THE OUTFITTER'S LEGACY PROJECT
Hey There
Our board is made up of people who believe in hard work, service, and the power of the outdoors to change lives. Each member brings their own experience in horsemanship, community leadership, and stewardship of the land. Together, they help guide The Outfitter’s Legacy Project and keep our mission moving forward for veterans, youth, and the next generation of backcountry leaders.
Vose Hayden, founder and president, is a sixth-generation son of Scott Valley, deeply rooted in the land and traditions of his community. He grew up ranching alongside his grandfather, where he learned the value of hard work, stewardship, and a love for livestock. When his family’s ranch was sold, Vose lost the opportunity to continue ranching on that land, but the legacy of those experiences shaped his future. His passion for the outdoors and hunting led him into a life spent in wilderness areas, following the same mountain ranges where his family’s cattle once grazed and still run today.
In 2016, Vose and his wife Jamie launched their outfitting business, a venture that allowed him to combine his heritage with his love of the backcountry. His experience spans far beyond his home valley—he has spent over 15 years in the Frank Church River of No Return Wilderness in Idaho, and was a guide for some years, taking hunters and guests through some of the most rugged country in the West. For a time, Vose nearly relocated his family to Idaho, but when that door closed, another opened: the chance to continue his life’s work in the very mountains where he grew up.
Vose carries a deep respect for the old ways of outfitting and packing, honoring the traditions handed down through generations while remaining humble and eager to learn anything he does not yet know. He is passionate about teaching students of all ages, believing that the backcountry is one of the best classrooms for building confidence, grit, and respect for the land.
Together with Jamie, Vose is raising two daughters who share their family’s love for the outdoors. He is excited to help lead the next generation into the world of packing—whether on the trail, in the mountains, or in competitions that keep these skills alive. For Vose, outfitting is not just a livelihood, but a way to carry forward a heritage of horsemanship, stewardship, and wilderness traditions that might otherwise be lost.
Jamie Hayden, co-founder and treasurer, has spent her life weaving together family, creativity, and the great outdoors into a calling that reaches beyond herself. Married to her husband, Vose, for 15 years, Jamie is not only his life partner but also his business partner. Together they launched their outfitting business in 2016, where their shared passion for the backcountry has grown into a mission of stewardship, education, and heritage preservation.
An intentional homemaker and homeschooling mother of two daughters, Jamie brings the same thoughtfulness and dedication she pours into her home to every venture she undertakes. Alongside outfitting, she worked as a wedding videographer, where her creative eye and storytelling spirit flourished. Today, she continues to pursue videography and art, capturing the beauty of her work, her family, and the wild places she holds dear.
Horses have been part of Jamie’s life since she was five years old. Her parents relocated from the city to the country and became neighbors to a local outfitter, who then taught her how to ride. Horses have carried her across mountain ridges, into wilderness camps, and down quiet trails where her love for public lands and wild places has deepened. Through years of guiding and outfitting, Jamie has witnessed the transformative power of the mountains and the animals who make those places accessible.
Her heart for youth has been a constant thread. Jamie has taught horse lessons to children, watching them grow in courage and ability. Those experiences fuel her dream of passing down the skills of outfitting and packing to the next generation—not only the technical skills of horsemanship and wilderness work, but also the values of grit, resilience, and reverence for the land.
Through her role in The Outfitter’s Legacy Project, Jamie is dedicated to ensuring that the traditions of the mountains—horsemanship, packing, and stewardship of public lands—remain alive for generations to come. Her vision is to give young people and families the opportunity to experience wild places, to learn hard but meaningful skills, and to discover that they are capable of far more than they imagine.
Aysha Falconer, horsemanship lead and board member, was born and raised in the Shasta Valley and was lucky enough to grow up rurally and spend every moment she could horseback. She also developed a love for the outdoors at a young age which led her to explore many different modes of backcountry travel. After graduating Aysha pursued a career as a mountain guide and outdoor educator. She spent the better part of a decade leading people up cascade volcanos and down into deep canyons on foot, down rivers in rafts, up rock walls on ropes, and deep into snow covered mountains on skis. Her path eventually led her back to horses with a job as a packer in the Wind River Range in Wyoming.
Aysha now lives back home on her family’s small ranch where she and her husband are building a life together with horses at the center. These days she can be found working with colts, teaching people to ride, and trying to help people have better communication with their horses. Aysha is also a student of history and attempts to keep old California traditions alive through her horsemanship and her art. In her spare time she disappears into the mountains.
Throughout her career with people and with horses, education, stewardship and leadership have been deep rooted values for Aysha. To her there is nothing more inspiring than to see a horse or human meet challenges in a wilderness landscape and overcome them. And there is nothing that brings more peace to the mind than the silence in the mountains. At the end of the day, Aysha’s true passion boils down to keeping our western heritage and traditions alive while also keeping the wild places we have left free.
Amanda Ortiz, veteran lead and board member, is a dedicated healer, horsewoman, and homesteader who brings heart, skill, and purpose into everything she does. She owns and operates a personalized cryotherapy and body-healing practice, where she supports clients through injury recovery, pain relief, and overall wellness. Her approach is hands-on, intuitive, and focused on helping both people and horses feel stronger and more balanced.
Amanda’s life has always been closely tied to the veteran community. With a husband who served in the military and a lifetime surrounded by family and friends who have worn the uniform, she has a deep respect and commitment to giving back. She regularly volunteers, supports local programs, and helps lead clinics that provide veterans with opportunities to connect, heal, and experience the grounding power of horsemanship and the outdoors.
Whether she’s working with a client, training a mustang, packing mules, or caring for her homestead and family, Amanda is guided by service and compassion. Her goal is simple: to create meaningful spaces where people and animals can heal, learn, and thrive.