Volunteer Opportunities

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Horse Play, Inc. could not operate without the help of a dedicated team of volunteers from our community. We are grateful for all of our current volunteers, each and every one of them, for their contributions that make our program a success. However, we always need more. We have numerous volunteer opportunities that can fit your time and talents. Opportunities that include session help, barn help, facility maintenance, special events, fundraising, and more. The benefits of volunteering are numerous, offering help to our participants, bringing joy to a disabled childs life, making new friends, having fun while fulfilling a need, bringing fulfillment to your life, and making our community better.

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For more information about joining Horse Play as a volunteer, contact Emily Placido, Volunteer Coordinator at

horseplayinc.volunteers@gmail.com

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Become A Sidewalker

The primary responsibility of a sidewalker is to ensure the safety of the rider in the session. It is also the volunteer who is most interactive with the child. Sidewalkers are assigned based on the riders needs. Some riders have 1 sidewalker while some riders have 2 sidewalkers. The sidewalker helps the rider get on the horse along with helping the rider to do exercises and commands during the session. For this reason and to ensure consistency and support for the rider, we ask that our sidewalkers commit to the same day and time each week for the 8 week session. Sidewalkers must be 14 years of age or older and go through our new volunteer orientation training.

 

Become A Horse Leader

The primary responsility of a horse leader is to insure the safety of the horse which in turn ensures the safety of the rider during the session. Leaders are assigned to 1 horse for the 8 week session. Leaders should be able to understand basic horse behavior and demonstrate horse handling skills. Therefore, we require that before you consider becoming a horse leader, you volunteer as a sidewalker for at least one full eight week session and complete horse leader training. Horse leaders also help with tack and grooming the horses before and after sessions. Horse leaders must be 14 years of age or older.

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Become A Barn Volunteer

If you like taking care of horses, become a barn volunteer. Volunteers can assist with general barn chores. Duities include horse stall cleaning, grooming the horses, basic horse care, and tack cleaning. Barn volunteers report to the Volunteer Coordinator and must be at least 12 years old. Hands on training is provided by our Volunteer Coordinator.

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Become A Facilities Volunteer

Facility volunteers help out with other work and projects around our facility. Facility volunteers report to our Facility Director and help keep our facility running and in proper shape. They are responsible for daily upkeep and maintenance of our facility grounds and buildings.

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Fundraising Support

Horse Play, Inc. needs volunteers with skills and knowledge in the area of fundrasing efforts and support. If you can't commit to any of the above positions, consider helping with our fundraising events throughout the year. These volunteers greatly help with our fund raising events and donor base, which in turn, helps generate the funds needed to ensure the success and future of our program. See our events page for a list of fundraising events.

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