Opportunities From: Equest

This Group class features veterans as part of our Hooves for Heroes program. It is a 4-week commitment from June 1 through June 22.

Arrive at 6:00pm to assist in class as directed by the instructor. Volunteers will help riders pull tack and groom horses, assist in the arena according to each rider's abilities and skills, and then help untack and care for the horse after class. Finally, volunteers will work with the instructor and riders to replenish hay and water for the horses in the barn at the end of the evening.  The class will finish approx. 8:00pm.

MUST be certified Blue Star or Gold Star leaders

This class will meet for 2 hours each day from Monday, July 13 through Friday, July 17.

Volunteers will arrive approximately 7:45am to groom and tack horses, assist in camp activities as directed, and finish approx. 11:00am.  

This class will meet for 2 hours each day from Monday, July 6 through Friday, July 10.

Volunteers will arrive approximately 7:45am to groom and tack horses, assist in camp activities as directed, and finish approx. 11:00am.  

There are two group classes scheduled for this time and each will meet for 4 weeks from June 6 through June 27.  

Volunteers will arrive approximately 11:15am to groom and tack the horse, assist in class as directed, take care of the horse and tack afterwards, and finish approx. 1:15pm.  

This class will meet for 4 weeks from June 6 through June 27.  

Volunteers will arrive approximately 10:15am to groom and tack the horse, assist in class as directed, take care of the horse and tack afterwards, and finish approx. 12:15pm 

This class will meet for 4 weeks from June 6 through June 27.

The volunteers will arrive at 11:15am to assist in class as directed and finish approx. 12:15pm

SPANISH speaking volunteers are needed!

This class will meet for 4 weeks from June 6 through June 27.  

Volunteers will arrive approximately 9:15am to groom and tack the horse, assist in class as directed, take care of the horse and tack afterwards, and finish approx. 11:15am.  

This class will meet for 4 weeks from June 6 through June 27.

Volunteers will arrive approximately 9:15am to groom and tack the horse, assist in class as directed, take care of the horse and tack afterwards, and finish approx. 11:15am.  

This class will meet for 4 weeks from June 6 through June 27.  

Volunteers will arrive approximately 8:15am to groom and tack the horse, assist in class as directed, take care of the horse and tack afterwards, and finish approx. 10:15am.  

The Interactive Vaulting class is a 4-week commitment from June 6 through June 27.

Interactive vaulting is an activity in which participants work together to perform movements on and around the horse while it is stationary as well as in motion. Some work may be done on a vaulting barrel as well. Volunteers may participate at times in the activities with the clients and should be comfortable energetically walking or running during class. 

Arrive at 8:00am to help prepare the horse and the arena for class, assist in class as directed, help take care of the horse and equipment after class, finish approx. 10:15am.

This class will meet for 4 weeks from June 6 through June 27.  

Volunteers will arrive approximately 7:15am to groom and tack the horse, assist in class as directed, take care of the horse and tack afterwards, and finish approx. 9:15am.  

This class will meet for 4 weeks from June 6 through June 27.  

Volunteers will arrive approximately 7:15am to groom and tack the horse, assist in class as directed, take care of the horse and tack afterwards, and finish approx. 9:15am.  

This class will meet for 3 weeks from June 5 through June 26. NO CLASS JUNE 19  

Volunteers will arrive approximately 11:15am to groom and tack the horses, assist in class as directed, take care of the horses and tack afterwards, and finish approx. 1:15pm. 

There are two semi-private classes scheduled for this time. Each class will meet for 3 weeks from June 5 through June 26. NO CLASS JUNE 19

 Volunteers will arrive approximately 10:15am to groom and tack the horses, assist in class as directed, take care of the horses and tack afterwards, and finish approx. 12:15pm.  

This class will meet for 3 weeks from June 5 through June 26.  NO CLASS JUNE 19.

Volunteers will arrive approximately 7:15am to groom and tack the horse, assist in class as directed, take care of the horse and tack afterwards, and finish approx. 9:15am.  

This class will meet for 3 weeks from June 5 through June 26.  NO CLASS JUNE 19

Volunteers will arrive approximately 8:15am to groom and tack the horses, assist in class as directed, take care of the horses and tack afterwards, and finish approx. 11:15am.  

This class will meet for 3 weeks from June 5 through June 26.  NO CLASS JUNE 19.

Volunteers will arrive approximately 7:15am to groom and tack the horse, assist in class as directed, take care of the horse and tack afterwards, and finish approx. 9:15am.  

This class will meet for 3 weeks from June 5 through June 26.  NO CLASS ON JUNE 19!

Volunteers will arrive approximately 7:15am to groom and tack the horse, assist in class as directed, take care of the horse and tack afterwards, and finish approx. 9:15am.  

This class will meet for 4 weeks from June 4 through June 25. 

Volunteers will arrive approximately 6:15pm to groom and tack the horses, assist in class as directed, take care of the horses and tack afterwards, and finish approx. 8:15pm.

This class will meet for 4 weeks from June 4 through June 25.

The volunteers will arrive at 6:00pm to assist in class as directed and finish approx. 7:00pm

This class will meet for 4 weeks from June 4 through June 25. 

Volunteers will arrive approximately 5:15pm to groom and tack the horses, assist in class as directed, take care of the horses and tack afterwards, and finish approx. 7:15pm.

