Message From The Chairman

For the Foundation that I love so much, my message is hard to put into words. First, I wish to acknowledge the leaders who paved a smooth road for me to follow for the outstanding work they have done.

And I am equally excited about our new board members! They bring diversity and some new faces to the table. I look forward to building a relationship with each of you that will help the NSBA Foundation continue to shape a future that is both resilient and rewarding.

All your passion and dedication for this cause shines through and I will do my best to uphold what you have done. 

In 2025, we are also placing a special emphasis on mental health. We recognize the significant role mental wellness plays in our success, whether for an owner or professional. The NSBA Foundation is committed to partnering with organizations that can provide useful tools and support by raising awareness and offering resources, we aim to foster a healthier, more resilient community.

The road ahead will continue the same message. The NSBA Foundation stands on five pillars of service, and all are of equal importance to this industry we are all so passionate about. Again, those pillars are 1) Animal Welfare – raising awareness and keeping the best Interest of the horse 2) Crisis Fund – helping professionals from sudden hardship or disasters 3) Education – Scholarships, the Coaches Summit and Tomorrows Horsemen 4) Equestrians With Disabilities – insuring they and our Veterans through Heroes On Horses have a fair and level playing field to show in and 5) the Champion Fund - unrestricted funds that allow the Foundation to grow new ideas.

My message for the upcoming year is one of awareness and communication. Not only for our members, but beyond and into our industry. Our goal is to be at a show near you!

“It it’s important to you, it’s important to us.”

I want you to feel free to communicate with me or any board member if you would like to express concerns or give suggestions. We are all great listeners and look forward to your input.

To close, I’d like to reflect on how we got here and project how we see ourselves moving forward through some challenging times.

“A new year is a fresh set of hoofprints in the dirt –
ride forward with purpose, patience and heart.”
“Listen more than you talk, give more than you take,
and above all else, love more than you hate.”

Bob Kennedy

2026 Chair, NSBA Foundation

Board of Directors

Passion for the horse industry and passion for serving other seems to rise to the forefront for this year's leaders on the National Snaffle Bit Association's Foundation board of directors. This team is tasked with assisting the Foundation in administering its core programs, including Equestrians With Disabilities Grant Program, Trainer Crisis Fund, Heroes On Horses, Animal Welfare Fund and the Youth Scholarship Program.

Barbara Crawford

Past Chair & Treasurer

Barbara Crawford, of Folsom, California has a passion for education and giving back to her community. Growing up in a military family, her first experience with horses was at a military base during the Vietnam War, where she realized the therapeutic benefits of horses for both herself and her military friends. After sponsoring a veteran rider in 2020 for the NSBA World Championship Show, she realized that her experience, both personally and professionally, could help further the NSBA Foundation and give back to the horse industry.

With a passion for diversity and inclusion, Barbara chose a career in healthcare as a registered nurse. She became the senior executive as a clinical quality and improvement leader for an organization that is recognized as a national leader in healthcare and led the organization into top decile performance in almost every clinical area of healthcare.

With over 40 years of experience and a passion for creating equality and opportunity for people to grow and progress with guidance and mentorship, Barbara is enthusiastic and eager to learn more and to bring her professional views to the foundation board. She hopes to create mentorship opportunities for all members and to give back to the equine industry in a way that will benefit all members alike.

Barbara is thrilled to be "back in the saddle" and actively showing again with her all-around horse in a variety of western events.

Alyse Roberts

Chair Elect

Originally hailing from our neighbors to the north in Canada, Alyse Roberts had a passion for horses as long as she could remember. She grew up showing local Quarter Horse shows from Ontario, Canada, to stateside in Michigan. A day after graduating high school, she moved to the United States to begin her path as a professional by working as an assistant to some of the industry’s top trainers. In 2010, Alyse Roberts Performance Horses was established in Scottsdale, Arizona, and in 2013 moved her business to Oklahoma, where it has continued to grow and develop. In 2020, Alyse and her husband, Caleb Pena, bought their own farm in Purcell, where they currently reside. Alyse’s program focuses on the development of the Hunter Under Saddle horse from start to finish, as well as coaching her Non-Pro riders. Together, in the Open and Non-Pro divisions, Alyse and her clients have earned top honors at all the major shows including the AQHA World Show, NSBA World Championship Show, APHA World Championship Show, and the All American Quarter Horse Congress.

