$10,000.00 For Free Rein

You can help Free Rein receive up to a $10,000.00 from Larry H. Miller Toyota. Click on their link and look for the post about charitable donations. Add a comment "nominating" Free Rein and help us get some much needed $.


http://www.facebook.com/LHMToyotaSpokane

Volunteer Spotlight

 

Lisa is one of our newer volunteers but she jumped in with both feet.  She has been spending tons of time in the office helping out and volunteering as a side walker and leader.  She came to us with experience from a therapeutic riding program in Colorado, from where she just moved.  She thinks it is great to see the kids and the horses. 

A couple of her favorite moments at Free Rein have been when one of our riders, who was coming every week but just not ready to get on the horse, finally got on.  Lisa said it was “pretty rewarding” and she loved how the rider jabbered the whole time because she was so excited to be riding.

Another favorite moment was when she found out that Whistle is pregnant.  What, you hadn’t heard yet? Yep, Whistle is going to be a mamma.

Something that might surprise you about Lisa, or what not many people know, is that she is a Salsa dancer.  She has been dancing for 7 or 8 years. She has participated in competition and was on a performance team in Seattle.  She and her dance partner won the State Championship in Colorado.  With dance she has travelled and competed all over the world including Puerto Rico, Miami and Texas.

Lisa doesn’t have a favorite horse here at Free Rein.  She loves them all.

Lisa loved the Barn Dance and plans to continue to go every year.  She and her husband won a mandolin and now her hubby (who plays guitar) is trying to teach himself to play their newly won instrument.

Welcome to Free Rein, Lisa. Thank you so much for your time and dedication to helping our riders and keeping the office organized.

Volunteer Spotlight

A Q&A with John Pardee... our Volunteer Spotlight  for the week:

Q: What brought you to Free Rein?
A: When I retired from the Sheriffs Dept I looked around for something to do that was of interest to me.  I am not usually a phone guy  or a reception office guy or wanted to be on call (red cross) so when I became aware of this organization it attracted my interest. [I] Like horses and kids.

Q: What makes you stay?
A: I have been volunteering several years now , started the tail end of the first year Sandy started, so I guess it has become a habit in some ways.  Enjoy seeing the horses and riders. (Usually take summers off to be with my family)

Q: Would you share a story from your time here?
A: I volunteered to do a promotion during the fair several years ago and the horses and riders had to do a figure eight type competition during a 4H event.  I was side walking during this event and suddenly discovered upon entering the arena that the dirt had been plowed soft and was about 6 inches deep.  Part of the event required us to trot and when we finished it I thought I was going to die!

Q: What is something that not many people know about you?
A: I am a Viet Nam vet , serving in 1968.  During my time there my Army Division was sent north to help the Marines at the Khe Sahn fire base.  Myself and two other soldiers were sent to operate radios on the fire base during the shelling and as far as I know we were the only First Cavalry soldiers on the marine base during part of the shelling.

Q: Who is your favorite horse?
A: Guess that would be Chester. I have only seen him act up once (when he was scared by a piece of machinery) and is always easy to work with.

Q: What is your favorite Free Rein event?
A: Guess that would be the dinner fund raiser.   Fun to look over the items up for auction and see familiar faces from the past that only seem to show up for the dinner fund raiser.

Thank you, John. Thank you for your service to Free Rein and your service to our country!