4 THE CHARBONNEAU VILLAGER March 2023
Come visit nearby horse sanctuary Trillium Creek Training and Rehabilitation Center offers volunteer opportunities
Trillium Creek Training and Rehabilitation Center offers many volunteer opportunities .
COURTESY PHOTOS
Two horses connect at the Trillium Creek Training and Rehabilitation Center .
We Specialize in All Things Glass
By COREY BUCHANAN Pamplin Media Group
503.969.5719 • GlassDoctor . com / Molalla Serving Canby , Molalla & Surrounding Cities Formerly All About Windows
Locally Owned and Operated Franchise
A child puts their hand up to pet a horse .
Bonnie Rhynard-Buhl lets out a relaxed sigh as she describes how volunteers at the Trillium Creek Training and Rehabilitation Center feel when they enter the facility .
The Wilsonville center helps rehabilitate horses that have been maltreated and provides opportunities for refugees and other groups to develop a special bond with the animals . The facility has myriad volunteer opportunities .
“ A lot of people come here for the quiet ,” Rhynard-Buhl said . “ It ’ s quite
����������
peaceful . It ’ s a true sanctuary .”
Rhynard-Buhl , who describes herself as more of a horse person than a people person , has been working with horses since she was 4 years old and started assisting traumatized horses by age 12 in Montana .
Now , she takes in horses that have dealt with abuse , neglect , injuries or other issues , and works to heal them . The center provides the horses with the love , nutrition , care and daily stability that they may not have experienced previously .
“ By loving them and being with them and them trusting me , they allow me to
SAVE BIG *
ZERO INTEREST IF PAID IN FULL WITHIN 18 MONTHS **
����������� FLOORS . DON ’ T WORRY ABOUT THE MESS . help them heal ,” she said .
Volunteers , Rhynard-Buhl said , can help with mucking the pastures , feeding the horses , grooming them and caring for them , depending on their experience . However , she added that volunteers can be trained to have increasing responsibility and autonomy with the horses .
“ We will let people come and give us a feel for what they are interested in ,” Rhynard-Buhl said .
The center also has many special events for holidays , movie nights , arts and crafts , an apple cider press , pony camps and more . Rhynard-Buhl said they could use volunteers who can help with organizing events and activities , as well as those who can help with grant writing .
The center also runs camps for refugees and Rhynard-Buhl said the kids quickly develop an affinity for the horses .
“ By the third day we have them on the horse . They are fresh from refugee camps , triggered and traumatized . By the third day they are laughing and playing . It ’ s a dramatic change ,” she said .
The center also works with caregivers dealing with anxiety and depression , and kids dealing with severe depression or other mental health challenges .
“ They attribute these horses to saving their lives . That ’ s how strong of an impact they make on people ,” Rhynard- Buhl said .
Further , volunteers can tend to the two gardens , orchard and greenhouse at the facility . Prospective volunteers should email tctchorsecare @ gmail . com and then Rhynard-Buhl will take them on a tour of the facility . They will also shadow another volunteer .
POUR ON THE SAVINGS EVENT
24403 S Hwy 99E , Canby l 503-266-4095 l mclarenscarpetonecanby . com