Volunteer Opportunities: Horse Leader, Sidewalker, Tacking, Grooming and Barn Maintenance, Haycrew (Horse care and feeding), Special Events (Fundraisers, Easter with the Equest Bunny, Holiday Horse Show, Horsin Around at the Derby, Horses & Hands program…), Facility maintenance (repairs, weeding, flowers, painting, cleaning pastures, etc.), Administration (data entry, bulk mailing, filing, etc.)
Community Outreach: service projects are also available throughout the year for interested groups such as Boy/Girls Scouts, 4-H, Youth Leadership, Business groups, Church groups, & Schools. Orientation and Training is not necessary but volunteer registration is required. To learn about current projects – contact Equest Center’s Volunteer Coordinator.
Orientation and Training are necessary for the following volunteer opportunities.
Horse leader/handler primary responsibility is to the horse, i.e., prepare the horse for class, maintain safety spacing, and help the horse follow the directions of the rider during class.
Sidewalkers physically assist the rider (during riding, mounting and dismounting), help the rider guide their horse during the lesson, and assist the rider in following the directions of the instructor as necessary. The amount of assistance is dependent on each rider’s abilities. Sidewalkers must be at least 14 years old.
The Tacking, Grooming and Barn Maintenance assistants are the “behind the scenes” volunteers stationed in the barn preparing horses for lessons, leading horses from and to the pastures, feeding, grooming and tacking, keeping the barn area clean. (volunteers must meet age requirements for individual jobs in this area) A Lead Volunteer will assist with tack changes and horse turn out.
