Our featured volunteer for May is Jennifer Adcock!
Volunteers are such an important part of the Lancer community and we cannot wait until we can welcome all of our volunteers back to the barn when some social distancing restrictions are lifted. For now, we are continuing to celebrate our volunteers and members with our weekly features! Our featured volunteer for May is Jennifer Adcock!
Jenn and her first pony Haida in 1984.
Jenn is a longtime rider, Lancer member, and volunteer. She began riding at the age of nine in the Annapolis Valley on her pony Haida and continued until she went to university. In 1993, she joined Lancers and really enjoyed the opportunity to ride many different school horses, including her favourite Lancer horse Spartak (aka. Sparky). In 2000, Jenn adopted Sparky from the Lancer Retire a School Horse program and he happily lived out his days with her.
Now Jenn is an active parent member and volunteer at Lancers. Her daughter Alice is in Ride 9 and is experiencing all the things Jennifer experienced in her time as a Lancer rider. She tells us, “As a parent, it’s so much fun watching Alice and her group of rider friends learn how to care for the horses and gain confidence with every lesson. I wanted Alice to ride at Lancers so she could learn from the best people. She has been lucky to be around all my horses since she was a baby but Lancers is where she can learn the best and grow.”
Jenn takes on many activities as a volunteer. She has been on our Board of Directors, volunteered with our therapeutic riding program, fundraises, and helps with many Lancer events, including looking after all of the food at our annual wine tasting fundraiser. Jennifer will even muck out stalls and clean up the barn. She adds, “I love helping out at Lancers because it has been a part of my life for so long and there is no place quite like it. The sense of tradition, respect, community, and shared love of horses powers it through the good times and bad.”
Jenn and Spartak (Sparkie) at the Downtown Horse show circa 1998 or 99
We are so grateful for Jenn’s willingness to jump in and help with just about anything! She takes initiative, is dedicated to the organization, and has also helped some of our newer parents get more involved with the barn. She makes everyone feel welcome and we enjoy hearing her laugh throughout the barn. It is wonderful to see the Lancer spirit span across generations in her family.
Alice and Jenn are currently really enjoying the videos on Lancers’ social media as it helps them stay connected to the barn while we are closed. But Jenn is definitely excited for the day we can return, noting, “I cannot wait to get a muck fork in my hands!!!! I find cleaning a stall is the best therapy in the world, I love a clean stall!”
We certainly agree with you, Jenn! We cannot wait to have you back in the barn! Until then, we say thank you for all that you bring to Lancers.
The second one is Jenn and Spartak (Sparkie) at the Downtown Horse show circa 1998 or 99. The third is Photos left to right: Jenn and Mo in a dressage clinic; Jenn and her daughter, Alice; Jenn's sweet Sophie who went to over the rainbow bridge in February 2019.