|
Imagine helping a child or adult
in your community as he or she takes a first step, speaks
for the first time, or laughs with joy. Now imagine doing
this in the company of horses!
Volunteering at Winslow might be the best thing you have ever
done for yourself- and for the special riders at Winslow Therapeutic
Riding Center. Winslow's mission goes beyond helping people
learn to ride horses; we help people experience success. We
work with children and adults who often face serious physical,
emotional, or social challenges, and we help them to discover
their own strength, beauty, and talent. We love our work at
Winslow, and we cannot do it without your help! As a volunteer,
you will become a vital part of our program, working directly
with horses, riders, Winslow staff, and other volunteers.
You will share in the large and small triumphs of our riders
as they experience "the miracle in the movement" of therapeutic
riding.
How Can You Help?
Volunteers must be 13 years of age or over. You should be in
reasonably good health if you wish to work in the ring, as a
fair amount of walking-and sometimes running-is required. You
can help in several ways:
- Horse Leaders: learn leading skills, and have complete
care of the horse during a therapy session.
- Sidewalkers: help to support the riders, and assist the
therapist and/or riding instructor with the special needs
of each rider.
- Grooms: groom and tack up horses before classes; untack
and cool them out after classes.
- Office Volunteers: assist with all types of clerical work,
according to your own skills.
- Special Events Volunteers: help organize and run special
events and fundraisers.
Training and Volunteer Requirements
All volunteers who wish to work in programming are required
to attend an orientation, plus a minimum of one "hands-on
training session" - dependent upon your prior knowledge
of horses.
In addition, you will be expected to arrive one half hour
before your assigned program, and to stay one half hour after
the program to help with assessment of the riders. Volunteers
in programming may be asked to groom, tack, untack and bathe
horses, or clean stalls, tack, and sweep barn aisles. Volunteers
who complete a full session of programming will be offered
discounted riding lessons as our way of saying "thanks!".
Volunteer
training is offered frequently during the year. Check
the Events page or click here for
a calendar of dates for upcoming
Volunteer Training sessions. Please call or come in to sign
up.
Application
Individuals 13 years or older should call the Director of Volunteer
Services to schedule an appointment for Orientation. You will
be asked to fill out an application, and provide one character
reference. Previous horse knowledge is appreciated, but not
required. We welcome you, and thank you for helping us continue
to succeed!
|
