Our History
Arena was founded 2008 in Dripping Springs, Texas as a 501c3 non-profit and operates as a PATH Premier Accredited Center on 20 acres in the beautiful hill country. Starting with just six children in physical therapy on the horse and have grown to serve over 200 children and adults of all ability levels per week in the various unique programs we offer. In 2018 the second location in San Marcos was opened.
The mission is to empower individuals with disabilities through horses. The word "disability" is used, but the program never limits by person, by a diagnosis or preconceived limitation. Our goal is to help every participant develop skills and confidence that can be carried into every aspect of their life.
Through the years we have found the importance of family and community involvement to create more inclusive opportunities for every ability level. We have expanded to serve more of the community through our job training, educational programs and family support services. We also partner with other nonprofits to provide safe and empowering horse experiences that benefit their programs and participants.
The mission is to empower individuals with disabilities through horses. The word "disability" is used, but the program never limits by person, by a diagnosis or preconceived limitation. Our goal is to help every participant develop skills and confidence that can be carried into every aspect of their life.
Through the years we have found the importance of family and community involvement to create more inclusive opportunities for every ability level. We have expanded to serve more of the community through our job training, educational programs and family support services. We also partner with other nonprofits to provide safe and empowering horse experiences that benefit their programs and participants.
Our Board of Directors
President “Missy” Knebel, RN
Mary "Missy" Knebel is President of the Board of Directors of Red Arena. As the mother of a child who sustained a traumatic brain injury she is uniquely aware of the life changing therapies that can only be carried out with the assistance of a horse. Missy has been volunteering with Red Arena weekly since 2007. She has served in numerous roles including Board Treasurer, Round Up Chairman, Scholarship Committee Chair and Strategic Planning Committee. She continues to volunteer every week as a horse handler. Missy presently sits on the Board of Directors of a national nonprofit organization, L3 (Lives of Leadership and Legacy) and serves as it's Health and Wellness Chairman. Missy has also volunteered for other nonprofit organizations including Animal Trustees of Austin, Lake Travis Youth Association and Project Graduation. A graduate of the University of Texas at Houston, Missy holds a Bachelor of Science in Nursing Degree. Prior to her retirement last year Missy was a shareholder and Director of Nurses for Robinson Creek Home Care and Hospice Inc. for over twenty years. During her free time Missy enjoys riding and showing her Arabian gelding Eddie.
Vice President Caroline Juszczcak
Caroline has been a RED Arena weekly volunteer since 2009. Caroline has served as a Chair of Round-Up for the past 4 years and Scholarship Committee Chair past 2 years. Caroline has always had a heart for helping kids, and before moving to Austin, volunteered as a court-appointed advocate/guardian ad litem for children in the care of Child Protective Services in Harris County. To pay the bills, Caroline works as an information development manager at a company Forbes called one of the top 10 fastest growing technology companies, but volunteering at RED Arena and seeing the positive change it makes is where her passion is.
Secretary Kathy Hildebrandt
Kathy has been a vital weekly volunteer at Red Arena since 2008 giving countless hours to assist with equine selection, care, transportation, program development & weekly program sessions. She was born & raised in Houston, Texas. She graduated from Southwestern University at Georgetown. She has competed successfully at the National Level with her beloved Arabian horse, Chance (Fames Night Fever). Kathy has served as Secretary of the Board of Directors since 2010 and as a Round-Up Chair the past 5 years. She is also a supporter of P.A.W.S Shelter & Humane Society & Bluebonnet Equine Humane Society.
Treasurer briain Strickland
Brian and his wife, Teresa, of 35 years along with their three sons have all volunteered at Red Arena since 2013. They are horse owners and are supporters of several horse centric nonprofit organizations. Brian is currently a private equity investor focusing on real estate and related opportunities. He has over 25 years of real estate finance experience, including mergers, acquisitions, dispositions, joint ventures, private placements, and public equity offering. Brian has completed more than $14 billion of real estate transactions. Mr. Strickland graduated with a BBA in Accounting from Texas Tech University in 1985. He started his career at Ernst & Young in 1986 and was certified as a CPA in 1988. Brian served as Vice President of Tax at Wyndham International, Executive Vice President and CFO of CNL Hotels & Resorts Inc., CFO of JMI Realty LLC and Managing Director of S-Five Investors. Brian also served as an independent member of the board of directors for Felcor Lodging Trust Inc., a publicly traded Real Estate Investment Trust.
