VOLUNTEER ORIENTATION MEETING

We were excited to hold our first Volunteer Orientation meeting on Saturday, April 21, 2007. Our attendees received a packet of volunteer information including available volunteer jobs and job descriptions, safety guidelines and a 19-page instructional NARHA volunteer manual.

After an initial introduction of our program, present board members and instructors by President Karen Houk, the group was given a tour of Sandy Young’s Training Center where we are housed.

This time was also used as a question and answer/comment time between the group and instructors. (Oh, how we horse people love to talk!) The orientation ended with small group discussion. It was a chance to share stories, reacquaint with old friends and sew seed of new friendships.

We are planning volunteer dates in the very near future as well as continuing to add new volunteers to our program.

We would like to thank all who attended as well as to Sandy for allowing us the opportunity to continue the fulfillment of this mission.

DEMONSTRATION AT SANDY YOUNG’S TRAINING CENTER CLINIC

On Sunday, April 22, 2007, the Freedom Reins Therapeutic Riding Center had the opportunity to showcase its program at a clinic held at the Sandy Young’s Training Center. The twenty-minute program consisted of an introduction of our mission and various aspects of our program.

Certified NARHA instructor, Sheri Knepp, gave an explanation of therapeutic riding while Cindy McCullough, NARHA instructor in training acted as a horse leader and volunteers Karen Holtman and Katie Byler served as sidewalkers. Erica Houk, a former therapeutic riding student, and her horse, Chief, performed various activities that would be included in a therapeutic lesson.

Volunteers also sold refreshments for this clinic and the previous two clinics to help raise funds for the program.