OPENING GATES INC

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Judy Wiesenauer

My Role: Volunteer & I care for horses. Login to send private message

May 7, 2011

Review from Guidestar

May 7, 2011

As a volunteer who helps care for the therapy horses I have grown as a person. I was raised on a dairy/hog farm but didn't have horses. Getting involved in Hunters Brook Farm and Opening Gates has given me the opportunity to learn about horses and myself. Although all the horses have different personalities, they all require human assistance; they need food and shelter, grooming and medicine, pasture and stall maintenance. It's the personalities which amaze me. Bear, the largest horse, is probably the gentlest. Cletus and Lady are practically inseparable. Bucket and Sparky get nervous when one of them is out of sight, but can be comforted by other horses. Coke is the queen of the farm and is proud of it.

I am not a horse specialist or a counselor so I don't participate in the counseling but I have met a few of the clients who, upon completion of the counseling, volunteer with the farm chores. They were great supporters of the work done at Opening Gates. I have found that horses can cheer, irritate, and comfort me. I am cheered when Mikey "laughs" at me, irritated when Deuce swats me with his tail or refuses to be led, and comforted when Rascal can still run in the pasture even with steel rods in his leg.

Opening Gates accomplishes its goal of providing "equine assisted counseling and learning" everyday whether to clients or volunteers.

The Great!

I've personally experienced the results of this organization in...

my life.

Ways to make it better...

If I had to make changes to this organization, I would...

expand it.

More feedback...

Would you volunteer for this group again?

Definitely

For the time you spent, how much of an impact did you feel your work or activity had?

A lot

Did the organization use your time wisely?

Very Well

Would you recommend this group to a friend?

Definitely

Did your volunteer experience have an effect on you? (teaching you a new skill, or introducing new friends, etc.)

Learned about horses and equine assisted counseling. Also learned to apply for grants

How did this volunteer experience make you feel?

Useful

When was your last experience with this nonprofit?

2011