Our Team

Wendy Wilcox

Ranch Support Aid and Sibling Support Coordinator

Wendy Wilcox wears several hats for Friends of Leaps & Bounds.  Wendy can be found on the ranch leading horses as a Ranch Support Aid as well as working closely with our families in her Sibling Support Coordinator role.

Wendy has a BA in Child Development and an MA in Developmental Psychology, both from Cal State San Bernardino.  She became Certified as a Child Life Specialist in 2001.

She worked for more than 20 years as a Certified Child Life Specialist, at many of the leading Children’s Hospitals such as CHOC, Phoenix Children’s Hospital, St. Joseph’s Hospital and Medical Center in Phoenix, AZ, and University of Loma Linda Children’s Hospital. We are lucky to have  her now share her impressive credentials both in the clinic and on the ranch.

Wendy is a Norco native steeped in the community.  She is a busy wife and mother and can be found at Jazzercise, kayaking, out in the yard with her chickens and two Babydoll Sheep (Levi and Cotton), and of course with her family.

Jenifer Urroz

Manager of Horse Handling

Jenifer graduated from California Baptist University with a Bachelor of Science degree in Kinesiology, May 2018. Jenifer began as a volunteer at Leaps & Bounds in October of 2018 in order to complete observation hours to apply for a Doctor of Physical Therapy program, and she is now a part of the Leaps team. It is Jenifer’s ultimate goal to become a Pediatric Physical Therapist.

Jenifer enjoys taking care of horses and has dreamed of working with horses and children during therapy, which has now become a reality. Some of Jenifer’s favorite pastime activities are horseback riding, spending time with friends and family, hiking, and traveling to new places.

Hailey Gordon-Weber

Adaptive Riding Instructor

Hailey Gordon-Weber graduated in 2019 from Otterbein University in Ohio with an Equine Business Degree with a minor in Equine Assisted Activities and therapies. She is currently pursuing a Masters of Business and Management through the University of Phoenix. Hailey has been riding horses since she was 9 years old competing in a vast variety of disciplines and was fortunate enough to compete at the collegiate level. In 2015 she began working in an equine rehabilitation and breeding facility. From there, she moved on to working with an equine reproductive Vet. Hailey has trained many teens in both barrel racing and jumping along with traveled with them for competition.

She also has experience in small animals and has worked in many hospitals as a tech. She also works as a Doctor’s Assistant in a small animal ER in Corona. Hailey found Leaps many years ago by riding her horse down the street. She has owned horses in Norco for many years and at the time always knew she wanted to be able to work with kids alongside horses and truly help them grow. After completing school when she moved home and called every month to see if there was a spot open to put in her application. Two years later, Leaps was fortunate enough to welcome her into our team. In her free time she enjoys taking her dog to the beach, riding her horse and watching baseball.

Jessica Gutierrez

Ranch Support Aid

Jessica currently is a student at Azusa Pacific University who is pursuing a degree in Kinesiology with the goal to be a physical therapist. She originally joined the team as a volunteer horse handler to learn more about pediatric therapy and became a Ranch Therapy Aid in August of 2021. Jessica loves working with children and animals. Her favorite thing about Leaps is seeing patients grow in their confidence when riding. Jessica is excited to be a part of the Leaps & Bounds team!

In her spare time, Jessica enjoys going hiking, spending time with family and friends, heading to the beach, and going on adventures.

Cristina Yates

Ranch Support Aid

Cristina joined the ranch team in January 2022. She began working with animals and discovered they were her passion at young age. As a young adult she began working at a wildlife sanctuary helping care for two blind mustangs and her love for horses grew from there. She has previously worked at Knott’s Berry Farm, training their horses and driving the Stagecoach which ultimately led to her purchasing her own horse, Pirate, from Knotts. Pirate now resides in Norco and Cristina enjoys riding him regularly and is focusing on training him to become a trusty trail horse.

Cristina enjoys working at Leaps because it is a way to continuously expanding her skills and knowledge in horsemanship as well as pediatric therapy. She also watching our riders grow and develop through the benefits of hippotherapy and adaptive riding. She sees daily how it can change the lives of so many kiddos in need.

In her free time, Cristina enjoys riding her horse, hiking with her dogs, game nights with friends and going dancing.

Heather Frost

Trail Rider & Horse Behavioralist Support

Heather first joined Leaps & Bounds as a volunteer in 2022 and became a Horse Handler / Ranch Support Aid shortly after. Her role then transitioned into a Trail Rider & Horse Behavioralist Support member.  Originally from Orange County, she graduated from Colorado State University with a Bachelor’s degree in Equine Science and from Fullerton College with a degree in TV/Film Production. She has worked with horses and kiddos in a variety of roles most of her adult life. Highlights include working as a Producer at HRTV “The Network for Horse Sports”, as an Equine Trainer/Lead at Disneyland’s Circle D Ranch, and on several TV shows and major motion pictures (some having to do with horses!) for the big studios such as ABC, Warner Bros, and Universal.

If you can name it, she’s probably done it with horses… including playing polo, driving, vaulting, starting, troubleshooting, and re-training, with extensive knowledge of equine care and nutrition. Heather has been a horse owner for 25+ years and still owns her first horse, Spencer, whom she got when he was 6 (he’s now 33 and still kicking… literally!). She now owns a small hobby farm in Norco with her horses, dogs, chickens, goats, sheep, a cat, a cow, and a pig, right in her own backyard. In her spare time, Heather enjoys teaching riding lessons, training horses, spending time with her animals and family, and volunteering with her church. Heather is determined to help make the world, and her community, a better place through her expertise and passion for horses and is thrilled to be a part of the family here at Leaps & Bounds.

Rachel Gatlin

Ranch Support Aid

Rachel joined Friends of Leaps & Bounds in April 2023. She is a graduate of Mt. San Antonio College with a degree in Horse Ranch Management. Rachel has worked at several ranches as a Ranch Hand and Groom. In addition to working with horses, she has experience with a variety of animals including alpacas, sheep, pigs, and chickens. Rachel has been riding horses for almost 20 years and enjoys western eventing including gymkhana.

When not working, Rachel cares for her own menagerie of animals. She has 1 horse, 3 dogs, and 2 cats. Rachel enjoys spending time with her friends and the TNR (Trap-Neuter-Release) of feral barn cats. Rachel has rescued and rehabilitated several litters of feral kittens. Rachel is most looking forward to seeing how the children progress in their therapy, and her favorite part is the smiles!

Holly Bailey

Ranch Support Aid

Holly joined the team in October 2023. After learning about the nonprofit’s work, she new she wanted to get involved. Holly has been riding horses since she was six-years-old and currently owns two of her own. One of her favorite aspects of the job is meeting new kids and watching them learn and grow in partnership with the horses and other staff.

When Holly is not at Leaps, she can be found riding her own horses, spending time with friends and family, reading, and going on new adventures.