falling in love with horses from an early age. Throughout her younger years Nikki and her horses participated at local shows. In high school, she discovered her life’s biggest pleasure through an internship; equine assisted services. In 2014 she graduated from the University of Nevada, Reno with a bachelors in Social Work. After years of volunteering at local therapeutic riding centers, Nikki completed the Instructor in Training Course at High Hopes Therapeutic Riding Inc. in the fall of 2017; where she completed a life goal and became a PATH Intl. Certified Instructor and Equine Specialist in Mental Health and Learning. When she is not riding horses, Nikki also enjoys spending time with her husband and son, hiking with her dog, traveling, and spending time with family and friends. |
SCOTT & KAROLYN HOOPER Horsemanship for heroes program directors |
Karolyn and Scott Hooper direct the Horsemanship for Heroes program at the Center for Adaptive Riding in Reno, Nevada. They both retired from the United States Army in 2016 after a combined 49 years of active-duty service. Between the two of them, they participated in seven combat deployments (Somalia, Iraq x4, and Afghanistan x2), as well as each serving a Peacekeeping Operational tour in Bosnia-Herzegovina.
The Hoopers have a passion for servicemembers and appreciate the sacrifices our veterans and their families have made in defense of our nation. Those sacrifices came during times of both war and peace. Veteran traumas are not limited to combat experiences. The Hoopers appreciate this and established the Horsemanship for Heroes program as a way to continue serving those who have served. As horse owners, Karolyn and Scott have personally experienced the power of the human-horse bond. They are excited to continue serving by introducing others to that incredible power. Their goal is identified in the program’s motto: Helping Heroes Heal |
MADDY BROWNE SOCIAL MEDIA COORDINATOR |
JEN SANTOS BARN MANAGER |
SYDNEE HILLYARD BARN ASSISTANT |
ZEPHYR STANFIELD BARN assistant |