Our Featured Staff Member of the Month is Dr. Claire L. Halstead!
Claire joined Lancers in September 2016. Her horse had recently passed away and knowing she was moving to Halifax, she sought new riding opportunities. Lancers came highly recommended from her husband’s friend and serendipitously, a space opened in the fantastic Friday morning adult ride. Claire had recently completed her PhD, so her teaching and academic work schedule permitted her the flexibility to join. Shortly after joining, Angie asked Claire to do a few hours of weekly communications work as a stop-gap. Nearly four years later, Claire became our full-time Operations Manager last September.
It often takes some of our members a while to fully immerse themselves in Lancer activities and truly “get” what we’re all about. Claire seemed to “get” us from day one, and hasn’t looked back. Claire has taken a deep dive into Lancers’ rich history and has helped make every Lancer feel connected to something much farther reaching than just equestrian sport. Claire has also been instrumental in connecting Lancers to the greater community in Halifax and beyond, through her work on our website and Social Media.
When asked why she enjoys working at Lancers, Claire responded “there is a Spanish island which, folklore says, has a mysterious energy field that causes all who go there to gain a sense of ease and peace”. She continued, “Lancers seems to have its own magnetic energy which pulls you in; its riders, families, volunteers, staff, and board of directors are quickly and strongly bonded together. Lancers is a magical place where happiness floods the aisles, everyone is accepted (and celebrated) for who they are, and regardless of age, can come together in a common interest of horses and the sport. I treasure the people who comprise our community”.
She feels incredibly fortunate to work as part of the great Lancer team and in an organization with strong leadership and an altruistic pursuit of, simply put, making life better for as many people as possible with the help of horses. She added, “the young Lancers never fail to amaze me on a daily basis. They show strength of character, dedication, passion, expertise, and often, maturity well beyond their years. I appreciate the opportunity to bear witness to their growth not just as riders but as people”. As a historian, Claire appreciates the history and legacy of Lancers and feels honour in having its stewardship be part of her job.
Claire grew up showing on the Arabian show circuit in Canada and the States, even competing at the Ohio Buckeye Sweepstakes. As a lifelong flat rider, she never imagined she would go over any sort of jump. “But”, she noted, “Lancers has a way of opening new doors to its riders and with a lot of patience from Angie, I ventured into the hunter ring”. While it took some time for Claire to open her heart to another horse after losing hers, her favourite Lancer horse is Mato. She explained,“I feel incredibly blessed to have the opportunity to work with Mato, a level-headed and talented young horse who will dig deep and give his best for his rider. At a time when I truly felt ‘out to pasture’ as a former high-level competitive rider, I thank Lancers for giving me a new challenge to tackle, allowing me to work with a horse who I adore, and providing a supportive and educational environment in which to do”.
Claire has far too many great memories from Lancers including taking Ben to Ronald MacDonald House this winter. One of Claire’s favourite memories of Lancers was on her wedding day last August. She explains “with the help of Angie and wonder-Lancer Réal, we were fortunate to have a Lancer Honour Guard. I will never forget the moment of stepping out of the car and looking up the steps in awe of those Lancers - of those young women and all that they represent. I was overcome with pride and joy (and a good amount of tears). We were fortunate to also have many Lancers as guests and that a gaggle of Lancers worked hard to groom Mato so we could take photos with him was beyond imagination for a wedding".
Something that many Lancers will not know about Claire is that she taught English in Madrid for seven summers!
Claire closed by telling us: “At Lancers, the days can often be long, but they truly never feel like “work”.
