Volunteer Page

Helen began helping out at the Rescue around the summer of 2003. Her father had known Mike and Lynda and suggested that she spend some time at the Rescue to learn more about horses. She says that she continues to come out because she loves the people and the horses. Also, being at the Rescue helps her learn more about the horses by actually working with them.

One of Helen's most precious memories of the Rescue was the Spring of her Senior year around prom time. "I didn't have a date and when Lynda and Michelle found out they suggested the cowboy - Russell. So with their help I nervously asked him if he would go with me to my Senior Prom. He said yes and I had a prom date (thanks Lyn & Michelle). So when prom day came around, he picked me up in his truck and we went out to the Rescue for a visit - me in my prom dress and him in his tux & cowboy hat. We then took the best pictures ever with Slim and a pitchfork. I had so much fun that night and it was just awesome to be in a barn yard in a prom dress!"

I have so many snapshots in my head of special moments spent at the rescue, a few sad, but more often happy, or downright funny. Like walking Dutchess out to her paddock, avoiding major shin damage - and yes , she does think its funny. And being assigned the task of removing, by hand, clumps of shedding hair from a very disgruntled Sweetie Pie. I swear that pony growled at me!!

The most memorable moment for me was early last summer. When I arrived that morning, I was told that Bear, Ronin, and Markie were all seriously down with Laminitis. Up until that point, I had heard about many of the physical problems and ailments of the horses and ponies, but they all seemed so healthy and happy in that environment, that their serious ailments didn't seem "real". Now I walked into a barn that reeked of the intravenous medicine needed for that condition, and saw these three normally lively animals confined to their stalls, with their hoofs bandaged.

Lynda needed to give Bear another intravenous dosage, and asked me to hold him steady while she did this and checked his bandages. She explained to me in depth how seriously this disease effects the hoof, and how advanced this condition was in Bear. I was in awe how she handled this huge animal - confidently and with massive love. She kept telling him "its OK, Bear, its me". I will never forget the feeling I had when he put his head on my shoulder, and just leaned in on me and closed his eyes. I just kept whispering to him and kissing his cheek. We stood there like that for at what seemed a long time while his meds dripped through the intravenous line into his neck. Until that moment, I never really understood how fragile and vulnerable these large and powerful animals actually are, which for me made them all the more wondrous.