Kaitlin Baldwin
22 July 2016
National Center for Equine Facilitated Therapy
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Today, I swept the entire barn. The barn floors quickly become littered with hay, shavings and dirt, so sweeping is always needed. Today, it was especially needed because NCEFT is hosting a clinic this weekend. I've done sweeping several times before at NCEFT and I am always happy to do it because I know the barn managers really appreciate being helped with the little barn chores. The barn managers, horse handlers, and instructors are always so busy with the sessions that they rarely have any time to clean the tack or sweep the barn floors. While these tasks can be monotonous to some, I actually enjoy them a lot. This is partially due to the fact that I love doing anything related to horses. However, it is also due to knowing how much doing the little chores mean to NCEFT. By getting the sweeping, grooming and tack cleaning out of the way, I help NCEFT focus on the more important tasks, such as teaching and helping the riders.
Volunteering at NCEFT has greatly shaped my summer. This summer, I have volunteered at NCEFT once every week. Every time I volunteer, I enjoy it more and more. There's something soothing about barn chores. I might be helping out with a summer camp that NCEFT is having the beginning of August. NCEFT has also influenced my summer internship at GoFundMe. In the next couple of days, I will be launching a GoFundMe campaign for NCEFT's horse expenses! I am super happy to be doing a campaign for NCEFT because it is a wonderful organization that has served my community and the Bay Area for years! Without a doubt, I will continue to volunteer beyond these six visits!
