Yes, we would like all of our volunteers to be able to work with the kids and the horses, so they can change back and forth. We have a barn manager that will assist with horse training. So, you do not have to be a horse expert or 30 years of experience to help at RTW !!!

You’re in luck! Since the Ride To Walk ranch is primarily a therapeutic facility, most of our patrons come to us with no history of being around horses. Each of them is carefully guided to become comfortable with being around horses and then, of course, to ride them.

Similarly, the many roles our volunteers fill allow a volunteer to start with no ranch experience and then, gradually through training and experience, work through all of the working areas of a ranch he or she is interested in.

Special Needs children are really no different than any other children – and we all started out as children. The primary things they need are your patience and to feel that you care. As the old saying goes, “They don’t care how much you know. They just want to know how much you care.”

With your attitude of caring as a starting point, the Ride To Walk staff will educate you on how to behave with the kids when you are asked to be around them.

Many of our volunteers are senior citizens – just check out some of the photographs on our volunteer page. As long as you can walk and you enjoy being around kids, we can find somewhere for you to help.

One role, for example, that you’ll find many of our senior citizen volunteers in is the role of side walker. This is when the volunteer (one on each side) walks alongside a horse and braces the patient’s legs so that he or she doesn’t fall out of the saddle during therapy. It may sound strange but it’s really easy, fun and, most say, rewarding.

Also, we have fundraisers that we always need help with. See question about other volunteer opportunities available.

We love college students! Remember that responsibility is a key component to any type of work environment, at RTW you have the ability to obtain multiple areas of discipline and work ethics

While all of our volunteer opportunities are available to college students, if you’re still discerning what you want to be when you grow up (like many of us already grown up), or what field of study to focus on in school, exposure to the Ride To Walk program is for you:

• The business side of a charity,
• Running a ranch & caring for horses,
• Hippotherapy including Occupational Therapy & Physical Therapy,
• Possible internships available

While the many roles our volunteers fill allow a volunteer to start with no ranch experience and then, gradually through training and experience, work through all of the working areas of a ranch he or she is interested in, the therapy volunteers are expected to meet some minimum qualifications.

Riding Therapy Volunteer Qualfications:
• Must be physically able to work a 3 ½ hour session.
• Must be able to make cognitive decisions and capable of learning and understanding written material.
• Volunteers need to make a commitment to one riding session per week for a 6-month period.
• Volunteers need to be at least 14 years old and at least 5 feet tall.
• Complete the mandatory training sessions.

We encourage our volunteers to understand our riders disabilities and how they can best be helped in the therapy sessions. We want you to be a part of their life, not just a volunteer. These kids depend on consistency with the same person to be able to get past their inhabitations sometimes and they will totally grow on you!

Our program needs volunteer workers for many times but most critical, for all of the riding therapy sessions. The current schedule for our regular riding therapy sessions is set forth below. We schedule volunteer workers for the riding therapy sessions based on the volunteer’s skills and interests as well as our
program needs.

• Wednesday: 3:00 p.m. – 6:00 p.m.
• Thursday: 2:30 p.m. – 6:30 p.m.
• Friday: 10:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.
• Friday: 3:00 p.m. – 6:00 p.m.
• Saturday: 8:30 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.

Yes, sometimes, depending on if it’s an internship or credit hours.

Internships go thru Dr. Kris Corn.

The office staff here at the ranch keeps track of credit hours for when you are here and we will be glad to fill out the necessary paper work for you to receive credit.

Our riding therapy session volunteers fill a special role in the therapy sessions. Each rider receives one thirty minute riding session per week tailored to his/her individual needs. The riders enjoy and look forward to seeing their volunteers week after week. Many friendships and special bonds are formed during these sessions. This program is a rewarding and exciting experience for both the rider and the volunteer.

The following lists our Riding Therapy Volunteer Job Descriptions

Groomer: Volunteer should have equine background and experience or willingness to learn. Must arrive at the arena one half hour prior to session in order to groom and tack horses. Volunteer needs to attend a Grooming and Tacking In-Service before he/she can perform this role. Volunteer needs to be at least 14 years old.

Side walker: Volunteer will walk beside the horse and rider. Some light jogging may be necessary when trotting. Usually, two side walkers are used for each rider; one on either side of the horse. Riding sessions are for 30-minute intervals. Volunteer should be in good health and mentally alert. Volunteer needs to be at least 14 years old.

Horse Leader: Volunteer should have equine background and experience. This person is in charge of the horse until the instructor releases him/her from duty. The leader is responsible for controlling the horse’s pace and movements in response to the rider’s ability. Volunteer should be in good health so that he/she can keep up with the horse at a brisk walk or jog when trotting. Volunteer needs to be at least 16 years old.

Grooming Station Monitor: Volunteer should have equine background and experience or willingness to learn. Volunteer will assist riders in grooming at the grooming station. Volunteer needs to attend a Grooming and Tacking In-Service before he/she can perform this role.

Arena Monitor: Volunteer is responsible for coordinating sidewalkers and horse leaders with riders. Volunteer is present during the entire riding session and becomes familiar with the riders, families and volunteers for that riding session. Volunteer needs to be at least 16 years old.

Arena Assistant: Volunteer is responsible for assisting with the gates, toys and props for the children, etc. Volunteer needs to be at least 14 years old.

Yes !.. We are always looking for persons to help on the phone to solicit for funding events, other events, any phone contacts, emails. There is always something for you to do.

Sometimes we do, depending on what events/activities are going on at the time.

If you are proficient in a certain area (excel, power point, etc), we can use those abilities to assist in making the office run more efficiently or to complete a project in a timely manner.

We often have projects that need to be done on the property. Terry Campbell is our property manager and he oversees these projects. Persons with any type of construction trade experience are always welcome. And we always want to talk to those with equipment connections.

Videographer: Volunteer is responsible for working with our therapists to record individual rider therapy sessions at regular intervals during the calendar year so that we can document and track each rider’s progress in the program. Experience with video and other recording media is required. Volunteer needs to be at least 18 years old.

Additional Help: Volunteers with various skills are needed on a consistent basis to work at various special event fund-raisers, including our annual Niello VW Car Show and Ranch Run, Boots & Scoots BBQ and Barn Dance and to assist in the upkeep of the Ride To Walk property. If you have a particular skill, expertise or interest (i.e. writing letters for newsletters, photography, public speaking, etc.) that you would like to share, Ride To Walk can use your help!