Success Stories
It takes a village, by Laurel, an Angels volunteer
My name is Laurel Dickman and I am a new volunteer at AOH! I live in Morganton with my husband and cat. We moved to GA from CA 6 months ago. One of the activities I knew that I would miss the most that I did for 10 years in CA was volunteering at "Hearts Therapeutic Riding Center". Before we left I saw y'all on the website and I hoped to find the same kindred spirits at Angels. I actually had gotten teary eyed watching one of the videos. So I contacted Karen - when I felt that I was ready to get my feet wet (muddy) - and she enthusiastically encouraged me to come on down. I went to the horse show and I knew from that day that Angels is indeed a very special place. I met several volunteers and parents and got to cheer on the special students - I can't tell you how happy I am to have found Angels. I went to the "Cub Scout Day" and was at the first volunteer work day. I plan to attend the rest of them and to help out wherever I can. I only wish that I lived a bit better! Many thanks to all the lovely people that have welcomed me and are in the process of helping me when I feel like I am all thumbs! I am truly blessed.
Excerpt from the Angels on Horseback Gazette (Spring 2011), the Angels newsletter
My name is Laurel Dickman and I am a new volunteer at AOH! I live in Morganton with my husband and cat. We moved to GA from CA 6 months ago. One of the activities I knew that I would miss the most that I did for 10 years in CA was volunteering at "Hearts Therapeutic Riding Center". Before we left I saw y'all on the website and I hoped to find the same kindred spirits at Angels. I actually had gotten teary eyed watching one of the videos. So I contacted Karen - when I felt that I was ready to get my feet wet (muddy) - and she enthusiastically encouraged me to come on down. I went to the horse show and I knew from that day that Angels is indeed a very special place. I met several volunteers and parents and got to cheer on the special students - I can't tell you how happy I am to have found Angels. I went to the "Cub Scout Day" and was at the first volunteer work day. I plan to attend the rest of them and to help out wherever I can. I only wish that I lived a bit better! Many thanks to all the lovely people that have welcomed me and are in the process of helping me when I feel like I am all thumbs! I am truly blessed.
Excerpt from the Angels on Horseback Gazette (Spring 2011), the Angels newsletter
From the Heart, by Chris
It was a pleasure for me to help serve lunch at the Bent Tree Saddle Club Show on September 4th. I didn't do much more than serve a little food, talk to people and try to make them smile. That's the best day I have had in a very, very long time. Hope we can duplicate it soon, especially for the sake of Angels and your students. I realize there is limited time to do this sort of thing with saddle clubs; but it brought in a pretty good amount of money for Angels and I think that is worth our efforts. Maybe they have other events that we could be a part of and become a mainstay in helping them as well with their shows, etc.
Looks like I've finally found a worthwhile organization to be a part of that allows me to help the community. I must admit there is also a selfish side on my part to volunteering with Angels. I've been searching for so long wanting to belong to a great group of people who accept you for who you are and whatever you are able to give instead of always judging and looking at your weaknesses. If we could all just learn to bring out other people's strengths and appreciate each other for what we have to offer, the world would certainly be a better place.
I hope you realize what a wonderful group of volunteers you have. And, of course, if it wasn't for Leslie and Bruce starting Angels to begin with, we never would have had this opportunity to volunteer with you. You are both very special people and have touched the lives of so many. I love you all and can't wait until our next adventure.
From a Parents Perspective
I know my daughter gains tremendous benefits through the Angels on Horseback Program she could not enjoy anywhere else. She has the all too rare opportunity to raise her self-esteem by her own achievements and take great pride in her accomplishments. For the better part of one hour she is independent and in control of her environment on the back of a horse she directs! She says it best herself when at the end of a lesson she signs: "Good Work"; "Proud of ME"; "AWESOME"!!!
I know my daughter gains tremendous benefits through the Angels on Horseback Program she could not enjoy anywhere else. She has the all too rare opportunity to raise her self-esteem by her own achievements and take great pride in her accomplishments. For the better part of one hour she is independent and in control of her environment on the back of a horse she directs! She says it best herself when at the end of a lesson she signs: "Good Work"; "Proud of ME"; "AWESOME"!!!
