2020 New Volunteer Training Dates

The Spring Session begins February 24, 2020.
​If you'd like to volunteer for REACH you must attend one of the following training sessions:

Sunday, February 9
2:00p.m. - 5:00p.m.
or 
Thursday, February 13*
9:00am - 12:30pm
(*required to volunteer in therapy sessions utilizing hippotherapy)
Please complete the form below to be contacted with additional information for  volunteer training! 

Weekly Program Volunteers

Volunteer assignments are based on interest, experience and availability. We will also help you learn new skills so you can volunteer in more roles in our program as you gain more experience. Currently, our greatest volunteer needs are for Monday and Tuesday late afternoons and evenings and Thursdays during the day but our program is growing and  will continue to expand, offering more volunteer opportunities throughout the week.

​Expectations for volunteers who work directly with our horses and participants include:
  • 14 years old or older
  • Able to commit to a minimum of 1 - 2 hours each week for a full session. Session lengths vary from 6 - 12 weeks.
  • Horse experience is not required to assist riders in lessons, but is required to assist with horses during lessons

Below are the main weekly volunteer positions:
Sidewalker: A person who walks beside the horse and offers stability and emotional support to the rider. This person must be attentive to the rider and the instructor.
Qualifications:
  • Commitment to attend lessons each week for the entire session
  • Able to walk, and jog periodically, for up to an hour (indoors and outdoors) on uneven surfaces
  • Able to hold your arm raised and out to the side for extended periods of time
  • Must have adequate vision and hearing to ensure the safety of horses and participants
  • Able to work as part of a team and be flexible to changes
  • Comfortable working with individuals with disabilities (including physical contact)
  • Minimum age of fourteen years
  • Horse experience helpful, but not required
  • Able to attend New Volunteer Training 
​Horse Leader: A person who is responsible for leading the horse and/or assisting the rider in controlling the horse during lessons.
Qualifications:
  • Horse experience - volunteer should be knowledgeable and comfortable around a variety of horses and have experience working directly with horses 
  • Able to walk, and jog periodically, for up to an hour (indoors/outdoors) on uneven surfaces
  • Must have adequate vision and hearing to ensure safety of horses and participants
  • Able to work as a team and be flexible to changes
  • Minimum age of fourteen
  • Attend New Volunteer Training and additional leader training 

Barn Volunteer: This person may groom, tack, warm up horses, clean equipment or do general barn maintenance (picking stalls, watering, sweeping, etc).
Qualifications:
  • Horse experience preferred, (this varies; but means that volunteer should be knowledgeable and comfortable around a variety of horses, and have experience working with horses)
  • Able to halter, lead, crosstie a horse safely
  • Able to groom and tack (English or Western) a horse without direct supervision
  • Able to work as part of a team and be flexible to changes
  • Minimum age of fourteen
  • Ability to attend initial volunteer training and additional training as needed

​Floater: An extra person in a lesson who helps the instructor and fills in for volunteers as needed. 

There are also volunteer opportunities throughout the week helping with various barn chores, grooming horses and preparing for weekly lessons. We can always use an extra pair of hands! 
"Never doubt your ability to 
CHANGE
someone's life!"

~Jacque Kennedy

Volunteer Groups

REACH also loves volunteer groups! If your work group, civic organization, church group, school group, fraternity/sorority, Eagle Scouts, 4-H, Pony Club or even a group of family and friends would like to help with a one-time project or ongoing service opportunity, give us a call!
(New Volunteer Training is not required)

Administrative, Fundraising and Community Outreach 

Looking for volunteer work you can do from home or during the day time? REACH is also looking for individuals to help with fundraising, administrative assistance, data entry and community outreach! There's always something for everyone!
​(New Volunteer Training is not required)

    Let us know you'd like to volunteer!