Category Archives: Volunteer

Gentle Giants Draft Horse Rescue Volunteer Opportunities

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Gentle Giants Draft Horse Rescue is a 501(c)(3) Non-Profit Equine Welfare Organization in Mt. Airy committed to saving draft and draft cross horses from slaughter, abuse, and neglect.

Our volunteer program is very hands-on!

Following an initial training period, you will be responsible for duties directly involved with the horses. On a typical day, you will be involved in real farm work such as feeding, haying, mucking, cleaning, turning in and out, farm maintenance, watering, and grooming horses.

Volunteers who consistently complete 20 hours per month may be eligible for riding privileges as well!

Learn more about becoming a volunteer→

Maryland Horse Rescue Volunteer Opportunities

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Maryland Horse Rescue is a certified 501 (c)(3) nonprofit horse rescue and rehabilitation facility located in Westminster, Maryland. We DO NOT sell horses, but facilitate the rescue, rehabilitation and rehoming of those animals in our care. We do have some blind residents, but strive to adopt out as many animals as possible to loving informed homes. We are 100% volunteer run and operate solely on donations. We specialize in the care of seniors and blind horses.

We can always use an extra set of hands to help with farm chores including loving our horses. Volunteer opportunities include: feeding and grooming horses, barn chores, facility maintenance, fundraising, administrative tasks and more!

Learn about volunteering at MHR→

Sophia’s Oasis For Equines Volunteer Opportunities

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“Sophia’s Oasis For Equines, Inc. (SOFE), is a 501(c)3 Non-Profit, equine welfare organization located in the State of Maryland.  We are dedicated to the rescue, rehabilitation and placement of equines in need; assisting equines in situations of neglect, abuse or the  threat of slaughter.  We are also dedicated to assisting other equine rescue organizations located in the tri-state area, New Jersey and Delaware to save equines from the slaughter pipeline.  Additionally, we desire to help the BLM mustangs whenever possible.  We are dedicated to educating the public regarding the standards of care required to maintain an equine as a riding partner and/or companion animal in a humane manner.”

Volunteering for a horse rescue can be both physically and emotionally difficult but the benefits far outweigh the challenges. Helping a horse go from near starvation to a happy, healthy home can be one of the most rewarding experiences of your life. And, the best part is you only need two things help, a big heart and a willingness to help.

Volunteering at SOFE is a wonderful family experience. Make it a family event!! All volunteers under the age of 18 must have a waiver formed signed by a parent or legal guardian.

Learn more about becoming a volunteer→

Great and Small Volunteer Opportunities

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Great and Small provides Equine-Assisted Activities and Therapies (EAAT) to children and adults of all ages affected by a range of physical, developmental, emotional, and learning disabilities. Through a supportive and therapeutic engagement with horses we strengthen and empower our riders, helping them develop their full potential.

Great and Small would not be successful without the help of our wonderful volunteers! We are always searching for more helping hands for various activities including working with our program participants, general barn chores, schooling the horses (experienced riders only), and participating in committees/special events.

Learn more about volunteering at Great and Small→

Lifeline Horse Rescue Volunteer Opportunities

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Lifeline Horse Rescue and Rehabilitation, Inc. is a volunteer-based equine welfare organization in Gaithersburg that serves as a community resource for connecting horses in need to people who can help them. We provide help for abused, neglected, and/or unwanted horses via rescue, rehabilitation, retraining, and rehoming.

In addition, we strive to prevent abuse and neglect through educational programs and community outreach. We also look to give back to the community by means of interaction with the rescued horses. The populations we aim to serve include underprivileged children, veterans, military, first responders, and victims of abuse.

Lifeline Horse Rescue is always looking for volunteers to help around the farm. We welcome groups for specific projects or individual volunteers in our basic horse care program. We are approved by Montgomery County Public Schools for Student Service Learning (SSL). Our volunteers may earn SSL hours, work toward an internship or honors project, gain experience working with large animals, or fulfill other community volunteer requirements.

