Arlene Bullen – Shop Associate & Barn Staff                  "our Flank Rider"

 

Arlene is certainly not new to horses and riding. Arlene says that she has horses in her soul: “I have loved horses since I was a wee little kid. I have owned 7 horses and worked at a number of riding stables,” says Arlene. “I have had a really diverse career, but I always come back to horses.”

 

Arlene is an Equestrian Canada certified English riding coach. Over the years she taught riding lessons at a number of facilities in the Ottawa valley. She took a break from coaching to pursue other career options, but she says one day she read a poem written by John Anthony Davies about therapeutic riding. “I saw a child who couldn’t walk, sit on a horse and laugh and talk,” she quotes. “That poem made me cry and I knew I wanted to help horses help people. So I began volunteering at what eventually became the Therapeutic Riding Association of Ottawa Carleton.” At that time, Arlene was chosen to be part of the very first national training and certification session for therapeutic riding instructors, but at the last minute, health issues forced her to withdraw. “It crushed a dream and broke my heart,” she says. “But life moved on.”

 

Arlene has had a very diverse career. It took her from the Canadian 4-H Council, to high tech, law firms, medical clinics and her own small business. She has always been a very busy person.

 

In semi retirement, Arlene was brought back full circle to the Lanark County Therapeutic Riding Program where she worked as a volunteer for five years fulfilling her earlier goal to help horses help people. 

 

Arlene has decided to become semi-semi retired. She works part time in a horse related capacity, helping others in the horse community, imparting her knowledge and knowhow here at the Tombstone Tack Shop.

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