OUR BOARD | United States

HOOF KY BOARD OF DIRECTORS

Valerie Blackwell, President

As a military dependent, Valerie lived in several foreign countries as a child and attended high school in Orlando, Florida. She received her Bachelors of Science degree from Brigham Young University and her Master’s in Education from the University of Louisville. She has been employed for the past 27 years at the Georgia Chaffee Teenage Parent Program as an individual and group therapist, adoption counselor, and Champion for Children advocate. Valerie has served her community in several capacities including Habitat for Humanity, Director of Public Affairs for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in the Kentucky Indiana area for 13 years and President of the Young Women’s Organization for her church. She has been a member of the Board of Directors for the Center for Interfaith Relations chairing several community events, and in 2007 served as the Chair for the nationally acclaimed Festival of Faiths. She is a member of the American Saddlebred Horse Association and is a competitive rider and driver.

Ryan Lovelace, Secretary

Ryan currently holds a B.A. in Biology from the University of Louisville and a M.S. in Recreation and Sports Administration from Western Kentucky University. He is currently the Manager for Youth Development and Recreation at The Cabbage Patch Settlement House and has been with the organization for over six years. Ryan was introduced to HOOF through the Cabbage Patch and joined the board in 2020. He also has extensive experience working in both residential and day camping with the YMCA, Austin Sunshine Camps, and the Clemson Youth Learning Institute. During his free time, he enjoys reading, watching anime, fishing and doing anything outdoors.

Ad'Lynn Martinez, Treasurer

Camille Bathurst

Camille was born in Kansas and lived in Virginia, Maryland and Texas before moving to Louisville with her husband and now law partner Greg Belzley. Camille and Greg had no riding experience until their first vacation to Ireland in the early 1980's, where they became smitten with horses. They took a year of saddleseat lessons and then returned to Ireland for two more riding vacations, followed by riding vacations in France, Portugal and French Polynesia. Camille has also ridden in the Netherlands, England and Scotland. Camille now competes her horse Ike in dressage. After graduating from University of Virginia with a BA in Economics and from the University of Texas law school, Camille practiced a broad range of transactional law in Houston and Louisville, spent seven years as general counsel of the Kentucky Lottery, and now focuses on plaintiffs' prisoners' civil rights, police misconduct, and abuse of power litigation in a home office with Greg and a support staff of two cats.

DeAnna Brangers

DeAnna Brangers has been in love with horses since her childhood, growing up on a farm in Campbellsville, Kentucky. DeAnna graduated from Campbellsville University with a degree in Political Science. She has worked professionally as an executive recruiter, small businessperson and consultant. She has spent the last eleven years in her most prized role as a stay at home mom. DeAnna was appointed by Governor Ernie Fletcher and reappointed by Governor Steve Beshear to serve on the Kentucky State Advisory Panel for Exceptional Children. She is currently the Chairman of the panel. Additionally, she has served on several committees for the Kentucky Department of Education on issues concerning children with special needs. DeAnna serves on the Kosair Children’s Hospital American Girl Fashion Show Committee, helps the 4-H Club at the Louisville Equestrian Center and is involved with many other activities. She is thrilled that her youngest daughters have inherited her love of horses and is looking forward to watching other young people have the opportunity to discover the world of horses.

Kaelyn Donnelly Browning

Growing up in horse country among a horse-loving family, Kaelyn has been riding and driving horses for years competing on a local and national level. After attending Stephens College and earning a degree in Marketing, Public Relations and Advertising with a minor in Equestrian Studies, Kaelyn attended Indiana University Purdue University- Indianapolis to earn a Master's Degree in Visual Communication Design. Kaelyn combines her love for horses and passion for business and design as a graphic designer and photographer for the equine publication, Saddle Horse Report. She is an active exhibitor of American Saddlebreds and Hackney ponies, as well as a breeder and owner. Kaelyn and her husband, Alex Browning, own Trademark Farm- a Saddleseat Training and Lesson barn with locations in Campbellsville, KY and Shelbyville, KY. She has worked with several equine non-profits and believes in the transformative power of horses and the good they bring to all who enjoy them.

Natalie Hewlett

Natalie is a native of Georgetown, Kentucky. Her parents met while breaking thoroughbreds at Calumet Farm, and thus began a lifelong involvement in the equestrian community. Natalie began riding at Robert Murphy Stables at age eight, quickly moving up the levels in the hunter, jumper, and equitation rings. She was a member of the University of Kentucky’s Equestrian Team for four years, and captain of the team for three. She was the recipient of the 2013 Kentucky Hunter Jumper Association Scholarship and has enjoyed being involved in numerous facets of the industry as an adult. Natalie joined the HOOF Board in 2021 and is excited to be a part of such a life-changing organization.

Leslie Lloyd

Leslie was first introduced to horses when she was young. After a nearly ten-year hiatus, she returned to the horse world. She first became involved with HOOF KY as a volunteer, and then as a senior Equine Academy counselor. Leslie currently chairs the HOOF KY Equine Academy program and is a professional high school English Teacher, certified librarian, and active member in the Louisville Equestrian Center's summer programs and equestrian school clubs.

Emily Brown

From Louisville, KY, Emily Brown is an intrinsically motivated graduate student with a demonstrated passion and skillset that drives success in sports business promotion efforts. She graduated with a dual degree from the University of Kentucky Martin-Gatton College of Agriculture in Spring 2023. During her undergraduate studies, she was elected by her peers and coaches to serve two years as President of the University of Kentucky Saddle Seat Team, which is a Registered Equine Club Sports Team affiliated with the University. Concurrent with Emily's MS in Marketing studies at Clemson, she serves as a Premium Hospitality Assistant at IPTAY, Clemson's well-accomplished athletic fundraising organization. After graduation from Clemson in May, Emily looks forward to continuing to be a lifelong learner, an 'outside the box' thinker, and a teammate who takes pride in being a part of efforts bigger than herself. HOOF KY aligns with her core mission to share the love of sports and equine enrichment with the world.

Donna Knaster Duvall

As a graduate of the University of Louisville (B. A. Psychology) and Bellarmine University (M.A.T.), Donna received her Rank I at the University of Louisville which was completed at the Bread Loaf School of English , Middlebury College, Vermont, with a grant she received from the Kentucky Department of Education. Donna taught English, Literature and Creative Writing to students ages 10 to 14. In 2003, she began an Equestrian Club at J.C.T.M.S. working with Betsy and the Louisville Equestrian Center. In 2008, she received a $5,000 grant from the Marshall Foundation which enabled participation in hands-on riding for students who maintained at least a C average and had good attendance. Horses have always been a part of her life which included lessons in Hunt Seat at age eleven to riding Saddlebreds with Betsy Webb at Walnut Way in April of 1998, and she enjoyed competing in academy classes. She now rides horses for the wonderful exercise and friendships that an Equestrian life at Louisville Equestrian Center provides. Donna is also involved in her community, elected as Commissioner beginning in 1989 until 2009 when she was appointed City Clerk for the City of Houston Acres. Donna is very active in her church where she is completing a four-year Education for Ministry program this Spring and is presently serving on the Altar Guild, Usher Committee, Finance Committee, Endowment Committee and also was elected to the Vestry for a second three-year commitment at Calvary Episcopal Church. Donna has been participating in HOOF KY activities since its’ inception.