EQUINE
SEPTEMBER 21, 2023 | THE WELLINGTON ADVERTISER | 19
Volunteering with horses is a rewarding endeavour By Robin George WELLINGTON COUNTY – Spending time with horses can reduce stress, bring joy, increase physical exercise and time outside, and provide a sense of purpose. But not everyone can afford the hefty price tag of ownership, leasing, or lessons. Instead, people can spend time with horses – and contribute to their community – by volunteering. Equine volunteers include seniors finding ways to fill their days, newcomers seeking community and connection, young people gaining experience, and students completing the community service hours they need to graduate. Volunteers and coordinators at Willowcrest Farm in Moorefield, Equine Erin, and Sunrise Therapeutic Riding & Learning Centre in Puslinch spoke with the Advertiser about volunteer opportunities and benefits. Willowcrest Farm Willowcrest Farm is a lesson and boarding farm owned by Julie Diamond. There are 30 horses, goats, potbelly pigs, chickens, cats and dogs. Julie and Audrey Hunter are a mother and daughter who volunteer at Willowcrest. “It’s always just fun to hangout with the horses,” 14-year-old Audrey said. “Once you get to know the horses it gets even more fun because you start to get to know all their quirks.” Audrey has been visiting the barn since she was three years old, and started volunteering at 12. The horses can sometimes be pretty silly, she said, making memorable moments. “This one horse we have named
Cricket – one day there was a cat that walked by in the arena and [Cricket] was in a goofy mood, and he just leaned down and licked the cat,” Audrey laughed. The Hunters muck stalls, turn horses in and out, fill feed and water buckets, and help with farm maintenance like repairing fences and raking the arena. Audrey also grooms the horses, helps with summer camps, and prepares horses for lessons on Saturdays, during which she leads the beginner riders. Julie Hunter said their love for Julie Diamond led the Hunters to volunteer: “We love her and she needed help.” Hunter said. “Nobody succeeds alone, right?” Willowcrest “is just so good for the kids and for the animals,” she added, and “we feel really strongly that it’s important to give back to your community – and [Julie Diamond] does so much for the community.” “I started riding with Julie when I was four or five,” Audrey said, and “Julie does so much for us so I wanted to help her out.” Audrey said volunteering at Willowcrest has strengthened her work ethic, as it’s crucial to ensure the horses’ needs are met. Julie Hunter learns a lot during her time volunteering at Willowcrest too – “I know more about horses than I ever, ever thought I would,” she said, and it’s also a great workout. Volunteering at Willowcrest is a bonding experience for Audrey and her mom, as it gives them time together and something in common. Audrey has also formed strong friendships with peers at Willowcrest.
Julie said “everytime you go out there, you leave and feel like you’ve accomplished something – big or small … I never walk away and think ‘oh that was a waste of my time.’” The work can range from getting a messy barn into spick-and-span condition or something more significant – like when the neighbour’s horses got loose. “If we hadn’t been there to catch them, what would have happened?” Julie pondered. To enquire about volunteering at Willowcrest Farm, email Julie Diamond at willowcrest2008@gmail. com. Volunteers at Willowcrest need prior experience with horses. HorseDay Erin and the Erin Fall Fair Bridget Ryan has lived and volunteered in Erin for 25 years. She’s the founder of Equine Erin, the organization that hosts HorseDay Erin, and the associate director of the Erin Agricultural Society, which organizes the Erin Fall Fair. Both annual events depend on volunteers, and volunteering is a “good way to create community and create connections,” Ryan said. It’s also “a good way to share skills, and it helps get the job done.” Ryan said many locals “get teary eyed when they talk about [the Erin Fall Fair]. It’s been going since 1850 and has a long history of bringing communities together and showcasing rural lifestyles.” The fair is Oct. 6 to 9, but volunteers are needed from Oct. 5 to 10 for set up and tear down. The fair has more than 100 volunteers, with some bringing heritage draft horses, ponies, donkeys and other animals with them to the fair.
Long ears – Equine enthusiast and donkey wrangler, Taylor Valentine, driving her mini donkey, Chip. Valentine and Chip often participate in local events, promoting mini donkeys, and other long-ears. Submitted photo In previous years the fair has been 100% volunteer run, but this year hired a fair manager – Joanne Gregson. “Joanne gave back for many years as a volunteer,” Ryan said, and her new position as fair manager is “a win-win for the fair because she has such a depth of knowledge.” HorseDay Erin is an annual event
that “would not run without 30 plus volunteers,” Ryan said. Volunteer roles include the organizing committee, distributing marketing materials, setting up for the event, and tearing down afterwards. Next year, HorseDay Erin will take place on June 1 at the Erin fairgrounds.
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