My Nonprofit Reviews

Growing up, my family would take a road trip every summer. That meant an inevitable drive through rural America. Farmland, cows, and horses! I would day dream about riding each and every horse I saw through open fields, galloping at full speed. Of laying in hidden meadow's full of wild flowers with my best friend - my companion - my equine.

This love for horses was rivaled by only one thing - my love for helping people. I knew from a young age I would one day work with either people or horses. Fast-forward to the 14th year of a social work career, I was burned out. I needed to find my soul again. So, I did the only reasonable thing - I hung up the social worker hat and started the search for the title of the new chapter in my life.

All it took was one two-word search - horses & volunteer - on reliable old Google to find that title.

"This Old Horse."

My husband and I attended an open house and took a tour of Wishbone Ranch. We met the horses. We met the people. I was hooked. It was more than just a place that had horses. It was a community - a family - a vibe. And, I HAD to be a part of it.

I immediately completed the application and training for volunteers and scheduled my first shifts. That's all it took. The more time I spent there, the more I wanted to get involved. From helping with feed and chores to participating in their Hearts & Hooves Program, to becoming involved in the Placement Team, I couldn't get enough. I was eventually hired as a stablehand because they couldn't get rid of me.

The best part was that I was finally able to fulfill my childhood dream.
Through This Old Horse's adoption and fostering program, I was able to become the forever foster for 5 horses.

Not only did I gain a sense of belonging to a community of like-minded, horse-adoring humans, I found my soul again.