10626 Farm to Market 429, Kaufman, TX 75142
Jake E's is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit and a member of PATH International
(Professional Association for Therapeutic Horsemanship)
"Where the healing begins"
JANA EWING SYVRUD
Founder and President of the Board
PATH Certified Therapeutic Riding Instructor CTRI®
PATH Equine Specialist in Mental Health and Learning ESMHL
Jana Ewing Syvrud is the founder of Jake E’s Riding Round Up and currently serves as the President of the Board of Directors. Jana lost her 3-year-old son, Jacob Eli Ewing, in a tragic non-equine-related accident in April of 2010. Within days of losing her young son, she began to think about how she would ever find peace again and how she would like to reach out to others dealing with personal challenges. Jana’s desire to help others living with special needs, tragic loss, and daily challenges brought her to found Jake E’s Riding Round Up in honor of Jacob.
Today, Jana thrives alongside her husband, Paul Syvrud, and their children Caleb, Hayden, and joyful Andrea. She is an active member of the Glory of Zion Church in Corinth, Texas. With a Bachelor of Science degree in education and music from Lamar University, Jana brings extensive experience to her leadership role. She combines her passion for horses with her commitment to helping others find courage, peace, and hope through prayer and the therapeutic bond between humans and horses.
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Jana’s resilience and dedication have created a haven where horses and people unite for healing and growth.
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Personnel
Kathryn Shindoll
Administrative and Personnel Support
PATH Certified Therapeutic Riding Instructor CTRI®
PATH Equine Specialist in Mental Health and Learning ESMHL
Kathryn has a bachelor’s degree in education from Mary-Hardin Baylor and a master’s in education from A&M Commerce. She taught 1st grade in Mesquite ISD for 8 years before moving to Zambia, Africa for 8.5 years. There, she worked as the Program Director for Family Legacy Missions International. She helped establish schools and improve education for everyone.
After returning to Texas, Kathryn discovered her love for horse riding and started volunteering at Jake E's in 2020. She is now an Equine Specialist in Mental Health and Learning and provides administrative and personnel support to Jake E's. She combines her passion for horses and her desire to serve people in her work at Jake E's.
Kathryn’s experience building and establishing learning facilities and also her devout spirituality bring a special love to Jake E’s.
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Andrea Ambroze​
PATH Intl. CTRI® / PATH Intl. ESMHL / PATH Intl. Mentor
PATH Intl. Region 8 Ambassador
Andrea joined Jake E's team in 2022. She was born and raised in Dallas. After graduating from the University of North Texas with a degree in English, where she kept her childhood horse (a Mustang mare), she moved to the Northeast for a career in hospitality. Andrea's love of volunteering and the benefits of therapeutic horseback riding began there with CitytoSaddle.org and GallopNYC.org.
She acquired her training hours and accreditation for PATH Intl. CTRI® at Equest.org after returning to Texas in 2020. She learned the standards and the determination to keep safety, horse happiness, and volunteer retention, and has incorporated all that joy at Jake E's.
Andrea loves working with diverse communities, bringing horses and humans together with a glue of faith and community.
Debbie Emard
Veterans ‘Horses and Heroes’ Program Coordinator
PATH Equine Specialist in Mental Health and Learning ESMHL
Debbie is originally from Dallas. She lived in Garland for 19 years before moving to Poetry in 1995 with her husband and children. Debbie has always had a passion for animals, especially horses. She worked as a banking officer for many years before becoming a Special Education Paraprofessional. Debbie volunteers in the special needs class at her church and provides respite care for families in need.
Following the loss of her son, Jonathan, who was killed in action (KIA) in Iraq, Debbie's passion for serving others led her to start volunteering at Jake E’s in March 2012. She wanted to serve veterans and found a way to combine her love for horses with her desire to help those with disabilities and veterans. For Debbie, helping others also serves as a form of healing.
In 2018, she studied and became a PATH Certified Equine Specialist in Mental Health and Learning and continues to be a great asset at Jake E’s.
Through tremendous loss – Debbie gives back to the clients at Jake E’s in loving memory of her son.
Linda’s background is impressive! She grew up in a military family and has always been passionate about horses. With a bachelor's degree in psychology, she further honed her expertise by completing equine husbandry courses in Syracuse, New York. Her knowledge spans various areas, including Health Care, Pasture Management, Equine Psychology, Behavior, and Confirmation.
