Dream On Curls Riding Center
therapeutic riding with American Curly Horses

The Success of our program depends on our

VOLUNTEERS!!

We are fortunate to have some wonderful generous people
willing to volunteer their time to help with the riding program

We are always in need of extra help with side-walking and tacking up horses for lessons.

You can make a difference in many ways.



Dream on Curls Riding Center has a Volunteer Training Session
on the third Saturday of every month.

Horse experience is not necessarily required. We can train and teach you. All that is required is a willingness to commit to being here for our riders.

The minimum age for participation in our Volunteer staff is 17 years old.

Volunteers are essential to the Equine Assisted Activity program. Volunteers should be comfortable with horses, but it is not necessary. Volunteers walk beside the horse and hold the rider if needed or help lead horses while being ridden. Volunteers can help buckle helmets, assist in grooming sessions, help with mounting and dismounting, etc.

Training will be provided. Being comfortable around horses, individuals with disabilities and able to walk beside the horse in the arena are the only requirements.

 As a volunteer we ask you to take-on one of two roles either leading or side walking. Each job affords you different opportunities though both jobs yield great rewards. We will work with you to maximize your strengths while providing the optimal benefit for the rider and the horse. We provide on-site training for every duty and will afford you opportunities to learn about yourself, other people, the horses, and the equine industry.

 The role of side walker involves a much more direct contact with the individual rider. Depending on the needs of the rider, 1 or 2 side walkers may be assigned to each individual. The side walker’s main responsibility is the rider. This may include: helping a rider fasten their helmet, waiting with the individual while the instructor does a final check before the lesson begins, helping a rider mount the horse, providing support and encouragement to a rider who is timid and unsure, allowing a rider to test their personal limits knowing that there is someone there to help them if necessary, helping the rider play a game, providing subtle cues to the rider therefore allowing them to successfully complete the task, or a myriad of other tasks which will be discussed further at the volunteer training workshops provided by Dream On Curls Riding Center. Effective side walkers allow the lesson to run smoothly while also providing support and assistance necessary to a rider to help ensure a successful lesson. The relationships that develop between the student and side walker are special and provide you with the chance to watch the rider grow and improve.

 In addition to the hands on volunteer work with the rider and horse.. there are other many tasks where a volunteer can help- from sweeping the barn, to hanging up tack after a session, to helping in the fund raising!

			We have had many other wonderful volunteers who did not get their photo taken.   Thank you to all !!
Sara volunteered in summer, 2008 and was a great help !	Jennie was a volunteer also in summer, 2008 and continues to help out several times a week in fall and winter	Kristin volunteered until she went off to college.

Contact us for more information

Zoe Lirakis - instructor/program manager
e-mail  or Phone 802-885-4126

 

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