Why we love her: For her flexibility! Pre-pandemic, Chloe volunteered as a barn crew member, sidewalker and leader … jumping in wherever she was needed. Since we reopened for services onsite, Chloe stays busy leading horses in therapy and adaptive riding lessons (Boog is a favorite).
Path to The Shea Center: “I originally chose Shea because I needed service hours for the National Honors Society at my high school. But soon after I started, I fell in love with volunteering here. All the volunteers and staff members I encountered were very helpful and patient in teaching me ‘The Shea Way’, and all about horses and tacking. I also love being able to interact with clients in lessons, getting to know them, and seeing the clients progress over time.”
Years of service: Chloe became a volunteer in July of 2018. Favorite Shea Center memories: “My favorite Shea Center memories exist as a collection of happy moments: Little progressions made in lessons, interactions with the horses, and the few slow moments at the barn when the volunteers would to stop to rehydrate and enjoy a chocolate chip cookie.”
Lessons learned: “I discovered a love of horses. Before coming to The Shea Center, I was somewhat afraid of horses. Through volunteering, I learned a lot about them, including tacking and behavior, and am no longer afraid. I want to eventually own and take care of my own horse.”
When not at The Shea Center, she is doing this: “I spend the majority of my time in class or completing school work. I am transferring from community college to Virginia Commonwealth University as a summa cum laude (4.0 GPA). Other than school I spend time drawing or playing online video games.”
She finds her bliss…: “I find it at The Shea Center. It brings me joy to help others, and volunteering here does that. It brings a smile to my face when a client walks around the corner and sees the horse that I’m leading, recognizes it’s their horse, and gets super excited to ride. Aside from volunteering I enjoy drawing and illustrating via digital art, charcoal and watercolor.
Future plans: “Involve becoming a doctor in radiology. Currently, I’m obtaining a bachelor’s degree in pre-radiologic sciences. Although this goal has taken me to Virginia Commonwealth University, I plan on volunteering at a therapeutic riding center in Virginia, and substituting at The Shea Center when I’m in town.”
Chloe moved to Virginia at the end of May. We thank her for her service and commitment to our clients, and look forward to our paths crossing again!