Learn more about volunteering→

Greenwell Foundation Volunteer Opportunities

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Greenwell Foundation offers Southern Maryland’s most inclusive and flexible horseback riding programs (7 years old and up) and equine encounters for adults and children (5 years old and up).

Many of our riding instructors are Professional Association of Therapeutic Horsemanship International (PATH Intl.) certified and, in addition to traditional horseback riding lessons, summer camps, carriage rides and trail rides, we offer a wide range of therapeutic riding programs and equine-related activities for people of all ages and abilities.

Equestrian Program volunteer opportunities include:

  • In-Arena Volunteers- Side Walkers and Horse Leaders that work directly alongside our certified instructors.
  • Open Barn Volunteers- lead outreach opportunities, provide weekend activities, aid in facility maintenance, equine management, and assist with special projects.
Learn more about becoming a volunteer→

Safe Haven Equine Warriors Volunteer Opportunities

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Safe Haven Equine Warriors (SHEW) is a Maryland-based nonprofit, 501(c)(3) organization dedicated to the humane treatment of all equines. Our primary focus is to rescue, rehab, and re-home equines either suffering from abuse and neglect or those in imminent danger of slaughter, abuse, or neglect.

Interested in volunteering? We’d love to have you join us to make a difference in the lives of horses and the people who love them!

Learn more about volunteering at SHEW→

Star Equestrian Center Volunteer Opportunities

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STAR Equestrian Center serves abled and challenged riders in many types of equine activities. STAR is accredited through Certified Horsemanship Association (CHA) and is a Professional Association of Therapeutic Horsemanship International (PATH Intl.) operating center. As a full spectrum equine learning facility, our vision is to serve children and adults of all cognitive, physical, and social abilities. We strive to enhance quality of life by attending to the mind, body and spirit of each rider, volunteer and participant.​

Volunteers are the heart of STAR Equestrian Center! Without their dedication, loyalty and hard work, it would not be possible for us to fulfill our mission. While some of our volunteers have experience with horses or working with people with special needs, it is by no means a requirement. All of our volunteers, no matter their experience, attend an orientation to familiarize themselves with our safety and operational procedures. STAR Equestrian Center offers a wide range of volunteering opportunities, some of which require horse experience, but many do not. 

Learn more about becoming a volunteer→

The Big Purple Barn Volunteer Program

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The Big Purple Barn provides a permanent home with a lifetime of compassionate care for special needs horses, ponies, minis, as well as sheep, goats, and pigs. Our residents, in turn, provide opportunities in our community for people to make meaningful connections with our animals.

Providing attention and care for 15 equines, many of which have special needs, as well as pigs, goats, sheep and cats every day, is a critical task at the farm. That is why we developed a volunteer program.

Our volunteers are an invaluable part of our programs. Volunteers typically sign up to perform evening feed shifts which include feeding the horses, mucking of stalls and fields and weather appropriate tasks such as blanketing, bathing and trough scrubbing. Shifts typically occur in the late afternoon/early evening and last from 1 to 3 hours depending on the amount of volunteers assigned to a shift.

Many volunteers like to spend extra time with a special horse they connect with. The horses enjoy the additional treats, grooming and extra attention. We accept volunteers as young as 10 to work under supervision in the barn. No horse experience is required and we provide continual training.

Learn more about becoming a volunteer→

Talisman Therapeutic Riding Volunteer Opportunities

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Talisman Therapeutic Riding offers specialized programs year-round, six days a week. All instructors are PATH International Certified Trained Instructors. Therapists are Maryland Licensed. 

Talisman serves families from throughout Maryland, northern Virginia, Delaware and Washington DC. The popularity and diversity of our programs offers all with abilities and disabilities to find peace and healing.

We are small on staff and BIG ON VOLUNTEERISM. Volunteers are always needed and training is offered twice a month.

Learn more about volunteering at TTR→