Learning the Red Bucket Way
A mother of three with no horse experience explains how and WHY she has joined the Red Bucket family.
It began innocently enough. She was searching online, not really expecting to find anything. After a few harmless email exchanges, it happened. Angela Kinsman found herself having an affair with 86 horses!
“Angela came to us with no experience, just a thick skin and a Red Bucket attitude,” explains Susan Peirce. “She will do anything! She helps with apparel, Sunday tours, turnouts, grooming, and anything else we might throw her way. The tours can be tough; sometimes it is one group after another, with extreme heat in the summer, and she always has a smile on her face and presents our facility in the best light possible. She is open and willing to assist, and she is always the first one to raise her hand when there is a job we need volunteers for. Angela is a tiny woman with a big huge Red Bucket heart!”
Angela is patient yet assertive and is dedicated to learning the Red Bucket way. She volunteers a couple of times a week and is very generous with her time. She is also exemplary of the volunteers Red Bucket attracts. They all share a common core value for service, a “can do” attitude that is completely ego-free and selflessly dedicated to our mission and our horses. Angela came to the Ranch with this quality, and Red Bucket has provided her with the tools necessary to develop her equine skills which in turn has made her an invaluable member of our team.
When asked how and why she chose to volunteer for Red Bucket, Angela responds without hesitation. “I have always loved horses and was interested in volunteering somewhere. I have fond memories of visiting my Grandfather in Ohio as a kid where he worked on a horse farm. So when I stumbled upon the Red Bucket website, it sounded perfect! And when I attended orientation, I was sold. The passion that goes into the work at Red Bucket is so inspiring.”
“I have learned a great deal about handling horses and horse behavior in general,” Angela continues. “But just as important, I have learned about the cruel world of horse slaughter and the abuse of horses and the never ending battle to save as many of them as possible. I have also come to realize just how amazing horses are. It is incredible to see the transformations they go through when they have been so mistreated and they come to Red Bucket. Some take longer than others, but eventually they all start to trust again with the consistent love and care they receive here. It’s what makes me look forward to coming out every Sunday. I find myself counting down the days until I get to go back out to the ranch. Red Bucket is a truly special place.”
According to Susan Knox, Red Bucket Marketing Director, “Angela helps me with marketing and data base management via phone and email; it is a system that works out very well for us. She was instrumental in getting our system up and running. I know she wears a lot of hats and spends Sundays at the Ranch where she assists with the group tours and any other assignments that come her way. Angela has been a huge help; she handles the tedious and time-consuming tasks, and I have noticed her grow tremendously in the last 6 months. She is great at communicating, is not afraid to ask questions, and is very willing to help with anything even though she has a family and other commitments. I know she looks forward to her days at the Ranch. She even chose to spend Mother’s Day with the horses instead of indulging in a lavish lunch or luxurious spa treatment!”
When asked about Mother’s Day, Angela was quick to explain: “I did spend Mother’s Day at the Ranch. To me being out at the Ranch is refreshing, and I always feel more relaxed after being there. So it sounded like the perfect way to spend my day before going to my uncle’s for dinner with my family.” This is a perfect example of how Angela’s selfless giving has earned her the volunteer spotlight this month. Jenon Mathes elaborates on why Angela is so special: “Angela has been a mainstay at the Ranch since last summer. She came to us with a willing attitude and a desire to learn. I can’t even begin to tell you how important she has become to Red Bucket on Sundays. She never arrives empty handed and is up to anything I ask of her. We were just talking the other day about how much she has grown, especially with Wyatt. Wyatt came to us as an unwanted and abandoned stray, and Angela learned to set firm yet gentle boundaries with him. Today she has a tremendous amount of confidence and seems to enjoy every challenge that comes her way.”
Jenon adds, “Angela helps acclimate new volunteers by ‘buddying’ with them to familiarize them with ‘The Red Bucket Way’ and the daily operations of the ranch. She does a great job with tours for visitors and makes sure she has completed her own duties for the day. Before leaving she always asks if she can do anything else to help. I just can’t say enough good things about her. She is Red through and through, a real team player.”
Of course Angela loves all of the horses, and she couldn’t help but share a cute story about Liam, an irresistible 6 year old paint gelding who came to Red Bucket so emaciated he looked like an anatomy lab skeleton! As she recalls, “One day I was in Turner and Liam’s stall grooming Turner. While I was in there, Matt was cleaning out their stall and brought in fresh bedding. He dumped the first load of shavings and left to get a second load before he spread them. But before he returned, Liam began to spread out the pile of shavings with his nose. Then he plopped down on top of them and within a minute was fast asleep. It was amazing how happy he seemed to be just to have that fresh bedding. That simple thing really seemed to make his day. He even took a bit of coaxing to get up to go play in the turn out. To me, that speaks volumes of how safe Red Bucket horses feel here, and it is just an example of how grateful they are with the love and comfort we provide.”
Even Angela has her favorite horses. “The two that hold a little extra special place in my heart are Turner and Wyatt. Wyatt has visible scars all over from the cruelty that he has endured, but he is the sweetest horse. He carries no baggage what so ever. He is rarely on my groom because his good manners make him ideal for new volunteers, but I always make sure to take some time to stop and give him a good forehead rub and a carrot or two; he is so irresistible. Turner is on my groom list regularly, and I just recently bonded with him. I enjoy the little nuzzles he gives me and how he quietly demands my attention if I turn it elsewhere. I find myself thinking about him and missing him when I am not there.”
Angela’s family may soon be joining in on the fun. “My family is not currently involved in Red Bucket, but my stepdaughter is counting down the days until she is old enough to come out and help with the horses. She takes riding lessons and loves animals so she is very interested. Every Sunday when I come home from the Ranch she wants to hear all about my day.” Angela has grown tremendously with Red Bucket, and she has also seen the organization grow and flourish. It is her desire to see our group continue to expand and spread the word about the plight of the American equine and what we do to help curb the crisis. “My hope and plan is to be as much a part of this growth and awareness as possible,” Angela declares. And it is our hope that Angela continues to flourish at the Ranch! Thank you Angela, for all you have done and continue to do to help save our horses.