Staff
Ruth Jenkins, Founder & CEO
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Ruth was born and raised in Southport, North Carolina, just down the road from Horseplay Farms! She grew up with horses and was the proud owner of "Rubber Duck" while she and her husband, Phillip (retired Army Vietnam veteran), were stationed in Heidelberg, Germany. Ruth retired as a Department of the Army civilian in 2007 and still consults for Department of Defense while living in Fairfax, Virginia. She and Phillip founded Our Heroes, Inc. and Horseplay Farms, LLC in 2013 to give back to our veterans, children, and special populations of Brunswick County. |
Jodi Jarrells
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Jodi joined the Horseplay Farms family in July of 2021. She came to us from Alabama where she was doing home health care and decided to take a break from nursing to join the family at Horseplay Farms. Jodi has been an LPN for 15 years. She began riding at the age of 3 and owns Chester and Duke who reside at Horseplay as well. She has 3 dogs, and her 3 cats that she goes home to everyday. She accomplished her 3 main bucket list items which were to get a Sheepadoodle, to move to the beach, and bought herself a Jeep Wrangler!
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Allison Hyde
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Allison joined the Horseplay Farms family in February of 2022. She relocated to Oak Island from Clayton, NC after her husband was transferred to Wilmington for work. She has owned her horse, Koda, for 15 years. Allison has been married to her husband, David for 18 years. She has a daughter, Mackenzie and a son, Dillon as well as several animals at home. She previously worked at Blue Skies Stables in Selma, NC for 6 years as the barn manager and MacNairs Country Acres for a year before that as a stable hand.
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Julie McVey - Trainer/Riding Instructor
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Julie came to Horseplay Farms in 2021, bringing with her Cookie and Trigger. She previously came here from Ohio where she owned her own horse stables and business; training, showing and breeding Hanovarian Sport horses. She has started her horses under saddle; dressage and jumping as well as for clients. While in Ohio, she trained Andalusian stallions and Friesians. Julie competed in eventing through training level, dressage through Prix St. George and Jumping. As well as Hunters to 4' timed events, endurance rides, Hunter trails, & pairs jumping.
Here at Horseplay Farms, she teaches all levels of riding, manages trail rides, instructs a summer camps and participates in special events. She specializes in training privately owned problem horses and developing trust and respect between horse and rider. |