Every Monday at 5:30 p.m. freshman Georgia Marshall can be found in a homey horse stable, making a difference.

In February, Marshall earned Volunteer of the Month recognition from CLO’s Midnight Farm, which provides opportunities for people with disabilities to meet farm animals and ride horses.

Just a few months ago,  Marshall would not have expected the award. On her first day at the farm, she was nervous and unsure.

“Georgia was very quiet and reserved when she first started volunteering,” said Midnight Farm’s volunteer coordinator Brett Bauer. “She is now much more involved with other volunteers and staff.”

Bauer said volunteers like Marshall provide an important service.

“Many of our riders are not able to walk or perhaps have a language impairment,” Bauer said. “Riding and interacting with horses gets you up out of a wheelchair or leaves your physical disability at the gate.”

The animals provide both children and adults with a chance to escape the challenges that typically surround their disability.

“The farm gives people a chance at freedom,” Baur said. “Horses don’t judge your ability to speak English. You can communicate without words or prejudice when you ride a horse.”

This is exactly why Marshall thinks volunteering at Midnight Farm is so important.

“I think riding horses is really interesting and fun and I think anybody, no matter what you’re like, should be able to experience that,” Marshall said.

As a volunteer, Marshall participates in the therapeutic riding program. She grooms and saddles the horses, and more importantly, leads the horses for riders who are unable to do so on their own.

“Without the help of a leader, some of our riders would be unable to ride a  horse,” Bauer said. “By participating in our lessons Georgia has given our riders opportunities that they would otherwise not be capable of.”

Being able to help people in a unique way is what makes volunteering so memorable for Marshall.

“I think I made a difference with them, just being able to do it,” Marshall said. “Because if it weren’t for the volunteers, they wouldn’t be able to.”

At Midnight Farm, the riders are not the only ones who gain from the experiences.

“The benefits of therapeutic riding are endless both for the riders and the volunteers and staff who are able to be a part of it,” Bauer said.

Through her time at the farm, Marshall has found rewards specifically for herself as well.

“It has made me more understanding and patient with people,” Marshall said.

Since her first day, Marshall has also become more outgoing and more comfortable talking to strangers.

This attitude didn’t go unnoticed by the rest of the staff at Midnight Farm.

“She is very kind and caring with our horses and our riders,” Bauer said. “Georgia has been very reliable and often steps forward to work extra classes or trainings.”

“Georgia seems quiet at first but is always ready with a smile,” Bauer said.

But for Marshall, the change she sees in herself isn’t as important as the impact she’s having on the riders.

“Just getting to see the kids’ faces when they do something right or they figure something out,” Marshall said. “They’re just so happy, it just feels good.”