Before you jump into things, we want you to feel informed and comfortable!

Things we like to cover are:

✔︎ Meet our family and learn about the ranch.

✔︎ Be introduced to the herd and hear about some of their needs.

✔︎ Watch how we handle our horses in different situations.

✔︎ Ask questions as you observe ranch operations.

✔︎ Talk with us about your comfort level, experience, and goals with horses.

Our volunteer training is hands on and gradual. You will never be asked to do something you have not been shown how to do, but once you are trained, we do expect good attention to detail and consistency for everyone’s safety. 🙂

You can expect to learn some of the following tasks:

✔︎ Filling hay nets for feeding.

✔︎ Checking, cleaning, and filling waters.

✔︎ Keeping tacking and grooming areas raked and tidy.

✔︎ Grooming and brushing horses.

✔︎ Leading horses to and from the pasture.

✔︎ Helping tack up and bridle with care.

✔︎ Holding horses during appointments or simple treatments.

NOTE: For the first couple of weeks, volunteers are in a trial period. This gives us time to make sure:

✔︎ You get along well with our other volunteers and staff.

✔︎ The horses are calm and comfortable around you.

✔︎ You are able to notice and remember the details that keep everyone safe.

While verbal irony is our primary language haha - we do not tolerate drama, gossip, or mean competitive behavior.. This ranch is a home for people and horses!

After a volunteer has shown good attention to detail and strong respect for the care of our horses and guests, we may begin to offer more advanced tasks. 💪💕

More experienced volunteers may be offered:

✔︎ Following individual feed plans and helping prepare grain, supplements, and medications ✔︎ Helping with fly spray, hosing, blanketing, and other comfort care ✔︎ Watching for changes in behavior or signs of soreness, lameness, or injury ✔︎ Assisting with first aid and upkeep like oiling feathers, cleaning wounds, or spreading poultice ✔︎ Learning simple stretching, light massage, and therapy work ✔︎ Walking along rides with guests who want extra support ✔︎ Spending quiet training time with horses who need more confidence with people ✔︎ Riding along on horses who need light exercise or trail exposure, always in a way that serves the horse first

Riding opportunities are not automatic and are only offered when a volunteer has shown they are ready and when it is helpful for the horse.

Behavior and attention to detail still matter, even after training. Everyone has off days, and we understand that. 😊 But if someone regularly:

☹︎ Becomes pushy or demanding about riding ☹︎ Gives other volunteers a hard time over their opportunities ☹︎ Checks out, stops engaging, or misses details that put horses or guests at risk

…then this program is no longer a good fit, and we will kindly end the volunteer relationship. Our first responsibility is always to the safety and well being of the horses and the people around them. 💚