To fill Your Heart as it has Mine : by Elaine, an Angels Volunteer
It's funny how the courses of our lives change because of "chance" encounters! Back in March of 2007 I was living on a farm in Calhoun. My husband was working overseas and I was left in charge of selling my horses and the farm so I could join him in China! Feeling quite lonely and a bit depressed, I called Leslie to inquire about doing some volunteer work at Angels, thinking that would help pull me out of a "funk". Who would have guessed that 2 1/2 years later I not only live in the same neighborhood as Leslie, but I've been actively teaching at Angels all this time and loving it!
For me, the volunteer work I do at Angels is one of the most rewarding things I have ever done! The benefits that I receive far outweigh any inconveniences of committing time for the program. I'm so blessed to be able to do the very thing I love most (working with horses) while sharing my knowledge with others! Every time I see one of the students grasp a new idea I get to relive the excitement of what horses have brought to my own life. Horses provide us with so many analogies to life in general... issues of trust, mastering fear, patience, self worth, confidence, long and short term goals...the list is endless! When I'm with horses, time stands still as I focus on being "in the moment"....it's the same for our students. They learn to focus for longer and longer periods of time as they begin to truly connect with these amazing creatures. The feeling that comes with this "connection" is truly magical...it has the power to transform lives.
I'll never forgot an experience I had one day with a student...we were both so frustrated. The horse was wandering around, with no direction and the student was almost in tears...saying that the horse wouldn't pay attention to him. Finally...something clicked and there was an "Ahaa" moment. Before long, the horse was following the directions of the student! Tears came to both eyes as we realized another step had been mastered. These steps are what help our students with "life lessons" and why I Iove being a part of Angels! Thank you Leslie and all of the volunteers for making this program possible!!!!
Volunteering at Angels Can Change Your Life, by Rebecca
My name is Rebecca. I started volunteering at Angels about a year ago. I have always wanted to be around horses, but I have never been given the chance. I was going for a walk around my neighborhood when I saw the Angels on Horseback's sign. I talked with Leslie, and I was thrilled that I could volunteer there. I started and I had the best time of my life. I wouldn't really talk to people, and I was closed in my own world and wouldn't be myself. But the longer I stayed the more I opened up. I never had the feeling of self belonging before in my life, I just felt like an outcast in this world. I was depressed before I started working there. The more time I spent with the people and the horses, the more I became optimistic and proud to be myself. I love to work at Angels, and I have learned so much. I rode my first horse at Angels. I just felt like people needed me and wanted me there. I started to be myself anywhere at that point. Though I started volunteering there only for the horses, over time I came to realized that I loved to help people. So now I help people as much as I can. Angels also taught me that there's more to life than just yourself, you care for others and in return they care for you. And that's what Angels can do for you. There, you have friends who love you... Angels is like a huge family, we care for each other, the people and the horses. We have fun by doing hard work, and have a feeling of self accomplishment when we finish everything on our list.
The children make it a joy to work at Angels. These kids can do a lot, but are unfairly judged and put down by society. By this therapeutic riding, they gain self confidence and bond with people who care for them. One day a boy started coming to angels, he had been made fun because of a medical condition that he has. When he came to Angels on Horseback the first time, and he was closed off and wouldn't say anything. His second time, I noticed that he was opening up, talking and having more conversations with the volunteers. To see that boy talking, opening up and having a great time brings me tears of joy and warms my heart.
I hope to continue to be a volunteer at Angels on Horseback, and when I get older I hope to own an organization just like the one Leslie had opened up here.
Volunteering At Angels on Horseback, by Rosie
The church bulletin said volunteers were needed to help with visitors at Angels On Horseback, an organization that I had not heard of as I was new to the area. However, I was familiar with the group home from which the visitors came. The group home is located in mid-town Atlanta and provides care for mentally challenged adults. I decided to volunteer at Angels to help out with their visitors. What a great time they and I had! Many of them had never ridden horses before and a few had only seen horses on T.V. After this experience I began volunteering at Angels, performing a variety of unskilled tasks. I helped groom the horses, clean tack, helped students feed apples and carrots to the horses, swept the tack room and my favorite job, side-walked with the students. Seeing the eagerness and anticipation on each child’s face is contagious. Their courage is awe-inspiring. Results of their riding experience are quickly apparent with improved balance, coordination and agility. All benefit with improved self-confidence. At the end of my shift each week, I feel very fortunate to have been a small part of such a worthwhile organization and to have had contact with such remarkable riders, volunteers and horses.
