We are terribly lucky to have Bob as part of the SAFE volunteer family. He started out volunteering on the Friday PM shift and quickly became involved attending clinics, helping with our events and eventually adding a day on the Facilities Team and recently, Barn Assist. Bob is always up for helping with whatever needs to be done and he makes SAFE a better place because of him. Learn a little more about Bob below!
How and when did you first get involved with horses?
Growing up in the suburbs of Detroit, there weren’t many horses – although I did have Yellowy Boy. He was a fine plastic palomino suspended with springs on a frame. We covered many miles over the plains on adventures together.
We also had family friends across the state who kept Morgan horses. Visiting ‘The Farm’ was my very favorite place for many years. Nicky, the older, semi-retired gelding was my favorite and I got to ride him from time to time. The fastest he ever went was a brisk walk heading back to the barn where I learned to duck because he didn’t always stop before going through the barn door. Cart and sleigh rides, cleaning stalls, as well as an occasional lunch in the hayloft, are also favorite memories.
Jumping ahead, my sister Anne, in Michigan, has had horses for a number of years. A regular highlight of family visits has become ‘barn time’ when she shares her experience with my brother and I while working with her current horse and pony duo, Callie and Blossom. It was after returning from the holidays last year when I happened to discover S.A.F.E.
What do you like most about volunteering with SAFE?
My whole experience at S.A.F.E. has been very fulfilling for me. It has clearly tapped into my ‘inner cowboy’ who I didn’t know was still there. I really appreciate getting to do real work, outdoors with great people and to see our efforts make such positive difference in the lives of some very special horses. I’m grateful to be able to be a part of this herd.
Do you have a favorite SAFE horse? If so, why?
It’s too hard to choose a single favorite, but I certainly have to acknowledge Freya. Her calm, gentle demeanor and soft responsiveness, as well as her desire to roll in the dirt and need regular grooming, continues to teach me a lot. Veronica has also become special to me. She’s a real beauty and we seem to have a good connection – and I’m so pleased to see her progress in living and working with all of us humans.
What do you do when you are not horsing around with us?
For fun, I do a bit of scuba diving here in Puget Sound and prior to the pandemic enjoyed regular dancing and playing drums in a blues-oriented four-piece band. Hopefully, more opportunity for those will return soon. Professionally, my background is in naturopathic medicine I’ve been on a bit of a sabbatical. I’m now in the process of creating a new practice focused on how to find balance in a crazy world. For me, that includes my time at SAFE!
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- Veronica and Bob
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- Young cowboy Bob
