Lisa Poe

Like many kids, I loved animals and horses from a young age but grew up in an Army family that moved constantly and never had a chance to take riding lessons. After retiring from a fulfilling and fun forty-one year career supporting adults with intellectual disabilities and autism, I was looking for a volunteer commitment with animals and thought about horses. I was fortunate to find VEWS from a friend who is both a long time horse person and VEWS shift leader.I started volunteering at VEWS in November, 2021 and it has become a very treasured and incredibly fulfilling  part of my life.Though I have still have a lot to to learn, I can say I have a much greater understanding of horses, and of the care and individual attention they need,as we all do, to thrive. I am testimony to the fact that you can become a VEWS volunteer with little or no horse experience and learn a lot about their needs and care and develop more confidence. I have found the volunteers with years of horse experience very helpful to those of us with less knowledge. Lastly, the horses are the main reason we are all here. Despite usually unknown, neglectful, unfortunate, or unkind experiences with people before VEWS, they offer great lessons in patience, a desire for community, and a willingness to give us a chance to treat them right, sometimes for the first time in their lives. It's a privilege to care for them.