Jackie and Ruby

SAFE depends on volunteers in many different ways. Jackie Liles is one of our most important volunteers: she is a SAFE Foster! Jackie has been fostering horses with SAFE for several years. She opens her home and heart for any horse we ask of her. There have been times when we needed a hospice home for a horse, which can be a lot to ask of someone. We knew Jackie was the right person for the job. It takes a huge heart to foster in the best circumstances but it takes an extraordinary person to hospice foster. So many of our horses have gone to Jackie’s to rest, to grow, to recover, and to enjoy being a horse. We can’t thank her enough for all she gives to those in her care. However fostering for SAFE is not all Jackie does! Jackie participates in our annual work party and other work days at SHS. She also offers to take away all our landscape trimming and excess wood from the barn, which last year was 5 dump trailers full!  But wait, there’s more! Jackie is a member of our Herd Health committee and she also volunteers at special events like Heart of the Horse. In fact, it seems like she is always there when we need her help! We are so lucky to have her as part of our organization.

Here is more about Jackie in her own words:

I connected with SAFE in 2011 through a friend who was a volunteer. We had pasture with lots of green grass and I asked if she knew anyone who might have horses who needed pasture. It wasn’t long before I had SAFE horses April and Zanadu in my back yard. Since then I have also had the pleasure to love and care for Tilly, Maggie, Moonshine, Bridgit, Sapphire, Jewel, Stella and RUBY (my favorite) here at what I call “Slacker Camp”.

I started riding in 4^th grade and lost my horse over 30 years ago. I had always wanted to have a horse again, but buying my own just seemed like more than I should take on. Fostering horses for SAFE has worked out to be the perfect situation.  I think I have learned more from SAFE about horse care than I knew back when I had my own horse.

I’m happy to pick up baggies of poo once a week for parasite screening, chain saw trees for pasture space, and spend weeks burning truckloads of debris. I look forward to doing more and more for SAFE, as I have never felt so appreciated as a volunteer. The more I get to know the people and horses of SAFE, the more honored I feel to be a part of this organization of devoted people and the horses that get a second (or third?) chance at a good life because of them.