Heartland Therapeutic Riding is a nonprofit in Miami County whose mission is to serve children and adults with disabilities and to improve quality of life through equine-assisted activities and therapies. These activities and therapies utilize the interaction with a horse and/or the movement of a horse to promote physical, cognitive, and emotional growth. And they couldn’t do it without volunteers! Here are some of the roles they need volunteers for:
Sidewalker – Supports the riders by walking beside the horse and offers assistance and/or stability to the rider according to the instructor’s directions. As a Sidewalker, they observe and interact with the rider and serve as an extra set of eyes and ears for the instructor. This volunteer needs to be comfortable working with individuals with disabilities.- Horse Leader – Leads the horse and/or assists the rider in controlling the horse during class. The leader is focused on the horse to ensure the safety of the rider. This volunteer needs to have experience handling horses and must attend our Leader Training class.
- Barn Assistant – Prepares horses for classes and assists with the general care of our horses. This role includes grooming, tacking, and leading horses. This volunteer needs to have experience handling horses and must attend our Barn Training class.
- Arena Attendant – Assists the instructor in and outside the arena. Responsibilities may include: setting up the arena, leading horses in and out of the mounting area, changing tack, substituting for a leader, sidewalker, or barn assistant, and taking notes for the instructor. This position is for experienced Heartland volunteers who have attended both leader and barn training
Additional Volunteer Opportunities include:
- Barn Assistants and Haycrew: If you love being around horses and don’t mind a little dirt, then they’ve got a brush or pitch fork waiting for you! Barn assistants groom and tack horses and the Haycrew help care for our horses.
- Special Events: If you love putting on a show, then helping with their Horse Show, Fall Festival, Camp, and Parades is just the ticket for you.
- Fundraising Team: If you’re a go-getter and love to talk with people, you’d be great at helping them round-up auction items and sponsors for their Tux ‘n’ Boots gala or asking for contributions for their Adopt-A-Horse and Rider programs.
- Ranch Hands: If you can swing a hammer and know a Phillips screwdriver from a flathead screwdriver, then they desperately need you!
More information and volunteer applications can be found on their website. Get out there and start making a difference!