Volunteer Spotlight: Raissa Wohlgemuth
Growing up on a little farm in Berthoud, Colorado, Raissa was introduced to horses through her best friend’s family and eventually got her own pony, Poncho. When her dad’s job changed, her family had to move away from their farm quickly and didn’t have time to find a new home for Poncho on their own. Luckily, they were able to surrender Poncho to a horse rescue. “We were really grateful to be able to have that resource to help find him a new loving home, and I really enjoy being able to give back to MVHR so that they can do the same for others.”
Raissa has lived in Eagle County for 24 years and is a realtor with Smith Eaton Real Estate. She really missed having horses in her life, which led her to MVHR, where she’s been a volunteer for about 5 years. Raissa started with a weekly mid-day chore shift and then transitioned to a regular PM feeding shift. She has also helped Joel with training and participated in our 60-day groundwork challenge a few years ago. Just wanting to be around horses again was her initial intent, but she said, “Over the years, my time at the rescue has turned into so much more...even just being at the ranch, whether it's working with the horses or doing chores, is therapeutic.”
Raissa’s favorite horse at the ranch is Doc, who she calls “Mr. Holliday.” She says the most rewarding part of volunteering is witnessing the positive changes to the horses after they arrive at MVHR. “I love getting to watch each horse's journey & growth during their time at the rescue and getting to see horses matched with their new homes & owners.”
In addition to her hands-on-care of the horses, Raissa has also been helping Marleen with data entry and found our beloved former barn cat, NoName, a loving retirement home. Her mom and stepdad opened their home to him last month, and we’re happy to say NoName has settled right in!
Thank you, Raissa, for being so willing to help where needed. Your time and efforts are valued and appreciated by all of us at MVHR – two-legged and four-legged!