Contributed by Gina Armano
This year commemorates a remarkable event at Windrush Farm, the 50th anniversary that kicked off a movement started by our founder, Marj Kittredge. The number of individuals affected by what Marj began in 1964 is staggering. Thousands of clients and volunteers over the last 50 years plus the work of other centers that have sprung up across the country are a direct result of her work. Windrush Farm’s program is not only one of the first of its kind in the United States, but as we have evolved through the years, so has the diversity of our offerings and the versatility of the volunteers who make our programs happen every day.
The evolution of therapeutic riding allows individuals with disabilities an opportunity to explore alternative forms of treatment and recreation. The obstacles our clients must overcome to advance and improve their lives is awe-inspiring and their stories are endless. The horses provide their legs and their mobility, while our volunteers provide their support physically and emotionally. Their borrowed legs can go anywhere they want them to go, through the woods, across the fields, up and down hills, with an ease they otherwise never have.
There has been a surge in the need for volunteers. Whether individuals are doing disaster relief work across the country or volunteering at a child’s school in their own back yard, the needs are endless and the possibilities limitless. Nowhere is this truer than at Windrush.
Our volunteers are the backbone of our program, and we couldn’t do what we do without their hard work and dedication to our horses and to our riders. They are the bridge between a frightened child and our amazing instructors, forging a bond that allows each rider to reach higher and dream broader surpassing everyone’s expectations. They give freely and generously of their time and talents. They come to us as working students, horse handlers, side walkers, barn help, fundraising committee members, and student interns. Some have horse experience, most do not.
Volunteering is always an adventure; you never know where it will lead you, who you will meet, or what kind of impact you will have on those you have helped. But one thing I know for sure is you will never be the same. You are challenged to push yourself out of your comfort zone, playing to your strengths and confronting your weaknesses, as your personal expectations are changed forever. At Windrush this happens every day.