GREAT THINGS COME IN SMALL PACKAGES

“It’s not the size of the dog in the fight, it’s the size of the fight in the dog.” Mark Twain

aptly describes this month’s featured volunteer!

What’s a young girl to do when school is out for the summer and there is nothing to do?

Taea Hartwell chose to do something different, AND dirty!

“I discovered Red Bucket when I was walking along English Road with my friend last

summer,” Taea explains to me. “I had been out of school for a while and needed to get

out of the house. When I saw the Ranch I took note of the name, Googled it when I got

home, and signed up for their volunteer program. I had no idea of what I was getting

into, but I knew I wanted to do something good and get dirty in the process. I know that

sounds silly, but I feel like getting dirty is part of the job, and boy was I right when I

joined the evening feeding crew!”

Taea currently works the feed crew, which is a tough position because it requires total

commitment to at least 2 nights per week and 2

½ to 4 hours per night. According to Susan Peirce, Taea has proven her dedication and reliability beyond expectation. “She

is right as rain, a super special young woman who is completely trustworthy and

dedicated to our cause. The Red Bucket culture is a positive, ‘can do’ culture, which

Taea fits into perfectly. She is a petite girl with big eyes and a huge heart, and is an

outstanding representation of our core values through her actions.”

Not knowing what to expect by volunteering with Red Bucket, Taea jumped in with an

eagerness and enthusiasm to learn and help. With her equine experience limited to a

two week horse camp, Taea explains the learning curve at Red Bucket. “In the

beginning I didn’t really know what Red Bucket was about; I just wanted something to

do during summer break. It didn’t take long to realize Red Bucket is one of the most

amazing places full of the kindest people I know. The passion and drive in the people

that work there is truly incredible! I’ve always had an interest in helping others in pain,

in particular animals. As a kid I would always rescue mice or birds my cats brought in,

and so Red Bucket is simply the next step for me.”

We are fortunate to rely on Taea for feed related duties at the Ranch that include

collecting and preparing hay nets, checking water, and making and passing out the

horses’ nightly buckets on Saturdays. She works closely with Diana, the feed crew

coordinator. Diana describes how valuable she is to the team: “Taea is a gem. From the

first day she showed such energy and enthusiasm, never skipping a beat. She’s such a

little package with so much inside, bright, witty, taking charge when needed without so

much as a sign of hesitation. Taea gets it and understands what it takes to get the job

done. I can’t explain what she means to our crew; we would love to have her around

more!”

The feed crew can attest to how down and dirty the job is; however Taea only sees the

fun in it. “The donkeys always make me laugh when we feed them. Their bellows can

be heard for miles as we roll up in the cart. Lulu is always on her tippy-toes trying her

best to get her food first. It’s adorable! Prinze strikes a pose as if to say ‘Look at me!

Feed me now!’ You would think we never fed them the way they act! I love all of our

residents at Red Bucket.”

In addition to learning about feeding, Taea has absorbed so much more in the year and

a half she has been with us. “I have learned about the different medicines the horses

get and what they do, I have learned about horse training, and I have learned about

other organizations and why Red Bucket is the best,” she reveals. “And I have learned

that flies hate garlic! Who would have guessed that something that smells so good to

me repels those annoying bugs! The most important lesson I’ve learned is this: if you

have love and determination, you really can achieve your dreams! So don’t ever stop

loving and don’t ever stop dreaming!”

Taea has blossomed exponentially at the Ranch and has become an inspiration to us

all. Thank you Taea for proving that great things come in small packages, and that

YOUR love and determination have made a huge impact in all of our lives.