Lesson Volunteers

Commitment and Requirements:

Lesson volunteer positions are:

Sidewalker:The sidewalker’s primary responsibility is the rider.  A sidewalker walks or jogs along side a mounted rider and acts as a “bridge” between instructor and rider.  Sidewalkers are there to assist the rider when needed and to help ensure the rider’s safety.  Encourage riders to be as independent as possible!

• Attendance at CKRH new volunteer orientation
• Previous horse experience not required
• Minimum age of 17
• Successful completion of CKRH sidewalker training
• Commitment to attend class each week for the length of the session
• Adequate vision and hearing to ensure safety of rider
• Walk/jog alongside the horse for duration of the lesson, occasionally on uneven surfaces
• Ability to hold your arm slightly raised and out to the side for up to 30 minutes thus providing rider support if necessary
• Comfortable working in physical contact with horses and children/adults with disabilities and special needs
• Ability to adapt to change • Display patience
• Ability to perform emergency dismount
• Meet and greet riders. Remain with your rider ensuring their safety at all times.
• Assist with helmets • Assist the rider during lesson, mounting and dismounting processes
• Act as the “bridge” between instructor and rider. Repeat directions, redirect attention and assist rider with tasks as needed or directed.
  

Horse Leader:The horse leader’s primary responsibility is the horse. A leader pays close attention to the horse and all that is happening around the horse before, during and after a lesson. A leader focuses on safety and maintains control of the horse while allowing the rider to execute aids and cues asked for by the instructor during a lesson.

• Previous CKRH volunteer participation
• Previous horse experience is required
• Minimum age of 17
• Successful completion of CKRH leader training
• Commitment to attend class each week for the length of the session
• Adequate vision and hearing to ensure safety of horses and participants
• Walk/jog with the horse for duration of the lesson time
• Ability to read a horse and to calmly prevent/avoid unsafe situations
• Demonstrate patience
• Ability to adapt to change
• Ensure horse is groomed, tacked, and warming up in arena 10 minutes prior to lesson start time
• Primary responsibility is horse safety
• Listen and respond to the instructor’s directions
• Lead horse during lesson and maintain safe spacing between horses
• Help horse follow the rider’s cues
• Remove tack and ensure horse is properly cared for after lesson

Wrangler: Wranglers help our lessons run smoothly and on time by having horses in their stalls and groomed before lessons begin.  Wranglers are also important in maintaining barn safety and cleanliness throughout the lesson activities.  At the end of class, wranglers ensure that our equine therapists are properly “tucked in” for the night, all equipment and tack is put away, and the barn is clean and ready for the next day’s activities. 

• Previous CKRH volunteer participation
• Previous horse experience is required
• Successful completion of CKRH wrangler training
• Commitment to attend class each week for the length of the session
• Understand horse safety concerns
• Ability to read a horse and to calmly prevent/avoid unsafe situations
• Lead horses to and from the pastures
• Groom/bathe horses before/after lessons.
• Clean and organize tack.
• Clean stalls
• Maintain general barn cleanliness
• Ability to adapt to change