Congratulations to our May Volunteer of the Month, Caitlin! Caitlin works a full time job and still manages to muster up the energy to spend her weekends volunteering. She even shows up early to help with feeding! The Sunday PM team is very lucky to have her at the helm.
How and when did you first get involved with horses?
Before I started volunteering at SAFE in 2019, I had SEEN one horse in my entire life (and I’m no spring chicken). I can’t say for sure what drew me to SAFE or to working with horses, but something did and I haven’t looked back.
Do you have one now you want to tell us about?
No, unfortunately not, but my husband and I are in the process of looking for some property to someday soon start a mini farm with chickens, goats, maybe a few pigs and a donkey, and definitely at least a couple of horses.
What do you like most about volunteering with SAFE?
I like so many things about volunteering with SAFE, but I think the thing I like most is how easy it is to learn something new every time I’m there — sometimes from staff and other volunteers, but mostly from the horses. It’s amazing how much I have learned about and from them in what, in the grand scheme of things, is a very short period of time. Horses teach you about life!
Do you have a favorite SAFE horse? If so, why?
They’re all lovely in their own unique ways, but I have a real soft spot for Sienna. Big and beautiful, Sienna has a kind heart, a playful spirit, and a good sense of humor. Every Sunday as I pull up to the back of the barn to park Kermit, she reaches down to touch the hood with her nose and nickers and snorts at me. I love that iron headed horse. I also have to give Domino a shout out because my brother, who passed away recently, visited the barn and had an instant connection with that silly old man. Like me, my brother had never been around horses despite being a life-long animal lover and it was amazing to see them connect.
What do you do when you are not horsing around with us?
I’m an environmental lawyer and I spend most of my time trying to conserve and protect our nation’s waters so we have safe water to drink and recreate in and so that fish and other wildlife that rely on aquatic habitats can survive and thrive.
Do you have family or special people in your life who support your volunteer work that you would want us to mention in your write up?
I have to give credit to my husband, Mikey, who is maybe a bit afraid of horses, but supports the work I do with SAFE, is always excited to hear how all the horses are doing — especially George — and (almost) always has dinner waiting for me on Sunday nights when I get home from my shift.
