Horses have been a significant part of my life since I was a young child. However, I’m not currently in a position to have a horse of my own, so opportunities to ride are limited to when I visit my parents. But now that I live across the country, those visits are few and far between, leaving my horse-loving heart aching for some time in the saddle.
Thankfully, I was able to find a nearby therapeutic riding facility where I can donate my time. The aptly named Horses of Hope in Baxter Springs, Kansas, has become my home away from home, and my weeks are spent counting down the hours until my Friday afternoon shift at the barn.
If you, like me, currently find yourself without access to horses, finding a volunteer opportunity with a horse-centered organization might be just what you need.
Therapeutic Riding and Equine Assisted Therapy
Therapeutic riding is an adaptive sport designed for individuals with disabilities. Physical benefits include improved flexibility, balance, strength, coordination, and confidence. Group or individual lessons are led by specially trained and certified riding instructors. Depending on a rider’s skill level and disability, they may be able to ride independently, on a lead rope, or with side walkers to assist them as needed.
Like therapeutic riding, equine-assisted therapy (also known as hippotherapy) uses horses to provide physical and mental benefits. However, equine-assisted therapy is led by a licensed physical, occupational, behavioral, or speech therapist (or a combination of these). Hippotherapy is less about teaching riding skills and more about using the natural movement and behavior of the horse to work toward specific treatment goals.
Volunteer opportunities at therapeutic riding or equine-assisted therapy programs can include horse care, horse handling or side walking, facilities maintenance, or event support. If you have a specialized skill such as graphic or web design, accounting, grant writing, fundraising, or public relations, you may also be able to combine your skillset with your volunteer work.
You can find a certified therapeutic riding facility near you at PATH International. Licensed hippotherapy programs can be found at Eagala and horsetherapyfinder.com.
Urban Youth Riding Programs
Urban riding programs like the Philadelphia Urban Riding Academy (PURA) aim to provide under-resourced youth with opportunities to develop the discipline, responsibility, and confidence that come from caring for horses, as well as a sense of belonging and community. Many function as after school programs that also support academic success. Some programs are located within city limits, where riders can use public transportation to reach the riding facilities. Others are located in more rural areas, but provide transportation to ensure access for those who need it most.
In addition to barn chores, volunteer opportunities with urban riding programs may include tutoring and homework help, teaching riding lessons, helping youth prepare resumes and college applications, and providing transportation.
Horse Rescues
Horse rescues like Storeybrook Farm Sanctuary in St. Johnsbury, Vermont, provide essential care for abused and neglected horses. Some specialize in retraining horses for eventual adoption while others provide lifelong homes for the horses they rescue. Many of the horses taken in by rescues need specialized care, such as nutrition, hoof care, or medical intervention.
On top of caring for the horses, volunteer opportunities with horse rescues can sometimes include accompanying law enforcement during seizure situations, documenting neglect, and rehabilitating and retraining horses that are suitable for adoption to carefully vetted homes.
In Short
Volunteering at Horses of Hope hasn’t just given me an outlet for my horse passion; it has also allowed me to build meaningful friendships, give back to my community, and find a sense of purpose I didn’t know I was missing.
If you’re looking for a way to fit more horses into your life, consider finding a horse rescue or non-profit riding program near you. Many of them are desperate for volunteers, especially if you already have horse experience, so donating your time and skills can be a win-win for everyone.
