Amy Gayhart
Executive Director
(469) 450-9594
[email protected]
Amy Gayhart serves as the Executive Director of Blue Sky Therapeutic Riding & Respite, where she combines her passion for creativity, storytelling, and serving individuals with special needs. She earned a bachelor’s degree in Art Communications from Howard Payne University and began her career in advertising and marketing before leaving the corporate world to care for her daughter, Mabry, who has special needs.
After discovering the life-changing impact horses had on Mabry, Amy joined Blue Sky’s Board of Directors in 2012. Inspired by the need for meaningful opportunities for adults with special needs after high school, she helped create Blue Sky’s PURPOSE Program, which empowers adults through meaningful opportunities, creative expression, and community.
Today, Amy leads Blue Sky’s continued growth, expanding programs and opportunities that help individuals with special needs and their families thrive. She and her husband, John, live in Prosper, Texas, and have three children—Mabry, Jack, and Slater.
Olivia DiStasio
Horse Program Director, Certified PATH Instructor
(469)-600-9839
[email protected]
Bachelor of Science in Child Development, PATH International Certified Therapeutic Riding Instructor In-Training, Certified Equine Sports Massage Therapist
In 2019, Olivia began her journey at Blue Sky as an intern while completing her degree in Child Development at Texas Woman’s University. After completing her internship, she knew there was nowhere else she would rather be. Her passion for therapeutic riding continued to grow, and she soon became a certified Professional Association of Therapeutic Horsemanship (PATH) Instructor, now serving as Blue Sky’s Horse Program Director.
Olivia is passionate about creating meaningful, memorable experiences for every client who walks through Blue Sky’s doors, with a special place in her heart for the adults with special needs who participate in our programs. It’s a running joke at the barn that Olivia isn’t exactly the crafty one! While she may leave the crafts to the more creative members of the team, she has found her own special way to bring a little extra joy to the Day Program. She loves bringing her Therapy Dog in Training, Ruby, a two-year-old Golden Retriever, to Blue Sky to love on the clients and brighten their day.
Gloria Maillard,
Certified PATH Instructor
[email protected]
Professional Association of Therapeutic Horsemanship Certified Instructor for Riding and Driving, Board Certified Behavior Analyst, M.S. BCBA.
Gloria is a PATH certified therapeutic riding instructor and a Board Certified Behavior Analyst with over 15 years of working with children, adolescents, and adults with ASD, communication disorders, and intellectual delays.
Gloria received a degree in Pack Station/Stable Operation Management and Horse Training from Feather River College and a bachelor’s in psychology from University of Nevada-Reno. She attended the University of North Texas and graduated with a Master of Science in Behavior Analysis in 2014.
Isla Paterson, PATH Certified Riding Instructor [email protected]
Since January 2022, Isla has been part of the Blue Sky family, bringing with her a lifelong love of horses and a passion for working with individuals with special needs. Isla has been riding horses since she was four years old, and her connection with the special needs community began around the same time. These two passions have continued to shape both her personal and professional journey.
Isla currently works as an elementary Special Education teacher, where she has the opportunity to support students with a variety of learning needs.
At Blue Sky, Isla loves seeing the impact that horses and therapeutic riding can have on clients. She especially enjoys creating connections with clients and watching their confidence and joy grow throughout their time at the barn. Whether she is helping with lessons, spending time with the horses, or simply being there to cheer on the clients, Isla is grateful to be part of the Blue Sky team and to combine two lifelong passions into something meaningful.
Brook Wistl, PURPOSE Program Lead
[email protected]
Brooklynn began her journey at Blue Sky as a practicum student while completing her degree in Rehabilitation Studies and earning her certification in Trauma-Informed Care at the University of North Texas. She quickly developed a passion for working closely with clients and assisting with the care of horses, goats, and her personal favorites, the barn cats. Her involvement in the PURPOSE Program deepened her commitment to being an integral part of the clients’ daily lives, supporting them through their challenges and celebrating their victories. Thrilled to officially join the Blue Sky team, Brooklynn continues to grow both her experience and her connections with clients.
Outside of Blue Sky, Brooklynn loves spending quality time with her family and enjoys crocheting. She lives in Denton with her cat, Stella, and her hedgehog, Sheriff.
Brooklin Reim, PURPOSE Program Assistant [email protected]
Brooklin Reim is a graduate of the University of Arkansas with a degree in Human Development and Family Sciences. She joined Blue Sky as an intern in May 2025, and quickly realized how much she loved the organization’s mission and the impact it has on the individuals and families it serves. Brooklin now works in the PURPOSE Program, where she enjoys building meaningful relationships and helping each PURPOSE Partner thrive each day.
She loves spending time with her dogs Rip and Nellie, and her cat Junie.
Lynn Molen, Volunteer Coordinator [email protected]
Lynn Molen first connected with Blue Sky in 2019 when her daughters, Maci and Meileigh, joined the therapeutic riding program. As a parent of children with disabilities, she holds a deep understanding of the challenges families with unique needs face.
She received a degree in Education from Kent State University, which has led to a diverse career in teaching and curriculum. Lynn and her husband, Brad, have six children and live on a small farm in Ponder, where she enjoys caring for a handful of spoiled goats.
Beverly Aten, Facilities Coordinator [email protected]
Beverly Aten was born and raised in Lamesa, Texas. She attended college at Levelland College and Texas Tech University.
In 1970 she moved to the North Texas area where she owned and operated several small businesses until 2003. In the spring of 2003 she began working in the Food and Nutrition Department at Denton Regional Medical Center, where she remained for 15 years. In 2010 she was named Employee of the Year.
Beverly has been involved with horses and western lifestyle her entire life. She began volunteering for Blue Sky Therapeutic Riding and Respite in 2010. She has been invaluable in the planning and development of the Purpose Project at Blue Sky.
Beverly currently resides in Pilot Point, Texas.
Ruth Carney, PURPOSE Program Assistant [email protected]
Ruth started her journey at Blue Sky in the summer of 2026 after being a life skills aide at a high school for 4 years. After starting in the life skills class she knew that she found her passion to work with individuals with special needs and will never turn back. Ruth is very excited to start her path at Blue Sky, she very much enjoys the animals, the fun crafts, and, of course, all her new friends.
Outside of Blue Sky, Ruth likes to hang out with her boyfriend, Jaxon, and her two dogs, Oakley and Reggie, or work on art projects at her home in Fort Worth.