Volunteers

The Horses Unlimited, Inc. Therapeutic Horseback Riding Program is mostly run by volunteers and has since the beginning in 1994.

Allergic to horses...never fear, HUI has a place for you.   Some volunteers take an active part by being on the Board of Directors, some help with facility maintenance and repair, some are kept busy working on fundraisers; such as the Golf Tournament, Bowl-a-Thon, Ride-a-Thon—this year including a Plein Air Art Contest,  and also new this year, a horse training dressage/horse dancing clinic in conjunction with the “Stars in the Barn” performances.

But, in case you want to get right in there with your boots on, HUI needs riding instructors.  Not just any riding instructor, but someone willing to go through the PATH Intl./NARHA certification process of becoming a “specialist”.

HUI also needs volunteers that have the ability to work within a group of other talented   people to assist instructors with the lessons.  A “team” can consist of 1-4 volunteers per student,   depending on the needs of the student.  HUI provides training for each of these volunteers every spring.  A “team” volunteer is asked to commit to 8 consecutive one-hour blocks of time during a session; this allows a volunteer to match with a student/horse for each 8 week lesson session.
Training consists of horse safety, grooming, saddling, and bridling the horse; how to correctly fit a safety helmet for the student, and how to sidewalk (walk beside horse while student is mounted) with emphasis on  action to be taken in the event of an emergency.

HUI encourages growth in learning to be a volunteer, provides educational materials, and gives incentives to volunteers who wish to take on more responsibility.

Some volunteers have been with the program since the beginning.  HUI receives help from junior volunteers, high school and college students, adults, and the retired person looking to add purpose to their spare time.  Some of the HUI students have even become volunteers.  Documented volunteer time looks good on scholarship applications and resumes.

When the HUI volunteer hours increase, the program is able to add to the number of students they serve.