Volunteer with Us
Volunteer Opportunities
Please consider joining us in helping to create smiles and successes for all in our programs. Horse experience is always welcome, but many volunteer roles don't require it!
Side Walkers are part of the team responsible for the safety of our mounted clients during lessons. Side Walkers do not require any previous horse experience. Lesson volunteers must be 16 years of age or older.
Side Walkers
Horse Leaders are responsible for leading horses during lessons. Horse Leaders must have at least 3 years of prior horse handling experience and undergo our Horse Leader Training. Lesson volunteers must be 16 years of age or older.
Horse Leaders
Groomers assist the instructor by grooming and tacking before a session. Groomers should have horse experience, and go through Horse Leader Training, as well as Groomer Training. Grooming volunteers must be 14 years of age or older.
Groomers
Barn and/or grounds volunteers help with daily barn chores like mucking stalls, cleaning buckets, feeding and moving our equines. Barn Volunteers must be 14 years of age or older, except in special situations, and won't have horse contact unless they are experienced with horses and have undergone our Horse Leader and/or Grooming Trainings.
Barn
Grounds volunteers work with us to maintain Topfield's exterior grounds by helping weeding, raking, and basic gardening tasks. We also need help with projects like repairing and painting fences, re-working footing in our paddocks, stall run-outs, and arenas.
Grounds
We also sometimes work with individuals with other skills to work with specific populations or generally help Topfield Equestrian Center remain aligned with our mission.
Other Volunteers
Volunteer Benefits
We are so appreciative of the time and commitment of all of our volunteers. As tokens of our appreciation, we offer our active volunteers (those volunteering a minimum of 4 hours /month):
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Volunteer rides at a discounted rate on most Fridays between 10 am - 2 pm
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Leader training with our horse trainer on most Mondays from 12 pm - 1 pm
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Free quarterly workshops/trainings with relevant equine & disability professionals
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Volunteer Appreciation get-togethers 1-2 times a year
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Letters of recommendation/support as needed
Email lori@topfieldcenter.org to schedule volunteer rides and/or sign up for the leader training.
Volunteer Resources
PATH Intl. is a global resource and industry standard setter for equine-assisted activities & therapies incorporating horses; we have also developed two helpful manuals of our own for Topfield volunteers' use and reference.