2008 Woodie Awards
Wind, mud create dirty situation for Storm Harbor employees
By Liz Glazier
Rocket Assistant Focus Editor
Issue date: 12/7/07 Section: Focus
"We saddle horses, lead the horses and walk beside them during the lessons," Schmitt said. "Whatever needs to be done that volunteers can't do, we do."
The facility includes 11 horses, 12 horse stalls, an 80-by-30-foot indoor arena, a 150-by-250-foot outdoor arena, 13 acres of pasture and all the essential components for the horses to stay healthy such as a tack room and feed room.
One of the graduate assistants at the equestrian center, Erin Copp-Strohmier, who's pursuing a master's degree in community counseling, said the equestrian center is hoping to expand its programs.
"We are hoping to be able to open up and have horse shows here," Copp-Strohmier, 25, said.
Along with her interest in bringing horse shows to the center, Copp-Strohmier also sees the importance of keeping a clean center and does her share of cleaning and completing barn chores.
"Everything we do here is on a sanitation schedule," Copp-Strohmier said. "We clean muck buckets, feed pans and water buckets."
Courtney Gramlich, the director of the equestrian center, has been working there since August 2006. Some of her jobs include managing the facility, taking care of the paperwork for the horses and most importantly, making sure the horses stay healthy.
Gramlich also does her part during cleanup.
"Scrubbing feed pans and water buckets is the job I like the least," Gramlich said.
One of the dirtier jobs that Gramlich thinks the other employees dislike the most is dealing with all the mud and wind at the equestrian center.
"If someone is on the tractor spreading manure, occasionally they'll be out on a very windy day," Gramlich said. "If it sprays the track, it will blow all the manure and mud everywhere."
One worker, Amanda Hawkins, a 20-year-old senior parks and recreation major, has been working at the equestrian center since September 2005 and thinks the most bothersome part is cleaning the drains.
"The worst is scrubbing the drains by the water pumps," Hawkins said. "They get filled with mud and dirt…everything in (the drains) is totally disgusting."
Although disgusting to others, there are some jobs Hawkins doesn't mind.
"It's kind of fun driving the tractor, so spreading the manure isn't too tough," she said. "Also, when we groom the horses, we have to clean all the mud and hay out of their hooves, but it's really not that bad."
Whether the chores involve getting dirty and smelly or performing typical daily tasks, none of the workers complain about the duties they're given.
"I really don't even notice the smell anymore," Hawkins said. "It's just another day at work."
The facility includes 11 horses, 12 horse stalls, an 80-by-30-foot indoor arena, a 150-by-250-foot outdoor arena, 13 acres of pasture and all the essential components for the horses to stay healthy such as a tack room and feed room.
One of the graduate assistants at the equestrian center, Erin Copp-Strohmier, who's pursuing a master's degree in community counseling, said the equestrian center is hoping to expand its programs.
"We are hoping to be able to open up and have horse shows here," Copp-Strohmier, 25, said.
Along with her interest in bringing horse shows to the center, Copp-Strohmier also sees the importance of keeping a clean center and does her share of cleaning and completing barn chores.
"Everything we do here is on a sanitation schedule," Copp-Strohmier said. "We clean muck buckets, feed pans and water buckets."
Courtney Gramlich, the director of the equestrian center, has been working there since August 2006. Some of her jobs include managing the facility, taking care of the paperwork for the horses and most importantly, making sure the horses stay healthy.
Gramlich also does her part during cleanup.
"Scrubbing feed pans and water buckets is the job I like the least," Gramlich said.
One of the dirtier jobs that Gramlich thinks the other employees dislike the most is dealing with all the mud and wind at the equestrian center.
"If someone is on the tractor spreading manure, occasionally they'll be out on a very windy day," Gramlich said. "If it sprays the track, it will blow all the manure and mud everywhere."
One worker, Amanda Hawkins, a 20-year-old senior parks and recreation major, has been working at the equestrian center since September 2005 and thinks the most bothersome part is cleaning the drains.
"The worst is scrubbing the drains by the water pumps," Hawkins said. "They get filled with mud and dirt…everything in (the drains) is totally disgusting."
Although disgusting to others, there are some jobs Hawkins doesn't mind.
"It's kind of fun driving the tractor, so spreading the manure isn't too tough," she said. "Also, when we groom the horses, we have to clean all the mud and hay out of their hooves, but it's really not that bad."
Whether the chores involve getting dirty and smelly or performing typical daily tasks, none of the workers complain about the duties they're given.
"I really don't even notice the smell anymore," Hawkins said. "It's just another day at work."
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