Where the bond between humans and animals is often overlooked, some students at Greeley West High School are dedicated to helping create these bonds and care for these animals. Senior and Vice President of the FFA chapter, Kaylee Suntken does this every day at her job.
Suntken spends her time outside of school at a horse rescue working and training at LASSO. This horse rescue focuses on caring for the animals and teaching others how to work and care for them.
Her involvement in this job started very simply: “I found LASSO through a community service day field trip to their main location in La Salle. Shortly after that, I received emails encouraging me to join the paid internship opportunity, and there, I found out that LASSO was one of the locations receiving applicants for the internship,” Suntken said.
A day in her life while working can be very simple. “I get to help with brushing out horses and letting them run around and get in some well-needed exercise,” Suntken said. “I have also gotten experience in administering medication to some of our older horses, which is always fun.”
Suntken has bonded with these sweet animals and they have even taught her a few things. “I have learned that age doesn’t always define what a horse is capable of, and I learned that through one of our oldest horses named Buck, charging and opening a gate after spitting out a tiny pill in the dirt making it hard to find, but I still love him,” Suntken explained.
Suntken also encourages students and staff to help LASSO out if they are able to, “We need as much help as you are willing to give. LASSO cares for these horses day and night, even working holidays and managing two locations with over 40 horses. It takes a lot to do the hard work to provide these beautiful horses the life they deserve,” Suntken added.
She went on to say, “I have seen how much it truly takes to provide these horses a wonderful life and the least we can all do is help in every way we can.”
