Volunteer of the Month

March 2008

Michelle Vastola

My Friend “M”

I first met “M” (a.k.a. Michelle Vastola) when she was only 17.  She had just gotten her first horse “Spiderman”, a.k.a. “Spud”, a then 5 year-old Morgan, the summer before.  She had him on the crossties at a public barn in Naples where she had been taken jumping lessons since the ripe old age of 12.  I was admiring her horse while she was grooming him and I asked where she had gotten him and she told me the “internet”.  I thought “wow” I did not know you could buy horses over the internet.  She was way ahead of her time.   

I have watched Michelle excel at horse showing at many different levels.  She started with the Morgan Hunter shows and did extremely well then on to the Jumper shows and excelled.  Over the last couple of years they have both grown into young adults and together reinvented their riding and discovered the wonderful, truly sophisticated, world of dressage.  I have never seen a human-horse relationship so close as Michelle and “Spiderman’s”.  He loves her as much as she loves him.  He will always be her first love I am sure.

Michelle is now a young woman of 25 years of age, a college graduate with an accounting degree, has obtained a full time job (no longer a barn kid!) at an accounting firm and working toward becoming a Certified Public Account.   She is extremely dedicated to her riding and her work (and I am sure in that order!).

Michelle’s best attribute: she is a GREAT friend.  We have logged many hours together of fun and laughter in the ring on the trail and at the show.  She was the catalyst in finding a safe, retirement home for my guy “Beau”.  She is always there to help you when you ask for it or give you push when you need it. 

I am proud to say Michelle is my friend. 

Submitted by Pam Reed