Volunteer Bulletin

Little Bit Therapeutic Riding Center
July 2016
In This Issue...
Arena Volunteers
Summer Camp
Herd Updates & Reminders
Hospitality Volunteers
Boots & Bandanas Bash
Sign up to Substitute
Horse Show Recap
Welcome home, Anastasia!
Upcoming Trainings
PATH Intl. Instructor Workshop
Volunteer Spotlight
Meet our Staff
Important Dates 
July 5
Classes resume 

July 12
Captain/CiT Meeting

July 13
Horse Leader Training Level I

July 30
Horse Leader Training Level I

August 10
Horse Leader Training Level I

August 23 - September 11
Session Break
Arena Volunteer Shifts
We're kicking off Summer Session on July 5! 

Will you help ensure our riders can mount? 

Email Dana LaRue  to sign up for a regular class! 

Unless you've notified the Volunteer Dept. otherwise, your class schedule will resume as usual on Tuesday, 7/5.
Summer Camp Volunteers 
Are you ready for a ton o f fun?

If you like to work with diverse groups of people,  Summer Ca mp is the opportunity for you !

Camp runs Monday-Thursday from 8:30  am to 1:30 pm, July 5 through A ug 18. 
 
To  help with one shift or an entire camp week, contact Dana LaRue  

Herd Updates & Reminders
*Please welcome Nelly as our newest four-legged staff member! She is a 15 year old Appaloosa/Belgian cross and is an absolute sweet-heart. 

*Molly's rehab went well! Expect to see her phased into classes again soon. 

*Sherman won 2016 Horse of the Year!  If you are interested in sponsoring the direct costs for this handsome fellow's feed, routine health care, and farrier service, please contact Melissa Kelley.

*Please remember to maintain safety spacing at all times. Only one volunteer should be in the cross ties at a time and everyone should keep a  respectable distance from their horse's face. 
Hospitality Volunteers 
We need awesome volunteers to help keep our Welcome Center clean and sparkling!  Help is needed Tuesday-Friday Summer Session . Hours are flexible--anytime between 9 am - 3 pm. 

New Volunteer Orientation required.  Email  Melanie Renk to set up a schedule! 
Boots & Bandanas Volunteer Bash

You are invited to Little Bit's 
Volunteer Appreciation Boots & Bandanas Bash

Shine your boots, dust off that ole bandana, and join us so we may say thank you for your outstanding dedication to Little Bit's mission. 

Saturday, September 10, from Noon - 2 PM
at Little Bit Therapeutic Riding Center 
Plenty of food, fabulous giveaways, and rootin' tootin' FUN for everyone! 

Please RSVP by August 12 to Lindsay Shepard
Substitute Volunteering 
Congratulations,  Online Substitute Campaign Winners

Alyssa  Buchthal
Royla Forest 
Catherine Noyes
Anina Ratjen

Thank you to all of our volunteers who sign up online for substitute shifts! By doing so, you help to alleviate the many phone calls our department makes each and every day to ensure riders can mount.

Need assistance? 
Contact  Lindsay Shepard .
Thank you to the 77 volunteers who contributed over 350 hours to create such an amazingly successful horse show! 

It really takes a village, and everyone worked so well together to showcase the hard work that goes on at Little Bit, day in and day out.
  
2016 Admin Volunteer Award: 
Emily Burgess
2016 Barn Team Volunteer:
Trina Deines
2016 Program Volunteer of Year: 
Debbie Bacon

Suggestions for next year? Contact Lindsay Shepard
Welcome home, Anastasia! 
Many thanks for voting and sharing the 2016 Gypsy Vanner Gift horse competition.

Little Bit received 13,161 votes--enough to secure 10th place and the last gift horse!
Anastasia is a little filly, ball of personality. She is extremely smart, outgoing, and picks up new concepts well. Anastasia is four years old and stands at 14hh. Join us in welcoming her home at the end of July! 
Article Headline
Paddock Training
Weekly, Summer Session:
Mon, 2:30 - 3:30 PM 
Tues, 4 - 5 PM
Wed, 5:30 - 6:30 PM
Thurs, 11 - 12 PM 
Fri, 4 - 5 PM 
Sat, 2:30 - 3:30 PM 

Learn how to catch and turn out horses. Sign up in the Tack Barn! 

