Make your day special... volunteer!

As a Special Equestrians volunteer, you do so much more than donate your time. You become an important part of a caring team dedicated to helping people in need.

We love our volunteers! Our riding center requires as many as 100 volunteers each week to help us achieve our mission, whether it’s working assisting students and horses in lessons, working around the barn, helping with special events or providing administrative support. No prior experience with horses is necessary.

Get Credit

Special Equestrians has a limited number of slots available each year for students completing graduation requirements, and we welcome large groups of businesses and community groups to assist with special projects. However, we are not able to accept volunteers needing to complete court-appointed community service hours.

Clearances Required

Please note that all volunteers must be at least 14 years old (for insurance reasons), and are required by Pennsylvania law to obtain Child Abuse History Clearance and a PA Criminal History report. Additionally, volunteers over the age of 18 who have lived outside of the state of Pennsylvania for more than 10 years also require FBI fingerprinting.

Here’s How To Start

Ready to begin the process? Click on the link below to find information on how to proceed, our Volunteer Manual and all the necessary forms. We use VolunteerLocal, a user-friendly volunteer management platform that is also a scheduling app.

When You Are Approved

Once you meet all application requirements, our Program Director will contact you with your assignment. If you’re working in the barn or helping with lessons, you’ll be pared with a senior volunteer and staff member for on-the-job training during your first few visits. Training clinics will also be offered periodically to provide you with more specialized information as well as an opportunity to meet other volunteers. Join us!

Onboard Checklist

Special Equestrians is always bustling with different activities, to ensure that all volunteers are properly incorporated into the Special Equestrians routine we have provided our Volunteer Onboarding Checklist as follows:

  • You have completed a Volunteer Application via VolunteerLocal, all required clearances have been uploaded.

  • You have acknowledged and read through the Special Equestrians Volunteer Manual.

  • You will receive a “Voluntour” of the facility from the Program Director/Volunteer Coordinator.

  • Upon arriving on your first scheduled shift, please sign in on your personal sheet in the volunteer lounge.

  • Then please check in with barn staff and they will assign you your mentor volunteer or staff member that will help walk you through everything.

  • Please take your time and get acquainted with everything. It is usually a good idea to shadow your mentor as they lead horses in/out, clean stalls, groom, and etc.

  • If interested in participating in a volunteer lesson role, you MUST attend a volunteer training clinic that reviews leading, side-walking, grooming, and tacking once a year.

  • To be a mentor volunteer, you must have been volunteering with Special Equestrians for at least 6 months and have attended a mandatory volunteer training clinic.

  • Review Emergency procedures can be found posted throughout the barn.

  • Review SE Barn Rules can be found posted throughout the barn.

  • Abide by rules and policies that are posted throughout the barn, including notices on staff only horses.

  • And please ask any questions! We are all willing to teach and love when you take the initiative and ask questions.