Message From The Chairman

As we embark on another year for the NSBA Foundation, it is important to remember the reason we are all part of this industry as exhibitors and professionals: because we find joy and meaning in working and showing horses. The bond we share with these animals enriches our lives in countless ways, and it is this passion that drives us forward.

At the heart of our success lies the understanding that body, mind, and spirit are all key components of being successful. This holistic approach not only ensures healthy horses, but also fosters happy clients and successful professionals. The NSBA Foundation exemplifies the commitment to our community through its five pillars of work, and we remain steadfast in our commitment to these core areas.

Our focus on education continues to be a cornerstone of our mission. We provide valuable resources and learning opportunities for both professionals and our youth exhibitors. Additionally, we are proud to support our veterans and EWD riders, recognizing the unique contributions they bring to our community. Most importantly, we prioritize the welfare of the animals we all cherish, knowing that success is founded on their well-being.

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.

Our fundraising efforts have been highly successful across all pillars, thanks to the generous donations of our members. With the addition of Lynn Campbell as our development director, we are setting our sights on achieving even greater fundraising success in the coming year.

On a personal note, I would like to share a story that truly encapsulates the spirit of our community. Last summer, I had the privilege of meeting a veteran who had faced numerous challenges in their life. Through the support of our Foundation and the unwavering dedication of their trainer, this rider not only found solace in working with horses, but also discovered a newfound sense of confidence and purpose. Witnessing their transformation was a powerful reminder of why we do what we do. It is moments like these that highlight the profound impact our work has on individuals and the community as a whole.

Thank you for your continued support and dedication to our shared passion. Together, we will continue to make a positive impact on the horse showing industry and the lives of those who are part of it.

Warm regards,

Barbara Crawford

2025 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.

Jennifer Leavengood

Chair Elect

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.

Ryan Cottingim

Past Chair

With over 25 years of horse show industry experience, Ryan Cottingim and Amanda Gately, welcome riders of all ages to their facility based on a 30-acre farm outside of Nashville in Shelbyville, Tennessee. There, they have established a very successful program, earning multiple world show and Congress championships in the Open divisions and coaching amateur and youth riders in both the English and Western all-around events.

Ryan brings a professional horseman’s perspective to the NSBA Foundation Board of Directors. His personal experiences as a competitor, an educator & clinician, an assistant trainer, and now as a business owner allow him to offer unique insight into the industry for inclusion and diversity.

He also experienced first-hand the profound effort of the Foundation to make an impact in someone’s life. In 2017, Ryan was involved in a horse accident that severely compromised his business and livelihood for some time. He was a recipient of assistance directly from the NSBA Trainers Crisis Fund. He is determined to add that perspective to the continuation of that program in addition to the others for fellow NSBA members.

Bob Kennedy

Treasurer

Bob Kennedy, of Ocala, Florida has long admired the work of the NSBA Foundation and the work that has been accomplished through the hard work of this Board. He has contributed to the NSBA Foundation in many ways over the years, including aiding the fundraising for the Susan Scott Memorial Scholarship Fund and he hopes to continue to pursue the mission of the NSBA Foundation.

NSBA has been a big part of Bob and his family’s life since its inception in 1983. Bob has served on the NSBA Board and has also been involved as an Advisory Member on several committees. Additionally, Bob served for the Ontario Quarter Horse Association for over three years as a Youth Advisor with his wife, Kathie, as well as the Futurity Chairman, as well as serving on the Board of Directors.

Quarter horses are a family affair for the Kennedys. Both of Bob’s daughters, Kortney and Kelsey grew up showing at weekend horse shows and accumulated numerous Year End Awards both regionally and nationwide.

Bob is excited to learn more about the work of the NSBA Foundation and he hopes to bring some of his personal attributes to the board and aid in the development of the Animal Welfare Fund as well as NSBA’s education programming.

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.

John Halpin

Director

As a United States Marines veteran, John Halpin has experienced the NSBA Foundation first-hand as a Heroes On Horses exhibitor. From Corinth, Texas, John has participated in Heroes On Horses events through the NSBA Foundation for the past two years.

John is the Senior HR Director for a large construction company in Texas and so as a company they are involved in many charitable events and donating both time and monetary funds to better our community. John himself has served many hours at volunteer events. As someone who has experienced equine therapy programs, John has a deep knowledge of the unique needs and challenges these types of facilities face. John began in a Veterans program through STEPS with Horses and has now volunteered hundreds of hours to various equine programs in the Dallas/Fort Worth area.

John brings a unique perspective and strong passion to the Equestrians With Disabilities and Heroes on Horses programs and he hopes to create opportunities for other veterans and Equestrians With Disabilities riders to be able to ride and connect with an equine partner.

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.

Alyse Roberts

Director

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.