Horse Leader Level I  
Wed, July 13, 6 - 8 PM
Sat, July 30 , 2:30 - 4:30 PM
Wed, August 10, 6 - 8 PM 

Horse Leaders are responsible for helping their horse follow directions in class. These offerings are a n  excellent opportunity to learn how to work better with our herd and expand upon horsemanship skills! 

Please email  Melanie Renk  to sign up! Volunteers must be Paddock Trained to participate.   
PATH Intl. Instructor Workshop  
Have you ever wanted to learn more about horses and teaching lessons? Have you ever wondered what it takes to be an instructor? Have you ever wanted to pursue a profession in therapeutic riding?
 
If so, attend the  PATH Intl. Instructor Workshop! 
August 24th -26th, 2016 at
Little Bit TRC Dunmire Stables in Redmond, Washington
Taught by Master Level Instructor Amy Sheets & Advanced Instructor Lindsey Jameson

Registration Deadline: Friday, July 22nd
Workshop Fee: $400
***$50 Discount given to current Little Bit volunteers***
Light breakfast and lunch included in workshop
 
The 2 ½ day workshop will cover topics including:  
·   Disabilities
·   Equipment
·   Horse Analysis
·   Volunteer Management
·   Teaching Techniques
·   Task Analysis
·   Lesson Plans
·   Mounting & Dismounting





Download registration at LittleBit.org or register at the front desk.
Questions? Contact: Adaptive Services Director, Kelly Chaplin
Volunteer Spotlight: Alyssa Buchthal
Do you have a favorite Little Bit story you can share?
I needed to go get Sherman for a class and I was slightly nervous since he's notoriously difficult for me. As I was  trying to lead him out, I slipped on a rock and fell flat on my butt, right in front of a hippotherapy patient doing a  paddock loop. I got up and he followed me right out,  but I swear he was laughing the entire time, along with all of the volunteers in the hippo!
 
Which Little Bit horse is your favorite, and why?
Shorty is my favorite because he is always appreciative of a good grooming and ready for fun, in or out of the arena. 
 
Do you have horse experience outside of Little Bit?
I started riding when I was four. I used to compete in dressage, but I broke my leg in a riding accident and had to stop when I was 13. Since then I ride for pleasure, mainly bareback. 
   
Alyssa has been volunteering at Little Bit off and on since 2010. She volunteers on Barn Team, as both a leader and sidewalker in the arena, and supports our new volunteers on Training Team. An instructor described Alyssa as  "super dependable, responsible, great in any arena role, eager to help, and friendly!"

Thank you, Alyssa, for your dedication and giving your time to support our riders, horses, and staff. 
Meet our Staff: Melissa Kelley 
How long have you worked for Little Bit and what do you do here?    
I've worked at Little Bit since October 2014. I am the Grants Manager. I work as part of the Development Team to request funding from foundations and corporations to support Little Bit programs. My primary role is to write grant proposals and complete reports or other requirements for funding. I can also be found helping with development projects, posting updates to the Little Bit Facebook page and helping with campaigns such as Give Big or Giving Tuesday*.
 
What do you love most about Little Bit?  
I have two wonderful teammates in the Development Department. We enjoy working together and love to laugh. It's a joy to work with a team who complements one another's strengths and can have fun together.
 
Do you have a fun story to share about Little Bit?  
I love to hear stories about how participants connect with Little Bit horses. One mom shared with me how anxious her son was when he first started to ride at Little Bit. He was on the horse, but obviously nervous. Mom told him to take a big, deep breath. After he exhaled, the horse took a big, deep breath, and the participant immediately felt such a connection to the horse which made his first ride memorable.
 
What hobbies and interests do you have?   
I enjoy scrapbooking during the winter months, and camping with my husband and dog during the summer. 
I am also learning how to fly fish.
 
What is the one place or country you would like to visit?
I want to go back to Montana. This time, I want to find some good fly fishing.
 
Do you have a favorite food or drink?   
I'm a big fan of chocolate!

*Melissa headed the Gypsy Horse Campaign to bring Anastasia to Little Bit. Thank you for your hard work, Melissa! 
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Thanks for reading and thank you for your service!