ACCESS ADVENTURE VOLUNTEER

I have been a horse lover all my life, but it was about 10 years ago while in Yellowstone Nat’l Park that I got a taste of what it feels like to be behind a draft horse, driving a wagon on land never traveled by car, bus, train, or any other modern convenience. It was the most exciting experience I can remember. I felt like a pioneer, like I truly stepped into a world from the past. I knew they that I had to learn to drive. I searched, very briefly, for someone to teach me, but living in Los Angeles didn’t afford me many choices. Actually, none, to be exact.

I moved up here to Fairfield, after marrying my husband Michael in October 2004. After spending a wonderful weekend at the Draft Horse Classic I set out to find a driving teacher. One woman I called suggested that I get a hold of Michael Muir. She had heard that he was starting a new driving program and that he might trade lessons for volunteer time. I jumped on that phone, and lo and behold, she was right, and better still, he was working right in my home town.

I have been a member of Access Adventure ever since. I never dreamt that being a volunteer could be so rewarding. I get to have hands on experience with horses. Grooming, harnessing, driving, training any time I want. I love working with the disabled people more than I imagined. We have formed a fantastic group of volunteers. Each of us has our own job given the time available in our schedule, and then we all join together for training sessions and driving events. I have been named the “Volunteer Coordinator, or as Michael Muir calls me, "Madam Coordinator".

We have such a goodtime! My husband has never been a horse person, but he’s involved now as well. There is truly something here for everyone.