SECOND STRIDE IS AN ALL VOLUNTEER PROGRAM, from our groomers to our board members and management team. We strive to be a first rate quality program that is fiscally responsible. Our funding goes straight to the care of our horses. We welcome our adopters and donors to visit our facilities at any time.
On this page we spotlight some of our Second Stride volunteers, and at the same time we hope to inspire others to volunteer their time with us. We need volunteers to help in many different capacities, including hands-on with the horses, fundraising and networking.
We currently have a need for "Adoption Counselors", to go over applications, call references, and set up visits for potential adopters.
We also need help with data entry to our database where we maintain adoption application information and donated horse information.
Email us at info@secondstride.org if you'd like to help Second Stride as a VOLUNTEER.
Special thanks to all of our volunteers! We are particularly grateful to Laurel & Maggie Hall-Gates, April Lashley, Dusty Summers, Leslie King, Robyn Gosbee, and Shannon Walion. Laurel and Maggie have worked with so many of our horses and regularly send us updated pictures and videos. We also had a huge response from our special 1/2 off discount through December, and our application approval volunteers have been very, very busy. Many thanks to April, Dusty, Leslie, Robyn, Shannon, and Maggie for turning around the applications so quickly!
We would also like to welcome new volunteer Sara Dorman. Sara gallops racehorses at Churchill Downs and also shows horses in eventing and hunters. She will work as a liaison with owners and trainers of horses at the track needing homes. With her help we can network to find them adoptive homes straight off the track, to help reduce our waiting list and help more thoroughbreds.
Second Stride adoptable thoroughbred Smack Daddy with volunteer Carly Giarruso at Moserwood Farm in Prospect.
photo by Clay Pullen
Invaluable volunteer Laurel Hall and her Mom Maggie worked with Grand Stage, teaching him ground poles and cross rails, December 2011.
We would like to recognize local volunteer Kate Olson. She is helping Second Stride by setting up a virtual stable for tracking adopted horses to make sure they do not ever show up in any future race entries. It is vitally important to demonstrate to both donors and adopters that we are serious about the terms of the adoption contract. Computer work is a way that volunteers can help Second Stride from any location.
Volunteers Jim Hyatt (left) and Toni Hindall (right) with prospective adopters looking over horses as they are groomed and prepared for their first rides since retiring from the track and entering the Second Stride program.
Volunteer Kelsey Fletcher grooming "Crown Spirit"
Volunteer Kelsey Fletcher riding "Crown Spirit"
Volunteer Erin Fletcher tacking up "Design on a Dime" with help from Second Stride vice president Kathy Stim
Volunteer Megan Polack of Canada started re-training and helped arrange the adoptions of several Second Stride horses while she was temporarily in our area for an internship with John Kenyon American Eye Institute. We were blessed to have this patient, giving and talented rider as part of our team during the summer of 2010, and hope we'll see her again after she finishes school.
Thoroughbred gelding "Wood Be Me" with regular volunteers Jason Plumer and Alex Chaconas. Please visit Alex's blog >>
Volunteer Amy Seiler, pictured here with "Manchester", handles the Second Stride FACEBOOK and TWITTER pages, a huge investment of time and effort. And if that isn't enough, Amy also helps out at fundraising events and gives hands-on attention to Second Stride horses as needed. We can't thank her enough!
Thoroughbred mare "Lily", pictured left, had the attention of volunteers Maggie Hall-Gates and her daughter Laurel, who rode and trained her prior to her adoption, summer 2010.
Maggie helps with adoption applications and approvals as well as meeting potential adopters and showing them horses at our Prospect farm. Laurel helps us in the grooming and riding department. She routinely rides Second Stride horses in clinics and lessons to help further their experience and training.
Laurel rode "Manofmotion" in a clinic with Susan Posner, April 2011.
We would like to recognize Kathy Stim, a current Second Stride board member and tireless volunteer. Kathy works effortlessly during the horse adoption process, including processing of applications, adoption approvals and also everyday care of the horses. She has helped implement essential computer technology that has streamlined the adoption process. We can't thank her enough for her work with Second Stride.