It's funny how the courses of our lives change because of "chance" encounters! Back in March of 2007 I was living on a farm in Calhoun. My husband was working overseas and I was left in charge of selling my horses and the farm so I could join him in China! Feeling quite lonely and a bit depressed, I called Leslie to inquire about doing some volunteer work at Angels, thinking that would help pull me out of a "funk". Who would have guessed that 2 1/2 years later I not only live in the same neighborhood as Leslie, but I've been actively teaching at Angels all this time and loving it!
For me, the volunteer work I do at Angels is one of the most rewarding things I have ever done! The benefits that I receive far outweigh any inconveniences of committing time for the program. I'm so blessed to be able to do the very thing I love most (working with horses) while sharing my knowledge with others! Every time I see one of the students grasp a new idea I get to relive the excitement of what horses have brought to my own life. Horses provide us with so many analogies to life in general... issues of trust, mastering fear, patience, self worth, confidence, long and short term goals...the list is endless! When I'm with horses, time stands still as I focus on being "in the moment"....it's the same for our students. They learn to focus for longer and longer periods of time as they begin to truly connect with these amazing creatures. The feeling that comes with this "connection" is truly magical...it has the power to transform lives.
I'll never forgot an experience I had one day with a student...we were both so frustrated. The horse was wandering around, with no direction and the student was almost in tears...saying that the horse wouldn't pay attention to him. Finally...something clicked and there was an "Ahaa" moment. Before long, the horse was following the directions of the student! Tears came to both eyes as we realized another step had been mastered. These steps are what help our students with "life lessons" and why I Iove being a part of Angels! Thank you Leslie and all of the volunteers for making this program possible!!!!
Volunteering at Angels Can Change Your Life, by Rebecca
My name is Rebecca. I started volunteering at Angels about a year ago. I have always wanted to be around horses, but I have never been given the chance. I was going for a walk around my neighborhood when I saw the Angels on Horseback's sign. I talked with Leslie, and I was thrilled that I could volunteer there. I started and I had the best time of my life. I wouldn't really talk to people, and I was closed in my own world and wouldn't be myself. But the longer I stayed the more I opened up. I never had the feeling of self belonging before in my life, I just felt like an outcast in this world. I was depressed before I started working there. The more time I spent with the people and the horses, the more I became optimistic and proud to be myself. I love to work at Angels, and I have learned so much. I rode my first horse at Angels. I just felt like people needed me and wanted me there. I started to be myself anywhere at that point. Though I started volunteering there only for the horses, over time I came to realized that I loved to help people. So now I help people as much as I can. Angels also taught me that there's more to life than just yourself, you care for others and in return they care for you. And that's what Angels can do for you. There, you have friends who love you... Angels is like a huge family, we care for each other, the people and the horses. We have fun by doing hard work, and have a feeling of self accomplishment when we finish everything on our list.
The children make it a joy to work at Angels. These kids can do a lot, but are unfairly judged and put down by society. By this therapeutic riding, they gain self confidence and bond with people who care for them. One day a boy started coming to angels, he had been made fun because of a medical condition that he has. When he came to Angels on Horseback the first time, and he was closed off and wouldn't say anything. His second time, I noticed that he was opening up, talking and having more conversations with the volunteers. To see that boy talking, opening up and having a great time brings me tears of joy and warms my heart.
I hope to continue to be a volunteer at Angels on Horseback, and when I get older I hope to own an organization just like the one Leslie had opened up here.
Volunteering At Angels on Horseback, by Rosie
The church bulletin said volunteers were needed to help with visitors at Angels On Horseback, an organization that I had not heard of as I was new to the area. However, I was familiar with the group home from which the visitors came. The group home is located in mid-town Atlanta and provides care for mentally challenged adults. I decided to volunteer at Angels to help out with their visitors. What a great time they and I had! Many of them had never ridden horses before and a few had only seen horses on T.V. After this experience I began volunteering at Angels, performing a variety of unskilled tasks. I helped groom the horses, clean tack, helped students feed apples and carrots to the horses, swept the tack room and my favorite job, side-walked with the students. Seeing the eagerness and anticipation on each child’s face is contagious. Their courage is awe-inspiring. Results of their riding experience are quickly apparent with improved balance, coordination and agility. All benefit with improved self-confidence. At the end of my shift each week, I feel very fortunate to have been a small part of such a worthwhile organization and to have had contact with such remarkable riders, volunteers and horses.
