Congratulations and a huge thank you to our December Volunteer of the Month, Lisa Schildt!! Lisa does SO MUCH here at SAFE, and has a lot of talent and ability to share with us. She’s found a lot of ways to help, both in the barn and behind the scenes in the office. Lisa always seems to be going the extra mile, and we are so thrilled that she’s part of SAFE!!
How and when did you first get involved with horses?
I was one of those kids who loved horses, and did everything possible to be around them but never had one of her own. I attribute my attraction to horses to reading, and re-reading, the classics such as The Black Stallion series by Walter Farley, Misty of Chincoteague by Marguerite Henry, and the Dick Francis books involving horse racing. I pretty much haunted the county fairgrounds during horse shows. A favorite memory from childhood was visiting the Kentucky Horse Park. I was obsessed with Man o’War. Thanks to friends with horses, I had experience cleaning stalls, handling horses, and riding prior to volunteering at SAFE. But once at SAFE, I knew I needed to start from square one again.
What do you like most about volunteering with SAFE?
Volunteering at SAFE is a multi-faceted pleasure so it’s challenging to say what I like most. I enjoy the physical labor aspect a lot because who doesn’t love to get sweaty, dirty, and come home with hay in your underwear? I also like that volunteers have diverse options of how to contribute their time. Probably my favorite part, though, is the sense of comradery that comes from working with other volunteers and staff who have such positive attitudes and enthusiasm for a shared purpose.
Do you have a favorite SAFE horse?
I hope Bonnie doesn’t mind, but my favorite horse at SAFE is Owen. I like how he transforms from his curly winter self to his handsome summer look. During night check, he is the horse I talked with most frequently. I also like that he’s not everybody’s best friend. He’s picky about who he lets get close to him. I like a horse who requires extra effort. (Editor’s note: Bonnie doesn’t mind at all, in fact, she’s thrilled that you like Owen so much!!)
What do you do when you are not horsing around with us?
Since retiring from corporate work, I’m lucky enough to be able to spend time gardening, weaving, and knitting in addition to volunteering at SAFE. Since COVID-19 hit, I’ve been sewing and selling face masks to raise money to donate to SAFE.
