HOPE's Board of Directors

Amanda Rios Walnes

Amanda was born in Fairfax, Virginia, and lived all of her life nearby in Manassas, Virginia, near her grandparents who had three thoroughbred horses. She was riding as soon as she could walk and had the benefit of the riding expertise of her father, grandparents, Uncle and her Aunt. At 11 (or so), Amanda leased a horse and joined the local Pony Club.

At the beginning of high school, Amanda's parents bought her a beautiful Arabian which she kept at a nearby barn. She spent many hours taking riding lessons and eventually discovered different types of training. Amanda also began volunteering at a therapeutic riding center. After she saw how much the children enjoyed and benefited from the horses, she was hooked. Even though Amanda was not trained as a therapist, equine therapy has long been a love of hers.

After graduating from James Madison University with a degree in Political Science, Amanda soon met her future husband. She moved to Gainesville, Florida, in 2004 to join her husband and start an auto brokerage business. Moving was stressful and she knew that horses were her stress relief. Amanda needed and wanted to continue her passion for horses and people with disabilities through equine therapy. Her search led to HOPE.

Amanda has worked with HOPE since 2004 and not only loves working with this organization but believes in what it is trying to do and how it is doing it.