VOLUNTEER WITH TROTR
Volunteers are the lifeblood of TROTR. Without their dedication, loyalty and hard work, it would not be possible for us to fulfill our mission. TROTR offers a wide range of volunteering opportunities. Some require horse experience, but many do not. All we need is your willingness to give of yourself and commit your time.
Volunteer opportunities include:
Program Volunteers: assist by leading horses or walking beside students (sidewalking) during classes. Horse leaders need a general knowledge of horses. Horse leaders may assist in preparing horses for classes (grooming and tacking) and are responsible for leading horses during class.
Sidewalkers do not need horse experience. They are responsible for communicating with the students and offering them physical and emotional support. Program volunteers should be willing to commit to the same day and time each week and are required to attend our introductory volunteer orientation and training session.
Barn/Equine Volunteers: assist with general barn chores and work directly with barn staff to care for the horses and get them ready for program (grooming and tacking). These volunteers should be willing to commit to a specified, consistent period of time each week. Riding volunteers are experienced riders who have passed an evaluation qualifying them to help us school and exercise our horses when they are not working in program.
Tack Shack: coming in 2021!
Farm/Facilities Volunteers: help with general maintenance, repairs and improvements of the facility, including fence repair, manure management, gardening and trail maintenance. They are required to attend our introductory volunteer orientation and training session prior to beginning their work.
Other Volunteer Opportunities: on an as-needed basis, TROTR also requires volunteer help with special events, administrative tasks and skilled work such as carpentry and photography.
Corporate and Civic Volunteer Groups: TROTR welcomes the help of local organizations and can assure you your efforts will have a lasting impact on the lives of hundreds of deserving students. Most group volunteer efforts involve farm projects that we design to enhance our students' therapeutic experience, benefit our therapeutic horses or help us maintain a safe and beautiful environment at TROTR. We are also open to discussing other project ideas with your group.
All volunteer opportunities, program-related or otherwise, require attendance at our introductory volunteer orientation and training session. Volunteering in program, as a barn/equine volunteer, with The Tack Shack or as a farm/facilities volunteer, involves moderate physical activity. Please be sure you are comfortable with the physical aspects of the role you select.
VOLUNTEERING GUIDELINES
When: Check our calendar for the next volunteer orientation.
Where: We meet behind the office, close to the tie racks
What to bring: Completed Volunteer Form and Signed Copy of TROTR Barn Rules
Age Requirements: Volunteers must be at least 12 years old to volunteer at TROTR; minimum age for therapy volunteers is 14
Please make sure you wear appropriate clothes and shoes. You will need to wear the following:
Volunteers working within our therapy program are also asked to follow the guidelines below:
Volunteers please bring the following completed form with you to your orientation session.
Where: We meet behind the office, close to the tie racks
What to bring: Completed Volunteer Form and Signed Copy of TROTR Barn Rules
Age Requirements: Volunteers must be at least 12 years old to volunteer at TROTR; minimum age for therapy volunteers is 14
- ALL volunteers are required to attend a New Volunteer Training.
- Volunteering in therapeutic riding lessons and hippotherapy sessions involves moderate physical activity. Make sure you are comfortable with the physicality of the role you have selected, as you will be walking and doing some jogging in a sand arena and on your feet for up to two hours. If you are looking for a volunteer opportunity that is less physically demanding, volunteering in the office or mucking stalls is a great alternative!
- Lesson volunteers do not need to have previous horse experience but a level of comfort with horses.
- Lesson volunteers must be available a minimum of 2 hours per week (same day and time each week) OR volunteers can be subs in classes, subbing for the regular weekly volunteers as needed.
- New volunteers are allowed to register after attending a New Volunteer Training and are scheduled based on interest, experience and availability.
- TROTR reserves the right to make the final determination as to the appropriateness of volunteers for our organization.
Please make sure you wear appropriate clothes and shoes. You will need to wear the following:
- Shoes or sturdy boots that offer foot protection and sure footing. - Required (no open toed shoes or sandals are allowed)
- Long pants - Recommended
- Short or long-sleeved shirts are considered appropriate - Recommended
- Work Gloves - Optional
- Water - Recommended
Volunteers working within our therapy program are also asked to follow the guidelines below:
- Short-shorts, sagging pants, tank tops with spaghetti straps or low necklines, dangling jewelry and perfume are prohibited
- Cell phones and personal music players are not permitted while in the arena with students and should be left in your vehicle or in a pocket turned off
- For your safety, please do not chew gum during class
- During the cooler months, dressing in layers that can be removed if necessary is advised for comfort
- Gloves may be worn, as well, for warmth and comfort
Volunteers please bring the following completed form with you to your orientation session.
| trotr_volunteer_form_2014.pdf |
| trotr_barn_rules_2014.pdf |
| trotr_liability_release_2014.pdf |
