At SAFE, our mission is centered around helping horses heal, gain a solid foundation and education, and find their forever families. Each year, we take a moment to celebrate a volunteer whose extraordinary dedication, kindness, and passion embody our mission and enrich our community. This is no easy task, as SAFE is fortunate to have so many incredible volunteers. Yet, every year, one name tends to stand out as a beacon of these values. For 2024, we are honored to recognize Carrie Sjaarda as our Volunteer of the Year!
Sharing a sweet moment with Sienna during a Joel Conner Clinic.
Carrie has been a vital part of the SAFE community since January 2021. Her journey with us began as a member of the chores team, where she quickly became a shift lead. As her involvement grew, Carrie took on the role of barn assist, demonstrating her remarkable commitment to ensuring the well-being of our horses. Always smiling and willing to jump in to help wherever needed, Carrie has invested countless hours in ensuring all of our horses are well cared for and barn tasks are completed. Carrie has also dedicated many hours to learning horsemanship and working directly with our horses, helping them become happy, peaceful, and well-mannered equine citizens.
Co-Hosting a grooming class for SAFE volunteers.
Beyond her hands-on work with the horses, Carrie has embraced additional responsibilities that have significantly impacted SAFE. She took the initiative to manage our in-house fecals, allowing us to monitor sand and worm counts effectively, while saving the organization substantial costs. Her efforts ensure that our horses receive the best care possible while making our resources go further.
Carrie’s contributions also extend to enhancing our volunteer community. Co-leading with another volunteer (Kirsten Lints), they have taken the reins of our grooming program, teaching classes to other volunteers about SAFE’s grooming practices. Additionally, Carrie leads our walking program, pairing volunteers with some of our older companion horses for regular strolls around the property. These walks provide the horses with valuable exercise and enrich their lives with a bit of adventure and companionship with our volunteers.
Brandy and Carrie participating in a Joel Conner Clinic.
Carrie’s impact is to SAFE is immeasurable! Her kind heart, tireless dedication, constant smile, and readiness to assist wherever needed make her an irreplaceable part of SAFE. Carrie’s efforts have not only helped our horses heal but have also helped to strengthen our community as a whole.
Thank you, Carrie, for your incredible contributions to SAFE. We are deeply grateful for your hard work and honored to recognize you as our Volunteer of the Year for 2024. Your compassion and dedication inspire us all!
Sienna was very curious what snacks Carrie received in her bouquet!
