Howdy Folks,
Live and Let Live Farm Rescue is a busy place. Teresa Paradise and the rescue welcome any
sentient being that needs help, a place to recover, a new start. The lovely
farm tucked in the forest of NH has horses, goats, donkeys, chickens, dogs,
cats, pigs, parrots and guinea pigs, and many more animals in all stages of
rebounding. This magnificent rescue was/is the dream of one woman, Teresa - but
it is the devotion, and the dream of many other wonderful folks, too. They are
the caring and tireless people who change bandages, sit up all night with a
sick horse, feed over 200 animals each day, and do countless other chores, all
with love and dedication. They are the volunteers.
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| Volunteers at Live and Let Live Farm Rescue attending my "Therapy for Therapy Horses" clinic |
As I visited Live
and Let Live this past weekend I was once again struck with admiration for the
hard work, caring and love of the many volunteers going about their duties.
Never a complaint, always happy to do whatever is needed to be done, and there is
always plenty to do here - and at every rescue, therapeutic riding center, horse
sanctuary or any of the thousands of non-profits that exist solely to help
others.
Traveling about
as I sometimes do to visit these wonderful organizations, or just visiting on
the phone for interviews to write the stories about, "People and Horses
Helping Horses and People," I always notice the volunteers. I thank God
for them.
Volunteers give
up large chunks of their lives, so that other lives may be made better.
Volunteers spend their own money for gas, drive their own trucks and cars so
that others might be transported to the healing and loving places. Volunteers
work in the heat and the cold so that others might be a little more
comfortable. Volunteers sit up late at night pouring over paperwork to fill out
just one more grant application so hay, fuel, feed and equipment might be
purchased. Volunteers organize fund raisers to keep the supplies coming. And
the electric and vet bills paid.
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| Volunteers sharing love at Beauty's Haven Equine Rescue |
Volunteers put
their heads together to help solve problems. They share new and inventive ideas
that create better ways to help those without voices. They travel at their own
expense to get accredited, certified so that they might be of greater help.
Volunteers cry with the lonely, the hurting. They wipe the tears from sad faces.
They laugh with the joyous and celebrate even the smallest victories over
challenges. They cradle those who cross the Rainbow Bridge. They hug those
who must let go.
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| Heartland Horse Heroes therapeutic riding center |
Many things make
it possible for these wonderful organizations to help so many, humans and
animals. Today there are hundreds of Equine Assisted Therapy centers helping
folks with challenges ranging from Veterans with physical and emotional
challenges to battered women and at-risk youths as well as many other healing
places. And the hundreds of sanctuaries to protect our wild horses, rehabilitate
ex-show and race horses, PMU mares and so many other horses who need our voice,
our love, our caring. Those voices are the voices made possible by the devotion
of volunteers.
As a writer and
horse advocate I humbly tip my hat to the wonderful and selfless volunteers who
help so many. God Bless and Thank You.
Gitty Up ~ Dutch
Henry
