BY CLAUDIA WATSON

Special to The Pilot

Prancing Horse Therapeutic Horseback Riding Center hosted a volunteer appreciation luncheon and annual meeting on Feb. 11 at The Village Chapel in Pinehurst.

Program and special events volunteers were treated to a soup and sandwich lunch followed by a brownie and ice cream.

In addition to the volunteers, representatives from the three satellite barns which participate in the Prancing Horse program also attended. Representing Muddy Creek Farm were owners Beth and Chuck Younger, from McLendon Hills Equestrian Center were owners Tom and Rachael Carr, and finally barn manager KateLynn Pennington attended from Seven Lakes Stables.

All the guests were thanked for the use of their facilities.

Following lunch, Judy Lewis, executive director, opened the Prancing Horse annual meeting.

Kelly McCrann, vice president and nominating chairwoman, moderated the election of directors for the Prancing Horse board.

Meridith Clifton was re-elected, and Nancy Schoephoester was elected for a three-year term. After the election of officers, Judy Lewis presented a program report.

Highlights of the report included the following: The program stayed on budget and finished with a positive balance. All three barns, Muddy Creek, Seven Lakes and McLendon Hills, operated with full classes serving more than 50 students, and the volunteers who work with the students served more than 150 hours per week.

Next, Nancy Schoephoester, director of finance, gave a preliminary report on the Barn Dance to be held April 13 at McLendon Hills Equestrian Center. She encouraged everyone to support this event which features dinner, dancing and a silent auction.

Finally, the Prancing Horse volunteer awards were presented by Lynn Rudnick, volunteer coordinator.

She recognized the Outstanding Special Events Volunteer of the year, Rebecca Muncy. Muncy was applauded for her work arranging for the farms and supervising the logistics for the 2012 Horse Farm Tour. Next, Rudnick recognized the program volunteers who had served 100 hours working with the riders. Suzanne Pollard, Sandi Johannsen, Phyllis Jenkins and Kathy Johnson received their cups. Absent were Cathy Renner and Wren Reynolds.

In addition, Kathy Wright was awarded a gift certificate for her 200-plus hours as a volunteer. Referring to Wright's time helping students in the arena, Rudnick quipped, "I'm surprised she can walk in a straight line!"

The final award was the Kenneth Westcott Memorial Award given to the outstanding volunteer from each barn. Each recipient received a pendant or key chain and their name was engraved on a plaque at their barn.

This year's recipients were Phyllis Jenkins, from Seven Lakes Stables, Sandi Johannsen, at Muddy Creek Farm, and Chuck Kaiser, for McLendon Hills Equestrian Center.

Each of them was commended for their outstanding commitment to Prancing Horse and the students.