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As a PATH Certified Equine Specialist in Mental Health and Learning, Linda draws from her 34 years of personal horse experience across diverse disciplines. Her commitment to quality care and safe horsemanship is commendable.
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Linda’s extensive equine knowledge and dedication make her a valuable asset in horse care and well-being at Jake E’s.
Patty Milligan
PATH Certified Therapeutic Riding Instructor CTRI®
PATH Equine Specialist in Mental Health and Learning ESMHL
Patty is originally from El Paso and has lived all over the country with her husband, David, and their children while David served in the military. In the past, she has volunteered for various non-profits such as the Girl Scouts of America and the Canton Trail Riders.
Working with clients and students at Jake E's has allowed Patty to fulfill her lifelong dream of working with horses in a therapeutic setting. She believes that the Lord guided her to Jake E's during the center's grand opening in 2011. Patty joined as a volunteer shortly after in the spring of 2012. With her skilled equestrian background and love for sharing her equine knowledge, Patty became a PATH Certified Therapeutic Riding Instructor CTRI® in 2013.
Patty has a calm, quiet, warm demeanor and she brings such joy to everyone at Jake E’s. She is often the flag bearer at Jake E’s and assists during special occasions.
Monica Broechin​
Administrative Assistant
PATH Intl Equine Specialist in Mental Health and Learning ESMHL
Monica joined the team at Jake E’s in February 2024 and has proudly called Kaufman County her home since 1995. She has a deep love for horse care, including riding, training, and showing AQHA horses. Monica is an accomplished equine massage therapist with extensive experience in boarding horses and teaching riding. She is trained in the Parelli Natural Horsemanship technique and has worked alongside Parelli to organize and translate his renowned training clinics in Switzerland.
During her time there, she also lived and gave riding lessons. Alongside her dedication to horses, she has a passion for children's dentistry and has been a Dental Hygienist in the Dallas area for the past 30 years.
Monica combines her love for horses and children at Jake E's Riding Roundup. Monica is a valuable member of the team at Jake E’s, providing excellent support in
both the barn and the office.
Charles Pipkin
Facilities and Equipment Coordinator
Charles grew up in Fort Worth, Texas and studied Forestry at Texas A&M University. He
initially joined Jake E's through a community service program and continued as a volunteer. In 2021, he became a valued staff team member.
Charles had a diverse career, serving for 8 years in the US Navy at Fleet Weather Center in London, England, and the Naval Air Station in Dallas, Texas. Following his
military service, he moved to London and worked in the financial services industry. His roles included Operations Manager for E.F. Hutton in London, Branch Manager for Oppenheimer Private Clients, Director of European Branch Administration, and Branch Manager for Smith Barney in London, Hong Kong, and Taipei, Taiwan.
In addition to his professional pursuits, Charles is actively involved in his community, contributing to the maintenance of parks, pools, and roads for his property owners association. Charles is a bright light at Jake E’s and always has a warm “hello” and a kind twinkle in his eye.
Marla Lee Stegall
PATH Equine Specialist in Mental Health and Learning ESMHL
Marla has been a cowgirl her entire life and adores all the animals that come with that lifestyle. She has faced her own trials and struggles in life, which led her to help others.
Marla is extremely grateful to God for leading her to Jake E's because it saved her life. She started volunteering in 2017 and became a PATH Certified Equine Specialist in Mental Health and Learning (ESMHL) in 2019.
Marla leads by example and her dedication to P.E.A.C.E (People through Equines & Christ Achieving Courage & Empowerment) is commendable, and we value her presence at Jake E’s.
Linda Toth
Equine and Barn Coordinator
PATH Certified Therapeutic Riding Instructor CTRI®
PATH Equine Specialist in Mental Health and Learning ESMHL
Bob Hockaday
Ranch Hand
Bob has been at Jake E's Riding Roundup since 2014. Bob has been in the Kaufman area for several years, riding horses and doing general ranch maintenance in Wills
Point and Peeltown, Texas. He especially enjoys riding Sonny and improving his riding skills. He enjoys working with Jake E's staff and clients and driving the Kubota 4X4. His sense of humor is priceless!