Ros Rowe - Founder/Co-ordinator
Hawke’s Bay born and bred, Ros founded the Leg-Up Trust in 2002 (incorporated in 2003) when it grew out of her horse trekking business in Te Awanga.
She has been around horses most of her life, albeit with a frustrating break when illness kept her largely bedridden for 20 years.
The Trust, based on Christian principles, has been her passion since its inception and there has been little time for anything else. However, in her rare spare time she loves to garden, read and write. She has written three books. In the late 70s she had a friendship with a wild bottlenose dolphin, Horace, and the experience was a catalyst for Leg-Up many years later.
She has two adult children and three granddaughters.
Suzanne Rogers – Admin, horses and programmes
Suzanne took on the role as office administrator in July 2021. She has been coming out to Leg-Up for about 5 years with a group of children from St Matthew’s Primary, where she worked as a Teacher Aide. Suzanne is from Christchurch and after some time in Auckland she moved to The Bay with her family in 2000. She is married and has 1 grown son. Suzanne’s love of horses developed out here at Leg-Up. Her favourite hobby is reading either in the sunshine or in front of a cosy fire on a cold day.
Amy Thomas - Horses and programmes
Amy has been working with horses for over twenty years now and loves everything that comes with it, big or small. She spent at least five years at the RDA helping people of all ages to overcome their battles, she also has a teenage daughter of her own.
In her spare time she loves to sing and play the guitar.
Lily Riley - Horses and programmes
Lily started volunteering here with us in the beginning of 2019. She has now finished school and works four days a week but volunteers for the other one. She’s an all-rounder out here, helping with the horses and children. After finishing a day’s work at Leg-Up she starts her other job as an after school carer.
Outside of work Lily enjoys being involved in her churches youth group, socialising with friends and some retail therapy.
Finn Wotherspoon - Horses and programmes
Finn started here at Leg-up in August of 2019 through the Rangatahi Ma Scheme run by the Hastings District Council. After that initial six month period Leg-Up employed him to care for the horses and help with the students.
Finn loves to help people grow and achieve, reading non-fiction books and of course all animals.
Adrian
Adrian is new to Legup and has just started recently so he is looking forward to getting to know the horses and the people involved. He has run programmes for youth and adults for many years helping them to learn positive communication skills and lifeskills in general. He brought youth out to Legup a few years ago when he was was a Swissy (Social Worker in Schools) at William Colenso College and discovered the magic that is Legup. So recently he contacted Ros to see if there was any opportunity to work here and lo and behold the timing was good! So here he is!
Allan Rowe - Part time maintenance man
Allan is in charge of keeping the tools, gear and machinery up and running as well as general maintenance of the property.
His main passions in life are racing pigeons and taking care of his dog Missy.
Volunteers
Leg-Up operates mainly through the goodwill of volunteers, and we have a great team of people doing their bit for a few hours each week.
Our dedicated team includes Shane Bruere, Graeme Wallace, Deb Scott, Suzie, Di Romans, Margie McNeill, Gretchen.
Trustees
Laurie Jenkin - Chairperson
Charlie Janes - Trustee
Glenise McGaffin - Trustee
Di Romans - Trustee & volunteer
