Our Staff
Rebekah McMahen
Rebekah grew up in blustery New York and chased the sun all the way down to Birmingham, Alabama. She serves as Office Manager at The Red Barn, so there's a good chance you'll correspond with her by phone or email! Since joining The Red Barn team she has thoroughly enjoyed learning all about horses and the magnificent benefits they offer.
Joy O'Neal
Joy O'Neal has her Master's Degree in Public Administration and is a certified consultant through the Standards for Excellence for Nonprofits. She's also been certified as a CHA instructor and been trained by OK Corral and Natural Lifemanship. But, it's her years as a barn mom that are most useful.
Alexis Braswell
Alexis Braswell graduated from Birmingham-Southern College majoring in religion, with a psychology minor. She loves horses, horses, and working with children as they learn about horses.
Shannon Horsley
Shannon Horsley loves The Red Barn so much that she commutes electronically all the way from Mississippi to help us with our database and financial records.
Grace Butler
Grace Butler's name fits her perfectly! She grew up in Mississippi and California before settling in Alabama. Grace recently earned her Associate's degree in Communications, and that is precisely what she does at the barn- COMMUNICATE. Hint, hint: You should invite her to speak to your group sometime!
Connor Samples
Connor Samples never thought he'd be working at a therapeutic equine agency, but knows that he's found his calling in life! Where else could he combine his history degree from Furman, outdoor play, and working with children?
Jason Daggett
What do you call a minister who can drive a tractor, work with horses, and fix fences? And who adopted from the foster care system?! A Red Barn employee!
Jerry Phillips
Jerry Phillips is a man of few words. Luckily for us, it doesn't take words to keep everything at the barn working! He is the quintessential "grand-daddy" and loves seeing smiles and listening to laughter.
Sylvie Daggett
Sylvie has been riding horses since she was 12 years old, so was a shoe-in for the horse team. She has 2 horses named Cheka and Molly, but, SHHH- she's completely in love with Billy the goat! Sylvie is a PATH certified instructor and loves teaching and kids. She has 4 brothers and a recently adopted sister, so she has a big heart for what we do at the barn.
MaryBeth Vaughn
MaryBeth graduated from Auburn with a degree in Animal Science and a focus in Equine science. She started taking lessons when she was 10 and loves all things horses- from cleaning stalls, to teaching and training, to showing Dressage or Hunt Seat. MB's favorite things are animals, Disney movies, ice cream, and getting to work with kids. She is excited to be working at The Red Barn and is continuing to work towards becoming a PATH certified instructor.
Ellen Davis
Ellen Davis is an Occupational Therapist and PATH certified riding instructor. But, she says that her horses Strawberry and Hank have taught her more than a formal education ever could have!
Jordan Belzer
I started volunteering at the barn in 2015, then became a summer intern which led to getting CHA-IRD certified. I worked for 3 years and decided to take 2 years off and finish getting my Bachelor's in Psychology at Jacksonville State. While at JSU, I had an opportunity to work caring for a herd of 16 Clydesdales, learned to “hitch up a team” of two horses onto a wagon, and I was there for the birth of three foals and their training afterwards. I was able to take two of the foals to my first horse show. My entire life I’ve been a horse-obsessed girl that also finds joy in working with people, especially kids. God has surely had his hand over my life and answered a lifelong dream of mine to work with both special needs children and animals. I plan to get my master's in Mental Health Counseling.
Ivey Wise
Ivey Wise began her journey at The Red Barn as a volunteer and a summer intern. She now serves as our Student Coordinator as well as a riding instructor. Ivey has such a passion for animals that she graduated from Auburn University with a degree in Animal Sciences. She loves spending her days filled with horses and children and is eager to continue working towards her PATH certification.
Ron Massey
Ron lives in Trussville with his 2 dogs, Collins and Ollie. He is a USMC veteran who has been fortunate to travel around the world but particularly enjoys Asia. Ron doesn't watch much TV but loves old movies from the 40's and 50's. He tries to catch a Bama football game on campus at least once a year. Ron's first car was a 1967 Firebird convertible that he paid $600 cash for in 1978. We all wish he still owned it! Ron says, "I love working at The Red Barn. It's challenging every day and the people I work with are awesome."
Grace "Millie" Alvis
Millie has been around horses her entire life. She says that they are in her blood! She's managed the barn at two English farms and when the opportunity came to work at The Red Barn, Millie had to take it. She owns one horse Wiley and two dogs, and she spends all her spare time with them!
She says, "I am so happy to be working at a place where I can help change kids' lives and make their lives happier."
Eliza Gauldin
Eliza is a Birmingham native studying psychology at UAB. She has been obsessed with all things horse since she was 3 years old. She rode horses and competed in the hunter jumper arena for many years. She followed her horse, George, to The Red Barn after he became a therapy horse here. Now she is fulfilling her lifetime dream of working with horses at The Red Barn to help other people. When she is not at the barn, Eliza loves spending time with her three cats: Stella, Luna, and Hubble.