Sharon and Shiloh

Please join us in congratulating our April Volunteer of the Month, Sharon Bradley. Sharon began volunteering with us a year ago. When she first started, she was a little bit intimidated if the horses got too close. A year later, she has gained knowledge, skill and confidence in working around the horses. And even though she regularly does two chore shifts per week, she is still willing to answer the call for emergency help whenever asked. She is a very valuable member of our volunteer team. Thank you, Sharon!

A little about Sharon’s experience at SAFE in her own words…

“I began my volunteer experience with SAFE in April 2011, and am currently working Mondays and Thursdays. I had retired from my full-time job with the University of Washington and felt a need for new experiences. I enjoy animals (have Siberian Huskies) and always wanted a horse as a kid. I rode a little as a child growing up in Seattle, and tried to convince my parents that we could house a horse in the garage and let it graze in the backyard. Never were they naïve enough to fall for that one!!

My favorite horse, over time, seems to change – they all have such different personalities and approaches to life. I am currently enjoying April’s company and getting to know JR and Shay. Shiloh is a sweetheart, as is Lola. And the boys — Aiden, Fire, Sinatra and now Strider — are such fun to be around and to observe their antics and interactions. I am fond of Haflingers, so when Lucy and Leo appeared in the pasture one day last summer, that was a real treat!

I love working “on the farm”; I would like a small farm of my own one of these days. My experiences with SAFE have all been very positive. I began as someone with pretty much zero experience in the presence of horses, and everyone has been very generous in sharing their knowledge and expertise. It is amazing to read some of the before and after stories about a few of the rescued horses. I believe that SAFE does a great job in rehabilitating neglected/abused horses and fostering their adoptions to appropriate homes through careful evaluation of the needs of both humans and horses alike. I am very appreciative of the opportunity SAFE affords me to spend time in the company of horses. I have learned so much in the past year and believe that I get much more from this working relationship than I give.”