Meet Our Staff
Alexandra Whittey
Executive Director/Instructor
Alexandra (Alex) Whittey has over 27 years of horsemanship experience and holds the following certifications from the Professional Association of Therapeutic Horsemanship International (PATH Intl.): Advanced Therapeutic Riding Instructor, CTRI, Equine Specialist in Mental Health and Learning and Mentor.
Alex is also a Certified Masterson Method © Equine Specialist, Certified Health and Wellness Coach and Registered Yoga Teacher (Yoga Alliance RYT 200).
She first became involved with the equine assisted services industry as a parent of a participant, then moved forward to become a volunteer, an Instructor and now she owns and operates Equisol Ranch and manages its programs.
Her experience has helped her develop strong intuition and observation skills, which allow her to present as a pillar of strength and guide for others when need be. She constantly strives to achieve clear communication to help people meet their goals in ways that work best for them and to learn from every participant.
Alex looks forward to the opportunity to learn how she may best meet your needs in order to help you meet your desired goals and for you to become a part of the Equisol community.
Conni De Masi
Development Director
Conni has been around horses her entire life. She grew up participating in 4-H Horsemanship, competing in rodeo and local Play-Day Western Showmanship and Gymkhana events. Conni was a participant and volunteer for the Honey Lake Valley Riders for many years and then, while attending college, taught and volunteered with the Marine Mammal Care Center at Fort McArthur in San Pedro, CA., where she worked with seals and sea lions and helped plan the Care Center’s funding and outreach events. It was at that point when she realized that she enjoyed working with large animals… outside of the water.
In 2018, when Conni moved to Reno, she decided that she wanted to go back to working with equines and that she enjoyed helping people, thus becoming a volunteer who conditioned horses for a therapeutic riding center. This led to an explosive passion for developing outreach and fundraising programs for equine assisted services. In 2022, Conni joined the Equisol Adaptive Horsemanship team as a member of the Board of Directors as well as the Development Director, a role in which she is able to utilize her creativity for fundraising, special event planning and become more involved with community collaborations.
You may occasionally catch Conni at the ranch working with the equines and volunteering during therapeutic riding sessions or in other capacities.
Kay Smith
Equine Manager
Kay has been passionate about horses for as long as she can remember, but Arabian horses have always held a special place in their heart. She has many years of experience showing and training Arabians in different disciplines and loves teaching and guiding other equine lovers. When not at the barn, Kay is practicing yoga with her daughters and continuing her education in Deaf Studies. She is very excited to be part of the Equisol Adaptive Hosmanship team!
Caris Nebb
Equine Care Team Supervisor
Caris has had a love for animals her entire life. At about the age of nine, her deep connection with horses began to emerge. Since then, she has pursued jumping, playing polo, vaulting, and western speed events through various programs in New York, Virginia, and California. She has also enjoyed many summers pleasure riding in Montana. Her most meaningful experiences stem from her time spent working with Project Hope, a nonprofit organization providing equine therapy to military veterans. After taking a break from equine activities to pursue her bachelor’s degree at Washington State University, she is excited to settle down and join the equine community in Reno.
Isabella Blakely
Barn Team Assistant
Isabella fell in love with equines as a young child and started riding when she was just 4 years old. After some years away from the equine world, she is excited to be working once again with them at Equisol Ranch. As a senior in high school, Isabella volunteered at a school that served people with special needs. Her role as a Classroom Assistant provided her the opportunity to support and create memorable bonds with the students.
After Isabella graduated from high school, she moved to Reno from California to attend The University of Nevada, where she is currently studying Veterinary Science. Her goals are to become a veterinarian and to continue to nurture her love for animals.
Alexis Hansford
Barn Team Assistant
Originally from Arizona, Alexis grew up around her family’s two mustangs, which is where her love for horses was born. After moving to Nevada, while attending high school, she was presented with the opportunity to work at a neighbor’s ranch. Caretaking for the horses at the ranch solidified her love and passion for equines. She attended Feather River College in Quincy, CA, where she studied Equine and Ranch Management. She is thrilled to be a part of the Equisol team where she can continue to pursue her equine interests and passions.
Jessikah Crawford
Barn Team Assistant
Jessikah has had a passion for horses for as long as she can remember. She participated in 4-H as well as local junior rodeos and interned with a large animal veterinarian during high school. She later achieved a certification for veterinary assisting and is looking forward to furthering her education by pursuing a degree in agriculture.
Jessikah currently owns two horses, with which she plans to become more involved by once again participating in local rodeos.
Sofia Weddell
Barn Team Assistant
Sofia started working with and riding horses since she could walk. She has grown to love and cherish each and every moment with horses as well as many other animals. She is particularly passionate about the Paso Fino breed and has ridden them competitively since she was 5.
Sofia is currently a student at the University of Nevada, Reno, pursuing a degree in Veterinary Science with a long term goal of becoming an Equine Reproductive Veterinarian. She is excited about continuing her educational journey and being a part of the team at Equisol ranch.
Bodie
Resident Mouser/Guardian
Bodie is our resident guard feline who oversees all. Between naps, he works diligently to keep the lounge area rodent free and to seek affection from humans. He has been working in the industry since his adoption in 2021. He is working toward achieving the world record for the cat who receives the most pets, scratches and treats while on the job.
