Volunteer with Us
Without the help of our amazing volunteers, we wouldn’t be able to offer hope and healing to our community through the power of horses. Your work as a volunteer is truly valued and can change lives, perhaps even your own! No matter what your area of expertise, we can always use your help. No experience required - we can train anyone who is willing to learn!
““We not only offer the best horses around, but we also guarantee you will have the time of your life! Those who volunteer also swear it’s the best therapy - that’s what we’re all about after all!” ”
The two primary roles volunteers serve in are: Horse/Barn Care and the Summer/Fall Lesson Program.
Horse/Barn Care typically involves feeding the horses, giving hay, picking hooves, putting blankets on/taking them off, checking waters, cleaning stalls, and sometimes other tasks to ensure our horses are happy and healthy. Horse/Barn Care volunteers come every morning and evening of the year, no matter the weather - rain, shine, snow, wind - to care for our herd.
Volunteers in our Lesson Program engage with our riders during the Therapeutic Riding (TR) Season as side-walkers and horse leaders. You will have the opportunity to get to know our riders, share in their success, and be part of an amazing team of volunteers.
The TR Program operates from May to November, four nights a week, with three or four lessons/riders per night. The TR Season is divided up into two 8-week sessions in the Summer and Fall. Most volunteers commit to one night a week for all 16 weeks, or 8 weeks in the Spring/Fall, but other arrangements are possible too.
We accept Volunteer Applicants, ages 16 and older.
Other areas of need:
Stable and Facility Maintenance to maintain our barn and fields
Special Events and Fundraising to assist with fundraisers and program events
Committee members
Social Media Publishing and Promotion
Advertising - Public Relations - Marketing
Grant writing
Photography - Videography - Art
Volunteer recruitment
Future planning
If you, or someone you know, might be able to assist in other ways, please let us know!
How to Become a Stars and Strides Volunteer:
Fill out an application and sign it (must be signed by a parent or guardian if under 18yrs old)
Email completed applications to: StarsandStridesTEC@gmail.com. With the Subject: Volunteer Opportunity.
Schedule a time to meet with a staff member to discuss your interests and availability and take a tour of the farm.
Attend a Volunteer Orientation or Training session - these may be held individually or as a group.
Congratulations! You are now a Stars and Strides Volunteer!
Welcome to the Team!
SAS is committed to running safe and effective therapeutic riding and mental health programs. Because of this we require all new volunteers to attend a volunteer orientation session before they begin working with us. The purpose of orientation is to assure that volunteers are knowledgeable and safe in their roles and responsibilities. The new volunteer orientation covers safety and emergency procedures, a tour of the facilities, and rules and regulations. For those who will work in our riding program, they will receive specialized training in horse leading and side-walking during the lesson program.
