Kim Tschirret
Founder & CEO

I didn’t even realize I was a session kid until we got further along in ministry. When I was a child, I didn’t have a Hope Reins or Jesus, but I did have a horse where I continually found comfort and safety. God always works in us in ways that apply to us and what I discovered with the growth of Hope Reins was true personal healing and unconditional love from a loving Father.

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Barbara Foulkrod


Barbara Foulkrod
Chief Operating Officer

Hope Reins combines everything that I love: the redemptive power of the Gospel, family, community, horses and the outdoors. While I am passionate about everything out at Hope Reins, my favorite moments happen when I step back as the Lord showcases His healing power and hope-giving love. This showcase happens weekly during sessions but, honestly, it takes place every time the gate is open to volunteers, donors and community partners.

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Martha McNair-Russell
Director of Corporate Services

A consultant for Hope Reins invited me to become a part of their Diversity Task Force in 2021. I was able to connect and strategize with Believers who truly understand ‘Kingdom Ministry’. I observed and found out that Hope Reins operated in the spirit of excellence. Children are our heritage and there is no greater task in life that we as adults have than to support and shepherd our young ones. Hope Reins does this through ministry, mentor-support, and the love and nurturing process of equine therapy.

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Ashlee Hilburn


Ashlee Hilburn
Director of Programs

There is nothing more powerful and life-transforming than the hope found in a relationship with Jesus! Hope Reins champions this truth by being a place where our kids and families can come to experience true Hope and real healing amongst a community overflowing with Christ- centered love and authenticity.

Read the rest of Ashlee’s story.


Hilary Schultz
Director of The Academy

Hope Reins is a beautiful way to be the hands and feet of Jesus. I have one goal in life: toshare the joy that I have in Christ. At Hope Reins, I get to live out Joy in Christ through  the things I love most: kids, horses, people and beautiful outdoors! Tell me that is not a  dream come true!

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Lory Schuler
Director of Development

When my husband and I stood in the middle of the Hope Reins parking lot for the first time, we felt the tangible presence of the Holy Spirit: “Possible” was the word I heard whispered to me that day. At the time, I did not know what God meant by that word, but in the following weeks, as I prayed for His clarity, I knew there was no other place I would rather invest my time and passion.

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Jennifer Shepard


Jennifer Shepard
Director of Operations

I discovered Hope Reins shortly after moving cross-country in 2010, searching for purpose and needing healing in my own life. I found both in the beautiful people and horses I met here and in the amazing ways God gave meaning to my story in light of Hope Reins’ vision and mission.

As Director of Operations, I have the privilege of ensuring that a child will find all they need at the Ranch to engage in healing and building resiliency. This includes our amazing horses, the best group of volunteers on the planet, and the beautiful Ranch which becomes a safe haven of hope.

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Suzanne Lewis
Director of Marketing & Communications

My family and I have been a part of the Hope Reins family for years. We found Hope Reins as a way to connect and serve when we relocated back to North Carolina after living in Florida for nine years. Having seen the power of horses to connect with children through an organization in Florida, we were instantly drawn to the mission of Hope Reins!

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Maggie Ardizzoni
Program Staff Manager

As a horse-lover and follower of Jesus, I could not think of a better place to partner with God in his healing work than at Hope Reins. Throughout my life, I have been deeply impacted by both horses and discipleship, which has given me a passion for each. In recent years, I have also developed a desire to pursue full-time Christian ministry, so that hurting people might experience the gospel of Jesus, the ultimate healer. When I first heard about Hope Reins from a friend, I felt that God was opening a door for me to use the gifts and passions He has given me to serve families in crisis.

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Jennifer Brasington, MSW, LCSWA
Program Strategist

As Program Strategist, I analyze and modify our tools, data, and training to increase our program’s effectiveness in inspiring true hope and real healing for every child. It is my job to ensure our horsemanship, discipleship, and mentorship practices are both evidence-based and trauma-informed.

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Angela Evans
Program Administration Mgr.

Hope, Healing and Love. Faith and trust in God’s word as a promise for that healing. Horses, mentors, volunteers and families supporting children while shepherding them from trauma to resilience. That is Hope Reins. Service and community are my heartbeat. They drive me and wake me up in the morning. God prepared me for this role, but I didn’t know where he was going to place me. I am so grateful that he placed me here.

Hope Reins is healing me.

Read the rest of Angela’s story.


Cheryl Pottschmidt, MSW
Client Intake Manager

As a follower of Jesus, a lover of all animals, and someone passionate about serving people and equipping them to thrive, I feel so blessed to work with the families here at Hope Reins.

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Kami Recla
The Academy Manager

Kami brings a depth of understanding and empathy for our kids and families, unlike any other board member. In 2016, her beloved husband, Major Benjamin Recla, died by suicide while serving at West Point. The family was devastated.

“I just picked a spot on the map,” says Kami, a North Dakota native, and she and her two young kids, Austin and Lauren, left New York bound for Raleigh, North Carolina.

Read the rest of Kami’s story.


Jennifer Gerber
Development Strategy and Operations Manager

I ended up at Hope Reins by accident. Looking back, it was clearly God putting me here on purpose.

Initially, I was working for a development consulting firm and was placed at Hope Reins when they were looking for a contract person to fill operational support on the development team. A few months into my contract, the leadership team saw the potential and need for my skills in a long-term role. I will be forever grateful to them for that decision!

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Seth Noble
Donor Relations Officer

Prior to Hope Reins, I spent my career in higher education development. I began feeling a deeper pull to serve in a way that could make an eternal impact. After thoughtful reflection, I realized that I could use my professional skills and experiences to contribute to a mission much greater than myself. That journey led me to Hope Reins.

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Brittany Westmoreland
Donor Relations Officer

From the moment I stepped onto the ranch, I knew Hope Reins was a special place—a space where God is at work and where true hope and healing happen every day. I was first drawn to the mission because of my passion for communities that offer radical hope. It’s a profound privilege to be part of a team that lives out grace as our default and witnesses daily how Jesus heals.

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Michelle Gay


Michelle Gay
Volunteer Manager

As the Volunteer Manager at Hope Reins, I have the privilege of working with our amazing dream team of volunteers on our Ranch, Equine, and Programs Teams that are essential for making the ranch run efficiently. Bringing in new volunteers and introducing them to our program and the heart of what we do is such a joyful experience. Our community works together to ensure that the ranch and the horses are ready to provide the safe refuge our kids need.

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Elizabeth Love Kennon
Equine Training Manager

Hope Reins is the place where I can share the love and grace of God. Here, through the experience of connecting deeply with ourselves and others via extraordinary relationships with horses, God opens hearts, heals old wounds, and brings hope into our lives. I’m so blessed to be part of this process and incredible community.

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Harriette Liederbach
Equine Care Manager

I serve as the Equine Care Manager at Hope Reins, bringing my lifelong love for God, children, and horses into one calling. I was drawn to this ministry by a desire to see those passions united. I see Hope Reins not just as a workplace but as a place of healing, discipleship, and joy.

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Michael Ulasi
Ranch Manager

I came to Hope Reins as a Program Specialist after hearing that it was a special place from several friends. Hope Reins is a place where the redemptive Love of Christ is exemplified so evidently.

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