We need you!Hippotherapy is labor intensive. We rely on our volunteers to take care of the farm and patients. Feel good about giving of yourself and you will find you get back more than your put in.
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Our Mission
Sundance Circle is committed to providing a safe, inviting, and therapeutic atmosphere for horses and patients so that physical, occupational and speech therapy can be effective in improving the lives and families of their patients.
Shifts are available during the following hours of operation
- Monday 8am – 6pm
- Tuesday 8pm – 6 pm
- Wednesday 8am – 6pm
- Thursday 8am- 6pm
- Friday 8am – 6pm
- Saturday 8am – 3pm
Volunteer Duties
The activities listed below are not particularly strenuous or difficult to learn. We like to alternate activities to increase volunteers’ skills and psychological engagement, however volunteers need not be able to perform all activities, and most times may choose to perform duties as he or she prefers.
Volunteer activities may include the following:
Sidewalking – walking beside a patient as they are mounted helping to ensure his or her safety and security. Sidewalkers are specially trained help with a loss of balance or emergency dismount.
Leading – guiding a specially trained horse before, during and after a patient is mounted, as per the therapist's directions. Volunteers undergo training to ensure their comfort and confidence in meeting and being around a horse prior to being assigned to this theory. Due to the nature of this task, it is preferred that a volunteer has horse experience for this role but it is not necessary, however, they must complete the training and demonstrate proficiency prior to becoming a leader.
Grooming and Tacking Up – includes brushing and preparing the horse and the riding equipment (tack) for a patient, or taking off tack and caring for the horse after the session is complete. Special training for this task is provided.
Miscellaneous Duties – barn chores, greeting patients and their companions, preparing patients, tidying up, offering drinks, feeding horses and other animals, mucking stalls, and other duties.
Volunteer activities may include the following:
Sidewalking – walking beside a patient as they are mounted helping to ensure his or her safety and security. Sidewalkers are specially trained help with a loss of balance or emergency dismount.
Leading – guiding a specially trained horse before, during and after a patient is mounted, as per the therapist's directions. Volunteers undergo training to ensure their comfort and confidence in meeting and being around a horse prior to being assigned to this theory. Due to the nature of this task, it is preferred that a volunteer has horse experience for this role but it is not necessary, however, they must complete the training and demonstrate proficiency prior to becoming a leader.
Grooming and Tacking Up – includes brushing and preparing the horse and the riding equipment (tack) for a patient, or taking off tack and caring for the horse after the session is complete. Special training for this task is provided.
Miscellaneous Duties – barn chores, greeting patients and their companions, preparing patients, tidying up, offering drinks, feeding horses and other animals, mucking stalls, and other duties.