A Different Kind of “Champion” Honored, Recognizing Volunteers in the Horse Industry

PMG press release by: Lynn Coakley

Five EQUUS Foundation “Champions” were randomly selected to receive $250 gift certificates for Ariat boots for their volunteer service in the fourth quarter of 2014 as part of the EQUUS Foundation “CHAMPIONS” program sponsored by Ariat International.

Hallie Austin

Hallie, a 17-year old high school senior, has volunteered at HORSEPOWER Therapeutic Learning Center, in Colfax, North Carolina for the last three years. Starting as a side walker, she quickly moved up to be a horse leader. She also assists with grooming and saddling the horses. Hallie has also participated as a member of Fox Run Equestrian Interscholastic Equestrian Association (IEA) Team for the past three years and now is the high school captain.

In 2013, she was awarded an EQUUS Foundation Champion of Equine Service Scholarship in recognition of her volunteer service as well as an EQUUS Foundation IEA Champion of Equine Scholarship.

“I love going to HORSEPOWER. I am grateful that I get to spend some time with these amazing children, volunteers and well trained horses.” Hallie has been accepted at UNC-Wilmington and will be a freshman there in the fall studying Marine Biology. “I have learned so much volunteering at HORSEPOWER. I hope to find a similar program in the Wilmington area where I can continue to volunteer.”

Jenna George

Jenna George volunteered for organizations like the South Florida SPCA, Horses and the Handicapped of South Florida, and the College Preparatory Invitational through her involvement with both the Millpond 4-H Club and the Millpond Farm Interscholastic Equestrian Association (IEA) Team.

Jenna is a Co-Captain of the Millpond IEA Team for the 2013-2014 season, and has qualified for the IEA National Finals for the last two years. “I am so grateful to Ariat for sponsoring the Champions program!”

Patricia Stone

With a lifelong love of horses, it was wonderful for Patricia Stone to finally achieve her goal to learn to ride and have her own horse. The great pleasure of owning her horse inspired her to volunteer at the Therapeutic Riding Center of Huntington Beach in California.

“It has been so rewarding for me. The benefits of this equine therapy program have not only helped our clients and their families, it helps the volunteers too,” said Stone.

Serena Thorne

Volunteering at Lucky Orphans Horse Rescue in Millbrook, New York, saved Serena Thorne. “When I first went to Lucky Orphans, I was just coming out of Crisis intervention from a suicide attempt. When I lost my stepdad a few years back, it broke me emotionally and then I found out that my second knee surgery had failed.”

She’s been volunteering for over a year now. “Even when I couldn’t ride due to knee issues, I could just hang out there.” One horse – Alley Cat – made a big difference in her life by giving her the chance to look forward to the future with hope for the first time in a very long time. The horses at Lucky Orphans who need healing are healing Serena.

Sharon Weaver

Sharon Weaver started volunteering at Shangri-La Therapeutic Academy of Riding in Lenoir City, Tennessee, about six years ago. She was new to the area and worked from home and wanted to find a place to volunteer in order to meet new people.

What’s most amazing is that before volunteering at Shangri-La, she had never been around horses before. The team at Shangri La taught Sharon what she needed to know and now she is a horse leader during the lessons. “Working with the instructors and the riders is one of the most fulfilling experience I have ever had.”

CHAMPIONS is the EQUUS Foundation’s incentive-based equine service volunteer program sponsored by Ariat International to recognize and reward individuals and organizations on the Equine Welfare Network.

It’s easy to become a CHAMPION, an individual must log a minimum of 24 volunteer hours from January 1st to December 31st. The volunteer hours will be verified by the organization and the EQUUS Foundation.

To learn more about the Champions program, visit http://www.equusfoundation.org/champions.php

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