In addition to training world-caliber APHA and AQHA Hunter Under Saddle horses, Alyse has also developed a top-notch breeding program producing APHA, AQHA, and Jockey Club Thoroughbreds. Her boutique breeding program has produced two-time AQHA Superhorse Winner BLUE KAHLUA, as well as multiple AQHA, APHA, NSBA World and Reserve World Champions and Congress and Reserve Congress Champions. Breeding has become a passion to her.

Alyse is a graduate of the second class of the NSBA Foundation Tomorrows Horsemen® program, which ignited a fire of passion for the NSBA Foundation and the amazing work they do within the horse community. She looks forward to serving on the NSBA Foundation Board of Directors to help bring more programs and awareness to the community.

Cindy Kaufman

Director

Cindy Kaufman of Westerville, Ohio, developed a lifelong passion for horses through active involvement in her local 4-H program and Ohio Quarter Horse shows in the late 1980s.

After a 30-year hiatus from the show pen, Cindy returned to the equestrian industry in 2020 with a renewed focus on Western Pleasure. Since her return, she has cultivated meaningful relationships both locally and nationwide, gaining a deeper appreciation for the breadth, diversity, and impact of the equestrian community.

Cindy is actively involved in the NSBA Mental Health Matters initiative and is deeply committed to supporting the well-being of youth, amateurs, and professionals across the industry. As a member of the NSBA Foundation Board, she looks forward to contributing her professional expertise, fresh perspective, and lifelong appreciation for the horse while helping advance the Foundation’s mission of education, welfare, and opportunity within the equine community.

Christy Lenhart

Director

Christy Lenhart, Richmond, Michigan, has spent 25 years in the Finance field most recently for a healthcare client managing budgets for 16 hospitals with operating expenses totaling more than $30 million. Prior to her current position, she held several leadership roles with her employer, including Director of Finance and Accounting Services, Controller, Performance Manager, and Accounting Manager.

Outside of her professional career, she has dedicated much of her free time to showing horses. She currently owns and shows VS Whole Lotta Lucy, whom she purchased in 2023 after taking a 13-year hiatus from showing while pursuing her MBA. Before stepping away from competition, she was actively competing in the AQHA Amateur division, primarily in Michigan.

Her passion for horses began at the age of 8 in walk-trot classes, but after only one summer she decided to pursue more competitive opportunities. She joined a local 4-H club based out of the boarding facility next door to her childhood home. Over the years, she continued to challenge herself by progressing through various show circuits, moving from open shows to Pinto, Paint, and ultimately Quarter Horse competition. Throughout her career, she has earned numerous all-around, circuit, High Point, World, National, and Congress Championships. She was also crowned Michigan Pinto Queen in both 1987 and 1989, earning several additional pageant titles during those years.

While she has achieved significant accomplishments in both her professional and horse show careers, she considers raising her three children to be her greatest achievement.

Sam Holloway

Director

Sam Holloway brings a lifetime of agricultural expertise and a deep-rooted passion for the equine industry to the Foundation’s Board of Directors. Raised on the plains of Colorado, Sam learned early the value of hard work, responsibility, and keeping one’s word—principles that have defined his professional life and his commitment to the western way of life.

A true "country boy at heart," Sam’s background is rooted in hands-on experience. He studied Agribusiness at Eastern Wyoming College and currently manages cow/calf operations across both Texas and Oklahoma. This practical foundation in agriculture provides him with a unique, first-hand perspective on the needs of the land and the livestock that define our community.

Beyond his agricultural pursuits, Sam is a highly respected professional and a top-producing REALTOR® with RangePoint Realty LLC. His business acumen is matched only by his dedication to the horse industry. An active horse show exhibitor, Sam is a familiar face in the arena, competing in a wide range of disciplines—from the precision of Halter to the finesse of Western Pleasure.

Known by colleagues and fellow exhibitors alike for his integrity and steadfast character, Sam is a results-driven leader who advocates tirelessly for the interests of the equine community. His blend of business experience and "in-the-dirt" knowledge makes him an invaluable asset to the Foundation’s mission.

Jennifer Leavengood

Director

Jennifer Leavengood competes as an Amateur in the Hunter Under Saddle classes at AQHA, APHA and NSBA shows. Jennifer got more serious competing with horses a little over 10 years ago and has earned a handful of World and Futurity titles while juggling her role as a CFO within a family business in Florida. She grew up on a family farm with a boarding stable and showed in 4H. A lifelong love of horses and showing keeps her pursuing new goals with her horses.

