Therapeutic Riding Center of Huntington Beach

I became the TRCHB Treasurer when our previous Treasurer Kristi Mailing was transferred with her husband to China in 1997. For the past 26 years I have prepared taxes and done some light bookkeeping. I had been the treasurer of the short lived “Diamond Angels”, a group of women from the Equestrian Center who were concerned about the maintenance of the horses with TRC, and for the last 21 years, I have been the treasurer of Equestrian Trails, Inc, Corral 100. It was a good fit; except for QuickBooks, everything else was easy.

My horse, Azurun, was a rescue from the Los Alamitos Race Track. He is known as a running quarter. I got him

I am a 4th generation Southern Californian. Born in Long Beach, I was raised in Lemon Heights in North Tustin. Growing up in the 60s and 70s, many of my friends had horses. I enjoyed riding and pursued my passion through Girl Scout opportunities. Today as an adult, I continue to ride for pleasure. Along with my joy of riding and the outdoors, I have consistently had a heart for those with special needs. Yet, my career did not start off in this direction.

While enjoying a successful career as a professional harpist, I was blessed with a student with special needs -

Katie. Katie had been asked to leave her private school due to her special needs, and through working with Katie, I discovered a new passion - the development of alternative settings for children with special needs. With public school as the only option to serve children with special needs, I began on a career path that for the last 20 years I have greatly enjoyed.

Currently, I am the owner of a nationally based consulting firm, Alternative Designs for Special Education, LLC, which empowers private and parochial schools in the development of special education programming. In addition, I am a doctoral student in educational leadership, administration, and policy at Pepperdine University. Yet I am first and foremost a trained special educator who advocates for children with special needs.

Building and developing alternative settings which provide those with disabilities a new avenue in which to develop their strengths and encourage their areas of weakness, is what draws me to TRCHB. Having just recently joined the board, I am impressed by the enthusiasm and passion of the board members and the heart that each one of them has for the students they serve and for the souls of the horses who assist us in our efforts. I currently reside in Irvine with my two college age daughters, of whom I could not be more proud.

when he was 4 years old, January of 1991. We were with the trainer, Tina Duree, then and trained in Trail, Pleasure, Horsemanship, and Showmanship. We had many fun adventures in the show ring, and finally were Year End Show Champions in 1995, at the ETI Corral 100 Show Circuit. After that, Tina Duree moved out to Anaheim and Azurun and I did English with mild success at the AQHA level. I got tired of driving to Anaheim, so brought AZ back to HCPEC early in 2005.

Besides riding Azurun, I like to ride on vacations around the world. I have been to Ireland, Majorca, and Greece so far. I keep planning many more!! My husband, Mike and I take a trip once a year to somewhere outside the US, and I try to get on a horse each time, even if it isn't in the program! I have ridden a camel, an elephant, and almost got on a Yak in China. He didn't look too friendly, and the whole group we were with would have had to wait, so I didn't get on him but I fed him rice flour, which is a treat for a Yak!The best horse ride was in Jordan, where I galloped a young Arabian gelding in Petra!

Donna Brandt - Vice President
I grew up in Missouri. My grandparents had a 500 acre farm that we went to almost every weekend. I loved that place. They had all kinds of farm animals…and horses. We were never allowed to ride them though. My favorite was a horse named “Paint”. My cousins also had horses in their backyard, just 5 miles from my house. Yet, we couldn't ride them either. When I went to a college, I got involved in their riding program and rode saddle seat. I won some ribbons and found myself hooked.

I moved to California after graduating with an engineering degree and met my husband, Bruce. While living in Santa Ana Heights, we bought two racehorses and kept them in our backyard. We rode every chance we could. After our first child was born, we decided horses were too much work, so we moved to Huntington Beach. There, we had our second child, Jamie, who has severe developmental delays and autism. It wasn't until after our third child was born that I heard about the Therapeutic Riding Center. Jamie started riding with TRC at about 8 years old. She flourished. Pretty soon I was a sidewalker and horse leader. Fast forward 10 years and I am a board member and instructor.

Our entire family is involved with this unbelievable program. We all have volunteered and have helped with our fundraisers. I have seen first hand what this program can do for children and adults with all different types of disabilities. It builds confidence and self-esteem where there is usually little, as well as the obvious benefits of hippotherapy.

Today we own a sweet horse named Trigger that everyone in our family can ride. So, come join us in this rewarding journey as a volunteer, student or instructor! You won't be disappointed when you come away with much more than you can give!!