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Making miracles happen by doing all we can with what we have!
"We all do what we can with what we have and miracles happen! It's why we volunteer!" These words spoken by Christina Del Villar reflect the sentiments of all equine service volunteers participating in the EQUUS Foundation Champions program sponsored by Ariat International. Christina is one of the five randomly selected to received Ariat boots for the 2nd quarter of 2016 in recognition of her service.
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Christina Del Villar with Lacey
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Christina Del Villar
Dream Catcher Stables, Inc.
Spring, TX
"I love to volunteer at Dream Catcher Stables because it is not what I have given, but what I've gotten in return," said Christina Del Villar.
Last week, Del Villar, a medical assistant for a pain management facility, helped repair a fence to keep the horses safe in addition to her regular duties of feeding, grooming and bathing the horses, cleaning the stalls, and leading the horses in lessons.
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Bill Emery with Bally
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William (Bill) Emery
Free Rein Therapeutic Riding
Spokane, WA
Bill Emery is an active retiree who has volunteered with Free Rein Therapeutic Riding since 2012. His love of horses began in 1964 when he spent a summer at a training/boarding facility in New Jersey.
Since the day he started volunteering at Free Rein, Bill has helped whereever help is needed, and in the last 4 years, has donated more than 1,400 hours of service.
"Whether it’s feeding the horses, grooming and leading horses in classes, or spending hours out in the field scooping road apples, we can always count on Bill to get the job done," said Stephanie Wiarda, Free Rein's Volunteer Coordinator.
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Molly Feezor with Shaq
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Molly Feezor
Girl Scouts Carolinas Peaks to Piedmont Circle C Equestrian Center
Sophia, NC
Molly is the kind of kid that makes you wonder, how does she do it all? She's in the marching band, FFA, Earth Club, and has been a Riding Instructor in Training (RIIT) for two years.
RIITs volunteer year-round with special events, equestrian summer camps, horsemanship workshops (Barn Rat University) in addition to barn chores and selling Girl Scout cookies.
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Brittney Bremer with Moe
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Brittney Bremer
Roanoke Valley Horse Rescue Inc. (RVHR)
Hardy, VA
RVHR provides shelter, food, daily care, medical treatment, rehabilitation and adoption services for over 50 horses that have been abandoned, neglected and/or are in need of a new home.
Brittney helps out whereever she can with feeding and daily chores.
"I've always loved being around horses and have been a volunteer since November. My plan is to pursue a career in veterinary medicine specializing in equine," said Brittney.
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Barbara Schaum with Stella
"Both of us are Orioles fans", said Barbara!
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Barbara Schaum
Rose of Sharon Equestrian School
Glen Arm, MD
Barbara has been volunteering at Rose's for the last two years. She retired after 40 years as a computer programmer and analyst and has been married to her "wonderful" husband Milt for 32 years.
It was Barbara's brother, a farrier who donates his services to Rose's, who introduced her to the school. Rose's has been designed to be a place of refuge from the challenges often encountered when living with a disability, or when caring for someone who has special needs.
It's also been a refuge for Barbara. "I can't say enough about how satisfying and grounding it is to work with the horses and and the students", said Barbara. "It makes me feel centered and at peace."
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About EQUUS Foundation: The EQUUS Foundation, a 501(c)(3) public charity established in 2002, also known as Horse Charities of America, is dedicated to improving the quality of life of horses, enabling the therapeutic use of horses for those in need, fostering the horse-human bond, and educating the public about the horse's unique ability to empower, teach and heal. Donations are tax-deductible to the full extent of the law. Contact the EQUUS Foundation, Inc., at 168 Long Lots Road, Westport, CT 06880, Tele: (203) 259-1550, E-Mail: mail@equusfoundation.org, Website: equusfoundation.org.
About Ariat International: Ariat International, Inc. is the leading manufacturer of innovative performance equestrian footwear, apparel and belts. Featuring a patented technology designed to deliver stability, durability and comfort, Ariat pioneered the application of advanced athletic shoe technology into English riding boots and authentic Western boots. Ariat products are sold in a network of retail outlets throughout the world. For more information about Ariat products or for the Ariat retailer nearest you, contact Ariat at 800.899.8141 or visit www.ariat.com.
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