We have a number of volunteer teams, each performing an essential role.
Volunteer opportunities for the care of our therapy horses and the delivery of our therapeutic riding lessons require the completion of both classroom and on-the-job training. SDTR provides this in-depth training at no cost to our volunteers.
NOTE: The scheduling of our training is based on the availability of our horses, the instructors, and the arena. This allows us to not interfere with the therapeutic riding sessions of our participants. Therefore, most of our classroom training takes place on Wednesdays from 10:00am to 1:00pm.
Here is an overview of the vital volunteer roles at SDTR. If you would like to know more or are interested in joining one of these teams please fill out the Volunteer Interest Form below.
Special Events
This team assists with the fundraising events that SDTR holds each year to support the program. Volunteers provide assistance in many ways before during and after events from planning and decorating to traffic control, welcoming guests and clean up.
Barn Sparklers
This volunteer team meets once a week to keep the entire facility clean. They clean floors and dust the observation room as well as the mounting area for the participants. They clean the tack room and feed room weekly. And once a month they clean all tack.
Facilities
This team maintains the grounds and the buildings. Volunteers on this team meet weekly and also assist in the preparation for special events.
Horse Care
The horse care team assists with the daily care of the herd and maintaining an environment that is best suited for our four-legged therapists!
- Previous horse experience required
- Two classroom sessions about 4 weeks apart
- On-the-Job Training between the 2 classroom sessions during which the volunteer trainee works six 2-hour horse care shifts with experienced Horse Care volunteers
- Volunteer trainees choose available on-the-job training shifts that fit into their life schedule
Sidewalkers
The Sidewalker’s main responsibility is THE PARTICIPANT and to ensure they have a safe and fun experience!
- No previous experience required
- Two classroom sessions about 4 weeks apart including practice in the arena with horses
- On-the-Job Training between the 2 classroom sessions during which the volunteer trainee observes 2 therapeutic riding lessons and serves as a sidewalker for 3 therapeutic lessons with an experienced Sidewalker
- Volunteer trainees choose available on-the-job training shifts that fit into their life schedule
Horse Leaders
The Horse Leader’s main responsibility is THE HORSE!
- Previous horse experience required
- Four classroom sessions about 6 weeks apart including practice in the arena with horses
- On-the-Job Training is usually conducted on Tuesdays and Thursdays and includes multiple workshops on natural horsemanship techniques provided by Christine Nibblett of Unpuzzled Horsemanship unpuzzledhorsemanship.com