Our Featured Volunteer for May is Lynn Flewelling
“Horses have such a powerful presence and when you are around them, they lend you that. They help you stand a little taller, feel more confident. Watching someone experience that is priceless.”
Kind hearted, down to earth, positive, and welcoming to all, Lynn embodies these qualities which also make the horses so special. Whenever you speak with Lynn, it is clear that she has a deep passion for and admiration of horses and genuinely wants to share their powers with as many people as possible. Her spirit instantly clicked with our mission to “build better lives through horses”. Although she only joined Lancers in October 2020, Lynn jumped right into not only her lessons but also volunteering!
We were thrilled to welcome Lynn to Lancers in 2020 and even though things were tricky due to COVID, she started volunteering as soon as she could. She began with contributing by painting during our August Clean Up in 2021 and then last autumn she began volunteering with the Therapeutic Riding program. She was also our support facilitator in a Equine-Learning program with DASC. She also volunteered as “horse handler” with our spring Equine-Supported Wellness program with Alice House. These experiences inspired Lynn to make the significant commitment to Lancers by joining the Board of Directors in December, 2021. In 2022, Lynn has been leading our Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion committee and work. Lynn told us, “I’m obsessed. I want to do more”!
According to Lynn, she chooses to give her time to the Lancer community because “anything [she] can do to help facilitate more people being connected to the magic of horses, [she] is willing to do! For Lynn, witnessing individuals experience the benefits of horses is powerful, such as when one ESW participant started the program afraid to touch a horse and by the end, they felt comfortable enough to kiss Chevy! The horses’ electromagnetic field is incredible and just being around them calms you down.
Compared to other volunteering opportunities in her life, Lynn finds that volunteering at Lancers feels greedy because she benefits from it so much! She told us, “I am the happiest when I am here. Being around horses for me is such a benefit that I have never volunteered anywhere where I get so much out of it myself”. She added, “Lancers has taught me that it is never too late to find ways to enjoy things that bring you joy. There are a lot of people who don’t have joy and playfulness in their lives because they assume they are too old but Lancers has shown me to take a chance and there is a room here for everyone”.
Lynn, you are so lovely and we are very thankful to have you amongst us. Thank you for all that you have given, give, and hopefully, will continue to give!
