Soraya: I tell them that volunteering at Little Bit is one of the most rewarding things I do every week. It’s a great way to reconnect and actually see the good results of what you’re doing. I also tell them that you don’t need to be intimidated if you don’t know that much about horses yet, because the people at Little Bit will really walk you through it and will be patient as you learn—and they’ll also teach you really good practices so that you are safe around horses.
Greg: I’ve invited others to join. You don’t have to be leading a big horse or be concerned about the rider and the horse. You can help out at the barn. I saw volunteers build some of the sheds outside at the paddocks. I would love for my son and I to spend an afternoon and just knock-out a couple of those. There are lots of different ways to volunteer. It doesn’t always have to be so intimately engaged with the horses. When I had a barn, it was therapy for me, just to get in there, have a sense of accomplishment, and interact with the animals. There are lots of ways to help. It’s just a matter of encouraging someone to come along, look at the place, and find a place that is suitable for their interests and abilities.
Do you have a favorite horse at Little Bit?
Greg: I don’t have a favorite horse; there are some that I like more than others. It’s really the ability to work with a horse over several weeks to get acquainted. Even now coming back, I’ve had to get reacquainted. I have to remember I can’t cross-tie Sherman and when I need to bring a crop because that horse is going to dive for grass every opportunity. I would love to get to a place where a horse nickers when I approach. Sherman did that a couple times when I was working with him week in and week out. It’s great to receive that kind of recognition, and it doesn’t require treats in my hand to get that.
Soraya: I absolutely do play favorites. My favorite is Davida. There was a time when I was working with her week in and week out, in an adaptive class, and it was always such magic to see her in the warm up: she’s very alert and she demands that you be very alert so she knows that you are looking out for her. Then the rider arrives and she becomes this gentle, sweet thing. She pays so much attention to the rider that she’s working with, trying to do what she can to help them. I really love how she goes from making high demands of people that work with her on the ground to being an attentive caretaker for people that are on her back. It feels like she is asking the people on the ground, “Hey, I’m about to work and I want to make sure that you’re ready to work with me.” Davida is a very big favorite of mine.
There will be people who read this who have never been to Little Bit. How would you describe the Little Bit experience to someone whose knowledge of Little Bit is limited to stories and videos?
Soraya: I would describe it as being around the kindest, most attentive people that you can find. Everyone at LB is always trying to help each other out. There isn’t a sense of judgement ever; there isn’t prying. How can we help each other out? I love the attention to detail, like checking on the horses and sweeping a little muck out of the area. The therapist or instructor helps the rider rearrange their pants leg after it’s been pulled up by the saddle. All of these little things come together to form this place. You know how much work is getting done, you see how much work is getting done, and yet the people who are doing all that work make it look simple. They’re handling it, they’re here to care for people, and they’re willing to put so much energy into making everyone else have this great experience.
Greg: What I love about the name Little Bit—it’s kind of a philosophy in that sometimes we don’t know how much we help by the little efforts we offer, whether it’s helping someone adjust a cuff or cleaning the stall. In the lives of the riders and their families, they’re looking for help in many ways, some specific and some not. We get to contribute a very, very small part, just a little bit, in helping them. That gracefulness of helping people, that gratitude of being thankful for the assistance others give us, I think is prevalent throughout the organization. It’s very rewarding to see, and not take any credit for it, but to see someone say thank you. That smile on their face, that nod of appreciation. That’s what’s very attractive about the whole outfit—from reception to throughout the stalls and every aspect.
What adjustments have you seen Little Bit make, and you personally have had to make, related to the pandemic?
Greg: I think it is well thought-out with the understanding that the process has been considered and evaluated. It’s also adjusted as needed. I personally feel safe. There are many things in place to help make it safe for all people involved. I kind of expected it but I’m glad to see it. Sometimes it’s great in plan or in theory, but in practice is sometimes where things trip up or you forget a detail. After talking to the staff and understanding that we’re going to make adjustments, all those items are terrific.
Soraya: The adjustments that I’ve seen since returning have been impressive. A lot of things changed. For example, each horse no longer has their assigned tack box. Now, a volunteer gets in, they pick their own tack box, and it’s just theirs for the day. Then those have to get cleaned and washed and can’t be shared. These are really good thought processes and really effective at minimizing how many people are contacting the same things. Over time, I’ve seen pieces of that which worked and pieces which didn’t work. I’ve watched the staff adapt to each of those changes, adapt rules about who can go into the tack barn and how we’re going to put horses into individual stalls. People are being really flexible about working together and accepting change. Everyone is actively looking out to make sure we are doing things safely.
How are you acknowledged as a volunteer within Little Bit?
Soraya: One of the things that means a lot to me at Little Bit is how many therapists, staff, and other volunteers make the effort to learn and remember my name, which is a tricky one to pronounce. (So-RAY-ya, “Ray like sunshine,” I like to say!) It’s always meaningful when I sub in for a class and maybe I haven’t seen that staff member for weeks or months. A surprising amount of the time, they remember my name, and if they don’t, they make the effort to be polite and ask. Then they refer to me by name during the class. “Turn towards Soraya.” It’s a small touch that means a lot to me to show that they care that I am there.
Greg: Outside of Little Bit, there have been a few occasions where I’ve encountered some staff members. In every instance both of us stop what we’re doing and just have a chat. Sometimes you see an acquaintance from one area of our lives and pass them with a completely different backdrop, and 1.) Do you remember who it is, 2.) Do you remember the person’s name, but 3.) Are you able to stop what you’re doing and have that brief conversation—it’s great, you kind of feel a part of it. It’s a big organization and there are so many volunteers. It’s great to see the recognition and the time that it takes.
Is there anything else you’d like to share?