Jennifer was introduced to the NSBA Foundation Heroes on Horses and Equestrians With Disabilities programs in 2018 and has since stayed involved. She looks forward to serving on the Foundation Board with a strong financial background and ability to provide a Non-Pro point of view.

She also serves as President of Blume Family Foundation, a Charitable Trust. In addition, she has previously served as President of the Citrus Green Owner's Association, a Board member for the HEP Homeless Empowerment Program, and President of Meow Now, a feral cat rescue program.

Jennifer is a graduate of the Fisher School of Accounting at the University of Florida. She received a Bachelor of Science in Accounting with a Minor in Economics and started Blume Mechanical, a Florida commercial HVAC and Plumbing firm, with Stephen G. Blume in 2005. In January 2017, Jennifer became the Chief Financial Officer. Jennifer lives with her husband Steve in Belleair Shore, FL.

Patty Vatterott

Director

With over 40 years of horse show industry experience, Patty Vatterott welcomes riders of all ages to her facility, Sea Ridge Farm, based in Wellington, FL. There, Patty has established a very successful program, earning multiple AQHA world show and Congress championships in the Open divisions. as well as coaching amateur and youth riders of all ages and levels in both the English and Western all-around events.

Patty will bring a long-standing professional horseman’s perspective to the NSBA Foundation Board of Directors. Her personal experiences as a competitor, a coach & clinician, and a business owner/operator allow her to offer unique insight into the industry for inclusion and diversity.

When asked about her philanthropic or charitable efforts at home, Patty highlighted some community efforts that she saw in her area. Traveling so much on the horse show circuit, she lacked the time to get involved because she was away so much. But what she could do when she noticed the NSBA Foundation was “bringing local service projects” TO the horse show community - and that was where she could actively pitch in.

She also experienced, firsthand, the value of the efforts of the Foundation to profoundly make an impact in someone’s life with the veterans who were coming to ride and show.

In 2017, Patty got involved in brainstorming with the NSBA Foundation to grow and expand the Heroes on Horses presentation. With that initial involvement, she was able to help secure SEED money to expand the event at the NSBA World Show while also helping collaborate with the All American Quarter Horse Congress to present the same. She’s proud to see what it has grown to and is looking forward to learning about the other efforts the Foundation focuses on.

Robin Sowell

Director

Robin Sowell of Denver, North Carolina was introduced to the NSBA Foundation through her sponsorship of Equestrians With Disabilities and Heroes on Horses exhibitors for the last two years through the NSBA Foundation Sponsor A Rider program.

Robin’s equine involvement has been extensive on the trail riding/horseman’s club level and Endurance Riding leadership level, where she participated and led activities in both. For the past three years she has engaged in the show side of the industry after having personally raised and bred horses for enjoyment purposes only.

A long-standing business professional educated in math, computer science and business administration, Robin now manages all aspects of her home and supports her husband as a business professional. She has served on the local horseman’s association as a Membership Director and currently leads the Architectural Review Committee for her homeowners’ association in Denver, NC.

Within the NSBA Foundation, her personal area of interest is the Equestrians With Disabilities and Heroes on Horses programs, she is interested in learning more about other Foundation programs and support needed there.

Jennifer LaGrange

Director

Jenny began her horse career at the age of two and progressed through 4-H horse projects and participated on the horse judging team before becoming a member of the inaugural IHSA team at Berry College in Rome, Georgia. She bought her first APHA horse in 1987 and has been raising and competing with the breed ever since. She holds judges’ cards with IBHA, PtHA and NSBA and has judged several world championships.

Jenny brings her experience as an active participant in various breed associations to her role on the NSBA Foundation board of directors. These include serving on the High Plains Paint Horse Club, Florida Pinto Horse Association and Pinto Horse Association of America. Jenny currently serves on the PtHA Judges and Pinto Heritage Foundation Committees.

Jenny works in her family’s agricultural business in a variety of roles including vegetable, citrus and cattle production in Florida and Texas and also serves on the company’s board of directors. In addition to her service in equine associations, she is past president of the Central Florida Fair, where she continues to serve on the Scholarship Committee. She is also past president and board member of Lutheran Indian Ministries.

Jenny and her husband Bill have two grown sons and live on a ranch in Christmas, Florida, where they raise APHA and AQHA horses and Texas Longhorn cattle.