Heart of Horse Sense - TribPapers
Health

Heart of Horse Sense

Volunteers at Heart of Horse Sense. Photo provided.

Murphy – Here at Heart of Horse Sense, we are forever grateful for our dedicated volunteers who show up with great enthusiasm in whatever project is on the calendar. There’s always something that needs attention, whether it’s working outside on the property, gathering at the barn, assisting in the office, or helping with special events.

Like all non-profits, we recognize that volunteers are the heart of an organization. Without their time and talent, everything would come to a standstill, similar to operating a car without gasoline or oil. They’re an essential part of the family here at the farm, and we celebrate each and every one with great appreciation.

Connecting with our horses is something our volunteers value, so from the very beginning we’ve carved out quality time with the herd after working on a project or task. It allows each person to be in the moment with a horse, sharing an outdoor activity that brings comfort, mindfulness, and trust while stepping away from daily obligations and the stresses in life. We often hear how meaningful this time together with the horses is for our volunteers. They feel refreshed and exhilarated after being in nature with such sensitive animals, looking forward to more interaction.

Many individuals have asked to learn more about the healing power of horses, with an interest in digging deeper into the benefits of equine-assisted psychotherapy, animal behavior, and communication.

Listening to others helps keep us moving forward, so we honored those requests by offering ongoing six/eight-week courses for all our current and future volunteers, staff, and board of directors. Each week we’ll meet and explore more about our mission at Heart of Horse Sense and the role horses play in helping survivors of trauma heal and rebuild their lives.

There are many opportunities for volunteering in addition to helping outdoors, in the office, and with special events. We have different committees that might be of interest after taking the training course that involves governance, finance and sustainability, programs, and one that is especially fun—development. This committee oversees and plans events while generating fresh new ideas for building awareness and connecting with the communities throughout western North Carolina.

Another important one that’s close to my heart is the Volunteer Committee—assisting with our volunteer training sessions, ongoing projects, and special events, plus helping generate more interest in our surrounding communities about Heart of Horse Sense and ways to get involved.

Thank you to all our volunteers. We hold you close in our hearts with great gratitude for all you do. We’re looking forward to many adventures on the horizon. For more information, you can contact me at: volunteer@heartofhorsesense.org. Gina DeBreto, Volunteer Coordinator