The farm is a place
where a child can find a friend

Victory Gallop is a nonprofit organization that provides therapeutic and recreational horseback riding for children with behavioral and/or emotional challenges and life-threatening illnesses.
Located in Bath, Ohio, the program opened its doors in January of 1995. Co-founders, David M. Miller, DVM, Susan J. Miller, M.Ed. and Kimberly A. Gustely, M.S., had seen the positive affect that horses and volunteers have on children with physical and cognitive impairments. However, they saw a gap in therapeutic treatments for children with “invisible” impairments and life-threatening illnesses. Victory Gallop was developed to meet the needs of these often overlooked and under-served children.
Victory Gallop is a place where children, ages 3-18 years of age, dealing with many different challenges are accepted for who they are. It provides an environment where children can learn, grow and succeed through their relationship with the horse. The farm is a place where a child can find a friend who is willing to listen and offer encouragement and support. There are high expectations for hard work, hand in hand with a supportive framework of caring volunteers who help each child build their self-esteem while they learn about riding and caring for the horses.

The Staff

Woman with red dress

Sue Miller

Co-Founder
Sue is co-founder, co-director and a PATH certified Advanced Instructor. She began teaching therapeutic riding at the Rocky River Metro Parks in 1983. After receiving her M.A. Degree in education from Kent State in 1986, Sue was hired to help develop and teach at Pegasus Farm. She left Ohio briefly, starting another program in PA before returning to OH and joining Kim to start up Victory Gallop.

Kim Gustely

Co-Founder
Kim is co-founder, co-director and instructor at Victory Gallop. She holds an Advanced Instructor certification from PATH and began teaching therapeutic riding in 1990. Kim has a M.S. Degree in sports psychology from the University of North Carolina at Greensboro. Prior to Victory Gallop, she was the head instructor at Pegasus Farm.
Maria Nixon

Maria Nixon

Maria began volunteering at Victory Gallop when she was thirteen. She continued volunteering all the way through high school. She attended The Ohio State University where she competed on the hunt seat equestrian team and graduated in May of 2016 with a degree in special education. She currently works at Pfeiffer Elementary School in Akron as an intervention specialist for grades K-3. She received her PATH certification in August 2016.
Mackenzie

Mackenzie Roach

Volunteer Coordinator: Mackenzie graduated from Jackson high school in 2022. She rode at Victory Gallop for eight years. In her free time Mackenzie enjoys volunteering, baking, and watching movies. Her favorite things about Victory Gallop are helping with camp, getting to know the riders, working with the volunteers and especially getting to take Willie Nelson to visit patients at Akron Children's Hospital.
Julie Anne Vanyor-Petersen

Debbie Nowak

Debbie has loved horses her whole life. She began riding as a child and purchased her first horse when she was 19 years old. Her passion is trail riding. She has made a career out of her enjoyment for horses and is the owner of Crystal Falls Stable in Richfield, OH where she provides board and excellent horse care. She has been a huge assets to Victory Gallop taking care of the stables and horses.
Jenna

Jenna Hete

Jenna began volunteering at Victory Gallop in summer 2022 before she became an instructor for the fall session. Jenna holds her M.Ed., as well as Ed.S., licensure in the area of School Psychology. She works for Akron Public Schools as a School Psychologist where she supports two elementary schools and is one of the lead psychologists supporting Autism identifying within the district. Jenna is also presently the President- Elect of the Ohio School Psychologists Association, where she continues her advocacy for students with disabilities.

More...

Jenna has been an avid equestrian since she was five- years-old and currently owns two horses. She most recently became a United States Dressage Federation Bronze Medalist and has hopes to obtain her Silver Medal with her horse, Stuart, in summer 2023. Her horse, Pemmy, is a recognized Western Dressage champion for the local regional association. Jenna plans to obtain her PATH instructor certification in 2023.

Sponsors

Foundation Support

  • Akron Community Foundation
  • Alberty Family Foundation
  • Vincent William Baran Charitable Fund
  • Barberton Community Foundation
  • Bath Community Fund of ACF
  • Bath Volunteers for Service
  • The Frank P. & Marie L. Bevilacqua Family Foundation
  • Theodore & Darlene Bobinsky Charitable Fund
  • Glenn R. & Alice V. Boggess Memorial Foundation
  • Kenneth L. Calhoun Charitable Trust
  • The Henry V. & Frances W. Christenson Foundation
  • Stephen A. Comunale, Jr. Family Cancer Foundation
  • The Mary S. & David C. Corbin Foundation
  • The Delaney Family Fund
  • Fairlawn Rotary Foundation
  • Rita & David George Family Fund
  • GPD Employee’s Foundation
  • The Chady & David Hall Foundation
  • Kathleen Joyce Fund of ACF
  • Pamela & Craig Kahn Fund
  • Kaulig Foundation
  • The Lehner Family Foundation
  • McGann Family Fund

Foundation Support (Continued)

  • The Millennium Fund for Children of ACF
  • Laura R. & Lucian Q. Moffitt Foundation
  • R.C. Musson & Katharine M. Musson Charitable Foundation
  • Northern Ohio Golf Charities & Foundation
  • Vernon L. Odom Fund of ACF
  • Mark & Tina Oelschlager Fund
  • MG O’Neil Foundation
  • Robert O. & Annamae Orr Family Foundation
  • The Reinberger Foundation
  • Charles E. & Mabel M. Ritchie Memorial Foundation
  • D & M Scheible Family Foundation
  • Schneider Electric Foundation
  • The Sisler McFawn Foundation
  • The Sisler McFawn Foundation
  • The Slanta-Murray Family Fund
  • Lloyd L. & Louise K. Smith Foundation
  • The Sutowski Foundation
  • Tifft Family Fund
  • Tuscora Park Health & Wellness Foundation
  • The Welty Family Foundation
  • WITAN
  • Women's Endowment Fund of ACF

Horse Sponsors

  • Jack & Brenda Delaney
  • James & Evelyn Unger
  • Jeff & Beth Berno
  • Robin Carter
  • Bill & Nancy Byrd
  • Steve Comunale
  • The Tobin Family
  • The Worley Family
  • Baird & The BCJC Group
  • Rex & Leslie Carper
  • Lloyd L. & Louise K. Smith Memorial Foundation

Contact us

  • Phone
    (330) 666-0300
  • Fax Number
    (330) 668-6068
  • Address
    1745 N Hametown Rd.
    Akron, OH 44333
Victory Gallop
© 2021 Victory Gallop, Inc. All rights reserved.
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