Name: Shawn Soethe
Major: Animal Science/Veterinary Medicine
Year: Freshman
Hometown: Stevensville, Michigan
Shawn is a volunteer at her hometown’s Therapeutic Equestrian Center and Barn.
Can you describe a typical day at the Therapeutic Equestrian Center that you work at? My job has a lot of parts, I go in the mornings and afternoons to the barn, feed the horses and groom them. Then I basically go in and teach four lessons with students of different ages, most of them have autism, although some students with anxiety disorders or ADHD also come and take lessons. Autism is very broad, so each student has different needs so to speak. Therefore, each kid is completely different. My job is to get them on a horse, get them to use their hands more and get them talking as much as I can. I try to incorporate different activities. Around the time of the Fourth of July, I will ask them to wear something red, white and blue. A lot of the activities correlate with whichever current holiday it is.
When the students first come to the barn, I really try to get them to bond with the horse. They get to groom the horse and assemble their saddle, which requires understanding the parts of the saddle. I really try to help them understand what they are doing. After that, I walk them around the ring a couple of times so that they can get used to being with the horse. The kid needs to trust the horse and the horse needs to trust the kid, so that they can work together. I let them help stretch the horses which is similar to playing with a dog. I incorporate different activities that force them to use all different movements in their bodies. Extending of arms, hands and legs can definitely be a challenge. I am always on the ground and in total control of the horse, so that I can control the horse and they can work on the activity. Horses are a great way to let go of stress.
What’s the most rewarding part of your job? Getting a new student and being able to see them progress. Most students start off shy and are a little freaked out by the horse, but soon they grow into themselves and make so much progress. They are usually really happy by the end. I love seeing my students smile and laugh. It’s also great to see people of all ages 5 to 35-year-olds come and take lessons. I like that riding horses is for anyone.
How long have you been riding horses? Since I was 3-years-old.
Why did you start riding horses? I used to live in Arizona, and there was this horse barn in the middle of nowhere. When I was around 3-years-old, I tried riding, and I absolutely fell in love with it.
Have you ever competed in equestrian? I don’t believe in competing. I don’t believe that horses or animals should be competing, because in my opinion, it’s kind of inhumane and can make the horse feel uncomfortable. I feel like horses can be used for better purposes that are more therapeutic.
What other activities are you involved with? Back home, I also volunteer at the humane society in my hometown and job shadow a veterinary. It’s really fun to shadow her. She let’s me help out and sit in on surgeries and talks.
Where do you see yourself after college? Once I become a veterinarian, I plan on opening up my own clinic. It would be a three-fold thing. I would have the clinic and a no-kill animal shelter that would house horses, goats and any other farm animals. I would fix them up and re-home them. Lastly, I would start up my own therapeutic equestrian center, incorporating horses, dogs and as many animals as I can, specifically using the animals housed in a shelter.
Why did you choose to attend MSU? Ever since I was little, I wanted to come here. Michigan State has one of the best veterinary programs in the nation, and there are so many different barns on campus and opportunities to have contact with the animals, instead of just reading about them out of a book. I try to get as much exposure as I can, so I am always volunteering and talking to professors, so that they can see how serious I am about working with animals.