Amy Gayhart
Executive Director
(469) 450-9594
[email protected]
Amy has a bachelor’s degree in art communications from Howard Payne University. Amy served as the marketing intern for Howard Payne for 3 years and found a love for telling stories through marketing and media. As a member of Delta Chi Rho sorority, she served as an officer for 3 years, including president her senior year. After college, Amy worked in advertising and administration. In 2003 Amy left the corporate world to stay home and care for her special needs daughter, Mabry. She continued to explore creative outlets by running her own painted mural and photography business.
Amy’s daughter Mabry had years of extensive therapy before finding her true love which was horses. That love brought them to Blue Sky where Amy started serving on the Board of Directors in 2012. Serving and volunteering at Blue Sky sparked a desire to do more for the special needs community. With the daunting realization that her daughter, Mabry, would soon age out of the public school system she was determined to create a program where special needs adults could be in community while living out their purpose. So, in addition to therapeutic horseback riding, Amy and her faithful volunteers at Blue Sky created the PURPOSE Program, which is a day program for special needs adults.
Amy is married to John, and they live in Prosper, Texas with their 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
Olivia began her journey at Blue Sky as an intern, finishing her Child Development degree at Texas Women’s University. After completing her Internship, Olivia knew that there was no place she’d rather be. Her passion for therapeutic riding continued to grow and she soon became certified as a Professional Association of Therapeutic Horsemanship (PATH) Instructor. Also, her love for our Blue Sky horses motivated her to pursue her certification in Equine Sports Massage Therapy, so that she could learn how to give back to the horses in a meaningful way through the benefits of Equine Massage. Olivia now serves as our Horse Program Director.
Olivia pursues dressage and jumping training from. You will also see Olivia inside, supporting the PURPOSE program whenever she can.
Olivia lives in Aubrey with her dogs Moe, Lola, and Ruby.
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]
Isla is currently working towards a degree in Special Education at the elementary level from UNT. It has always been her life long goal to teach and better the lives of others.
Isla has been around horses since she was 6 and. Isla competes in Hunter/Jumper and also competes with the UNT equestrian team. Isla lives in Denton with her lizard Winnie.
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.