In 1996 Debbie Crews, Ph.D., Assistant Research Professor at ASU, began researching the effect of sport on the Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder and Autistic populations. For three years she incorporated kids in 8 week athletic programs including: basketball, weight lifting, running, archery, and horseback riding.

Dr. Crews compared all the sports and horseback riding proved to be the most positive intervention. She believed that everyone could benefit from interaction with horses. This sparked the development of the outreach horse program at ASU called Hunkapi. After 10 years with the university, Hunkapi is now a independent non-profit program that continues to serve clients all over the valley.

Hunkapi Staff

Cassandra Van Voorhees, Lead Mare

Cassandra relocated to Arizona in 2005 from San Francisco with her husband and two sons.  After being a stay at home mom for a few years she decided to enter the work force again.  Cassandra met Terra Schaad while training for triathlons in 2008 and after several long workouts she decided Hunkapi would be a perfect fit!  She now runs the office at Hunkapi and teaches lessons.  She loves the spirit Hunkapi embodies and see’s the magic of the program every day.  She looks forward to meeting you very soon.

Audrey O’Carroll, Instructor

Audrey relocated to Arizona from Rhode Island with her fiancé in the fall of 2010. She comes to us with extensive horse experience and a Bachelor’s Degree in Animal Science from Michigan State University. She started taking pony rides when she was three and became hooked, and later started riding seriously at the age of eight. Audrey has primarily ridden and shown in hunter/jumper and dressage techniques but has been schooled in western riding as well. When she’s not at the barn, Audrey enjoys running, reading, traveling, and trying new foods. She is excited to be a part of the Hunkapi team and looks forward to getting to know all of the Hunkapi riders and volunteers!

Maverick Graham, Instructor

Maverick Graham is currently studying at Mesa Community College to be a veterinarian.  Maverick moved to Arizona from Seattle in August 2011 and got involved with Hunkapi immediately.  He has always loved children and animals and is extremely happy to be a part of the Hunkapi Herd.   Hunkapi  is exactly the type of position he has always wanted to do and couldn’t have asked for a much better job!  Maverick is very excited to meet each and every one of you at the barn, his energy will indeed brighten your day.

Samantha Burwell, Instructor

Samantha Burwell joined the Hunkapi herd in September of 2011.  Prior to Hunkapi, Sam volunteered at a therapeutic riding stable in Watertown, Wisconsin.  She has worked with children in various settings for the past four years, including volunteering with the TOP soccer program and teaching reinforcing reading skills to summer school students in Brookfield, Wisconsin.  In addition, Sam has coached soccer to students between the ages of five and twelve and has assisted middle school students on weekly ski outings.  When she’s not spending time at Hunkapi, Sam is studying as a junior at Desert Mountain High School, and aspiring to become a physical therapist.  In her spare time, she loves to read, spend time with her family and friends, and catch up on the latest episodes of Glee!