Member Jolynn joyce, DVM, Ms, DACVS
Austin Equine Associates
Dr. JoLynn Joyce is a native of Huntsville, Texas. She attended Texas A&M University where she earned both her Bachelor and Doctor of Veterinary Medicine degrees. Following veterinary school, Dr. Joyce completed an equine internship at Waller Equine Hospital and then went on to Colorado State University to complete a surgical residency. She became board certified by the American College of Veterinary Surgeons in 2009. She was happy to return to the great state of Texas and make Austin Equine her home. Her areas of interest include lameness and surgery. She and her husband live in the area and enjoy live music, outdoors and spending time with family.
Dr. JoLynn Joyce is a native of Huntsville, Texas. She attended Texas A&M University where she earned both her Bachelor and Doctor of Veterinary Medicine degrees. Following veterinary school, Dr. Joyce completed an equine internship at Waller Equine Hospital and then went on to Colorado State University to complete a surgical residency. She became board certified by the American College of Veterinary Surgeons in 2009. She was happy to return to the great state of Texas and make Austin Equine her home. Her areas of interest include lameness and surgery. She and her husband live in the area and enjoy live music, outdoors and spending time with family.
Member Myrna F. Young
Executive Director/CEO of Everywoman Opportunity Center, Inc. (Ret)
Founding President of Red Arena Board of Directors
Under her leadership, Everywoman Opportunity Center, Inc. won state and national recognition. Myrna and Everywoman received the prestigious US Department of Labor's national Exemplary Public Interest Contribution (EPIC) Award--one of only five awarded in the nation. She is well known as an expert in nonprofit management as well as training program design. She sits on several Boards of Directors including currently serving as President of Wider Opportunities for Women---a fifty year old organization based in Washington DC. She is the recipient of many awards including being named to the WNY Women's Hall of Fame. She has a M.ED. from the University of Texas at El Paso.
Founding President of Red Arena Board of Directors
Under her leadership, Everywoman Opportunity Center, Inc. won state and national recognition. Myrna and Everywoman received the prestigious US Department of Labor's national Exemplary Public Interest Contribution (EPIC) Award--one of only five awarded in the nation. She is well known as an expert in nonprofit management as well as training program design. She sits on several Boards of Directors including currently serving as President of Wider Opportunities for Women---a fifty year old organization based in Washington DC. She is the recipient of many awards including being named to the WNY Women's Hall of Fame. She has a M.ED. from the University of Texas at El Paso.
Member Michelle Mccool-calaway
Calacool Foundation
Michelle played softball in college, graduating from Florida State University in 2001. Later she earned a Masters degree in Educational Leadership and taught 7th grade Science for four years. She joined World Wrestling Entertainment as a competitor in the 2004 WWE Diva Search. Though she didn’t win, she signed a contract with WWE and later debuted on WWE SmackDown! Career highlights include being the 1st ever Divas Champion; first woman to hold both the Divas & Women's Championship; winner of the 2008 SmackDown Top Diva Competition and Pro Wrestling's Top performer in 2010.
Aside from wrestling, she also appeared on television programs such as Family Feud, Project Runway, The Best Damn Sports Show Period, Extreme Makeover: Weight Loss Edition, and Are You Smarter Than a Fifth Grader. While with the WWE, she and her husband Mark Calaway performed an annual “Tribute to the Troops” show, worked with Make-a-wish Foundation, Special Olympics and many more foundations. She left wrestling and retired at the age of 31 and in 2012, her beautiful daughter, Kaia, was born. Michelle is busy with enjoying the greatest blessing God has given her. She and her husband I have started The Calacool Foundation, focusing on helping our Veteran community. They are active at Lake Hills Church where they are involved with Mobile Loaves & Fishes.
Michelle played softball in college, graduating from Florida State University in 2001. Later she earned a Masters degree in Educational Leadership and taught 7th grade Science for four years. She joined World Wrestling Entertainment as a competitor in the 2004 WWE Diva Search. Though she didn’t win, she signed a contract with WWE and later debuted on WWE SmackDown! Career highlights include being the 1st ever Divas Champion; first woman to hold both the Divas & Women's Championship; winner of the 2008 SmackDown Top Diva Competition and Pro Wrestling's Top performer in 2010.
