Volunteers
The Heart & Soul of the Ranch
Welcome to the Ranch, from Executive Director John D’Andrea!
Annual Youth & Adult Volunteer Awards
At the end of every year, our team of staff gets together to vote on two stand-out individuals that have dedicated their time & talents to the Ranch. The selected volunteers must have gone above & beyond in their commitment to the Ranch. It is our honor to present these volunteers with these awards each year at Barn Bash. Additionally, their names are added to name plates on award plaques that hang in the main barn to forever commemorate our gratitude.
How to Become a Recurring Volunteer
Volunteer Orientation sessions occur every first week of the month (you only need to attend one of the following) :
- Thursday at 5:30pm
- Friday at 2pm
- Saturday at 9am
These sessions serve as a time for interested individuals to visit the Ranch, receive a tour, and submit & review required paperwork. You may contact our Volunteer Coordinator with any further questions at lauren.higgins@healingwithhorsesranch.org
We may also occasionally have Expedited Orientation sessions available on an urgent, as needed basis for difficult-to-fill and/or high support need lessons. These one-off sessions will be a “one stop shop” for onboarding requirements, condensing orientation, horse safety, and lesson volunteer training into one 2 hour session.
Please note:
- Sign-ups are available on a first-come, first-served basis.
- To support the cost of background checks & onboarding, a $5 non-refundable fee is required when signing up for orientation.
- Sign-ups open two weeks before. Spots fill quickly, so we recommend setting an alarm & checking in early!
- If there are no visible highlighted dates on the calendar, all sessions are full. Mark your calendar for the following month to sign up for a date as soon as registration opens.
Requirements to Volunteer:
- Attend Healing with Horses Ranch Volunteer Orientation & all applicable training for desired role(s)
- Must be 14 or be accompanied by parent/guardian (youth under age 14 are not permitted to handle horses directly)
- Pass a Texas Department of Public Safety background check
- In applicable volunteer roles, have the ability to traverse uneven terrain, walk & occasionally jog short distances
Learn more about all of our volunteer opportunities below!
As a new volunteer, after attending the initial Volunteer Orientation session, you will be invited to attend our additional training opportunities which in turn allow you to extend your reach into various support roles at the Ranch.
Feed team volunteers work on teams of 2-4 people. Morning feedings typically begin at 8am & evening feedings at 5pm for about 2 hours in duration. In general, it is ideal that feed team volunteers commit to the same shift every week, but intermittent substitutes are often needed & welcomed.
Barn Upkeep: Think mini feed team shift! Help us maintain horse care between feed team shifts; refresh slow feeder hay nets, water buckets & troughs, muck out stalls, runs, or arena to help maintain a clean environment.
Prerequisite Training requirements: Lesson Volunteer Training
A lesson team volunteer supports our PATH Intl. Certified Therapeutic Riding Instructors (CTRIs) as a side-walker or horse-handler in adaptive riding lessons, serving as a role model & mentor for program participants. It is ideal that lesson volunteers commit to the same lesson time every week, but substitutes are often needed & welcomed on an intermittent basis.
A facilities team volunteer supports by improving & maintaining our property. Whether that be fence repair, tree trimming, or otherwise, help us keep the Ranch safe & beautiful. This position is flexible & can occur as a recurring shift or project-based commitment.
Prerequisite Training requirements: Lesson Volunteer Training
Our conditioning team is responsible for keeping our horses happy, healthy, sound and in shape, so that they can be the best teachers possible for our clients.
Requirements:
- Hold a recurring weekly volunteer shift
- Pass ground skills assessment & mounted tryout
In addition to all of the physical work that goes into keeping the Ranch running, there is plenty of paperwork, too! From grant-writing, to helping organize files, to filling meds, we welcome additional support!
We are run by a Board of Directors, responsible for ensuring the Ranch stays running & on mission. We are always looking for new members to join, particularly with treasury, legal, or grant-writing skills. We also have several volunteer committees, including the Volunteer Committee (focused on making sure our volunteer experience is the best it can be) & the Fundraising Committee.
Please reach out to Executive Director at john.dandrea@healingwithhorsesranch.org or Volunteer Coordinator at lauren.higgins@healingwithhorsesranch.org if you’re interested in learning more.