University of Georgia Athletics
Georgia Equestrian Volunteers at Butterfly Dreams Farm
December 10, 2015 | Equestrian
This feature surrounds the equestrian team doing some community service at butterfly dreams.
ATHENS, Ga. --- The Georgia equestrian team knows the beauty of a horse. They know the relationship built between a rider and horse goes far beyond the competition ring. But the connection, beauty, and bond they recently experienced was so much different.
On Sunday, December 6, roughly 40 members of the Georgia equestrian team volunteered their time at the Butterfly Dreams Farm Fall Festival. Butterfly Dreams Farm is a therapeutic riding program that "provides a safe and fun environment for students to receive therapy and riding instruction on horseback," according to their website.
Sophomore reiner Kyndall Harper has been volunteering at the farm throughout the fall semester and solicited the help of her teammates for this event.
"We get to ride horses on a daily basis and we take for granted being able to do what we love everyday," Harper said. "Seeing these kids come here to ride and really enjoy loving on the horses as well as the smile on their faces is awesome."
Smiles were abundant throughout the day from the young riders, to the parents, staff and volunteers at the event. The relationship each rider has and the lessons they have learned from the horses were evident with each passing step through the ring.
In addition to the therapy riders receive, the farm teaches beauty and bravery through their horse Matthew. Matthew, a very successful former show horse, had an injury that left him with one eye.
"He is a great opportunity for students to see that beauty comes in many forms," Taylor Adams, a board member of Butterfly Dreams Farm said. "Matthew is brave and so trusting and patient. It gives students a lot of confidence and shows them that they can accomplish it and that if Matthew can try whatever is going on, so can they."
Adams referred to members of the Georgia equestrian team as experts and trusted assistance with the horses.
"Many of the students have followed the team and know what is going on with the shows," Adams said. "These are their idols, people that they look up to, so this is an opportunity to see them in a day-to-day environment. It's really meaningful for our students, our volunteers and even for our instructors because we know that they're incredibly busy, so for them to be able to dedicate their time, it's really appreciated."
Each person of Butterfly Dreams Farm expressed their gratitude and appreciation to members of the equestrian team for volunteering their time, but it's the team that thanks Butterfly Dreams for letting them be a part of such a wonderful, beautiful and uplifting event.