Aside from wrestling, she also appeared on television programs such as Family Feud, Project Runway, The Best Damn Sports Show Period, Extreme Makeover: Weight Loss Edition, and Are You Smarter Than a Fifth Grader. While with the WWE, she and her husband Mark Calaway performed an annual “Tribute to the Troops” show, worked with Make-a-wish Foundation, Special Olympics and many more foundations. She left wrestling and retired at the age of 31 and in 2012, her beautiful daughter, Kaia, was born. Michelle is busy with enjoying the greatest blessing God has given her. She and her husband I have started The Calacool Foundation, focusing on helping our Veteran community. They are active at Lake Hills Church where they are involved with Mobile Loaves & Fishes.
Member Marie Lowman
SAS, Principal Consultant Government
As a parent of a rider, Marie has been involved with Red Arena since its inception in 2008. Marie is employed by SAS, the world’s largest privately held business intelligence vendor, as an international marketing manager for the government practice. Marie is responsible for leading a marketing team that brings the power of SAS analytics to more than 80 countries’ public sector organizations. With more than 20 years of international public sector experience under her belt, Lowman is known for her hands-on selling, marketing, and management approach. She is currently serving her second term as an elected council member for the City of Bee Cave, Texas.
As a parent of a rider, Marie has been involved with Red Arena since its inception in 2008. Marie is employed by SAS, the world’s largest privately held business intelligence vendor, as an international marketing manager for the government practice. Marie is responsible for leading a marketing team that brings the power of SAS analytics to more than 80 countries’ public sector organizations. With more than 20 years of international public sector experience under her belt, Lowman is known for her hands-on selling, marketing, and management approach. She is currently serving her second term as an elected council member for the City of Bee Cave, Texas.
MEMBER catherine schnurr
Legal Counsel, Spiceworks
Catherine has been a practicing lawyer for over 20 years and has focused on advising technology companies and their boards of directors. Catherine is currently Chief Legal Officer of Spiceworks, Inc. and was previously with Wilson Sonsini Goodrich & Rosati, PC. She has focused on corporate governance, venture capital and private equity financings, mergers & acquisitions as well as cybersecurity and data privacy issues. Although not a native Texan, Catherine has lived happily in Austin since May of 1999 – despite the cedar fever. Catherine has two very talkative pre-teen daughters, enjoys tennis and her Peloton.
Catherine has been a practicing lawyer for over 20 years and has focused on advising technology companies and their boards of directors. Catherine is currently Chief Legal Officer of Spiceworks, Inc. and was previously with Wilson Sonsini Goodrich & Rosati, PC. She has focused on corporate governance, venture capital and private equity financings, mergers & acquisitions as well as cybersecurity and data privacy issues. Although not a native Texan, Catherine has lived happily in Austin since May of 1999 – despite the cedar fever. Catherine has two very talkative pre-teen daughters, enjoys tennis and her Peloton.
ED/CEO JENNIFER YOUNG, PT
Jennifer Young, PT founded RED Arena out of her deep passion for believing that a preconceived diagnosis did not need to limit a person. Her approach found individual's strengths and built upon them. Jennifer Young, PT, is a Physical Therapist licensed in the state of Texas since 1997. She is a PATH Registered Therapist and Level II Therapist with American Hippotherapy Association, and has been practicing equine assisted physical therapy since 2004. She was born and raised in El Paso, Texas, and attended Texas State University to receive a Bachelors in Applied Sociology, Cum Laude, in 1995 and a Masters of Science in Physical Therapy, 1997. She is the Founder and Owner of Children’s Therapy Services, a private pediatric therapy group serving Greater Austin. Jennifer is the proud mom of two sons.
In the News
Here's some of the buzz. Please CONTACT us for press kits and interview contacts.
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KVUE Anchor, Brian Mayes, visits RED Arena!
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Dustin Morton wins Volunteer Award!
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Annual Reports
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Check out how we've grown! We work to keep our administration expenses as low as possible so that most of our expenditures are for direct programming.
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Our mission is to empower individuals with disabilities through horses.