Lisa's Fundraiser

I'm Lisa and I have been part of Free Rein since 2012. I grew up riding horses and have always found a great benefit in working with these majestic animals; developing trust and connection with the horse and finding self-awareness and confidence with myself. Upon moving to Spokane, I found Free Rein so I could get my "horse fix," and ended up finding a community I never knew I needed.

While I have witnessed a number of profound interactions with horses over the years, one experience stands out from the rest. When I first started volunteering in classes, there was a teenage rider who had been nonverbal her entire life. She approached her first class much like any other rider - with great enthusiasm to be on the horse, and a focused determination to learn and take it all in. Midway through the session, however, something shifted and she quietly spoke the name of her horse; her very first word! It wasn't prompted or practiced, it simply emerged after weeks of eager engagement. The volunteers and instructor celebrated as if we had just witnessed the most important victory in the world. It felt like watching a door open that no one had been able to reach before, and I feel blessed to have been part of it.

Please join me in reaching my personal goal of $1,000 to help Free Rein continue to provide high quality horse care, certified instructors, qualified staff, and all of the other things that go into keeping these important programs available for our community. You never know who might get the next life-changing ride!