This class will meet for 4 weeks from June 4 through June 25.  

Volunteers will arrive approximately 10:15am to groom and tack the horse, assist in class as directed, take care of the horse and tack afterwards, and finish approx. 12:15pm.  

This class will meet for 4 weeks from June 4 through June 25.  

Volunteers will arrive approximately 10:15am to groom and tack the horses, assist in class as directed, take care of the horses and tack afterwards, and finish approx. 12:15pm.  

This class will meet for 4 weeks from June 4 through June 25.  

Volunteers will arrive approximately 9:15am to groom and tack the horse, assist in class as directed, take care of the horse and tack afterwards, and finish approx. 11:15am.  

There are 2 semi-private classes scheduled at this time and each class will meet for 4 weeks from June 4 through June 25.  

Volunteers will arrive approximately 8:15am to groom and tack the horse, assist in class as directed, take care of the horse and tack afterwards, and finish approx. 10:15am.  

This class will meet for 4 weeks from June 4 through June 25.

Volunteers will arrive approximately 7:15am to groom and tack the horse, assist in class as directed, take care of the horse and tack afterwards, and finish approx. 9:15am.  

This class will meet for 4 weeks from June 4 through June 25.  

Volunteers will arrive approximately 7:15am to groom and tack the horse, assist in class as directed, take care of the horse and tack afterwards, and finish approx. 9:15am.  

There are 2 semi-private classes scheduled at this time and each class will meet for 4 weeks from June 3 through June 24.  

Volunteers will arrive approximately 5:15pm to groom and tack the horses, assist in class as directed, take care of the horses and tack afterwards, and finish approx. 7:15pm.  

We could use a Spanish speaking volunteer in one of these classes!

This class will meet for 4 weeks from June 3 through June 24.

Volunteers will arrive approximately 11:15am to groom and tack horses, assist in class as directed, take care of the horses and tack afterwards, and finish approx. 1:15pm.  

This class will meet for 4 weeks from June 3 through June 24.

The volunteers will arrive at 12noon to assist in class as directed and finish approx. 1:00pm

SPANISH speaking volunteers are needed!

This class will meet for 4 weeks from June 3 through June 25.

Volunteers will arrive approximately 10:15am to groom and tack horses, assist in class as directed, take care of the horses and tack afterwards, and finish approx. 12:15pm.  

This class will meet for 4 weeks from June 3 through June 24.

Volunteers will arrive approximately 9:15am to groom and tack horses, assist in class as directed, take care of the horses and tack afterwards, and finish approx. 11:15am.  

This class will meet for 4 weeks from June 3 through June 24.

Volunteers will arrive approximately 9:15am to groom and tack horses, assist in class as directed, take care of the horses and tack afterwards, and finish approx. 11:15am.  

This class will meet for 4 weeks from June 3 through June 24.

Volunteers will arrive approximately 8:15am to groom and tack horses, assist in class as directed, take care of the horses and tack afterwards, and finish approx. 10:15am.  

This class will meet for 4 weeks from June 3 through June 24.

Volunteers will arrive approximately 7:15am to groom and tack, assist in class as directed, take care of the horse and tack afterwards, and finish approx. 9:15am.  

This class will meet for 4 weeks from June 3 through June 24.  

Volunteers will arrive approximately 7:15am to groom and tack the horse, assist in class as directed, take care of the horse and tack afterwards, and finish approx. 9:15am.  

This class will meet for 4 weeks from June 2 through June 23. Volunteers will arrive approximately 6:15pm to groom and tack horses, assist in class as directed, take care of the horses and tack afterwards, and finish approx. 8:15pm 

This class will meet for 4 weeks from June 2 through June 23. Volunteers will arrive approximately 5:15pm to groom and tack horses, assist in class as directed, take care of the horses and tack afterwards, and finish approx. 7:15pm 

This class will meet for 4 weeks from June 2 through June 23. Volunteers will arrive approximately 11:15am to groom and tack horses, assist in class as directed, take care of the horses and tack afterwards, and finish approx. 1:15pm.  

This class will meet for 4 weeks from June 2 through June 23. Volunteers will arrive approximately 10:15am to groom and tack horses, assist in class as directed, take care of the horses and tack afterwards, and finish approx. 12:15am.  

This class will meet for 4 weeks from June 2 through June 23. 

Volunteers will arrive approximately 9:15am to groom and tack the horse, assist in class as directed, take care of the horse and tack afterwards, and finish approx. 11:15am.  

This class will meet for 4 weeks from June 2 through June 23. Volunteers will arrive approximately 9:15am to groom and tack horses, assist in class as directed, take care of the horses and tack afterwards, and finish approx. 11:15am.  

This class will meet for 4 weeks from June 2 through June 23. Volunteers will arrive approximately 8:15am to groom and tack horses, assist in class as directed, take care of the horses and tack afterwards, and finish approx. 10:15am.  

This semi-private class will meet for 4 weeks from June 2 through June 23.

Volunteers will arrive approximately 7:15am to groom and tack the horse, assist in class as directed, take care of the horse and tack afterwards, and finish approx. 9:15am.  

Summer 2026 Session

The Interactive Vaulting class is a 4-week commitment from June 2 through June 23.

Interactive vaulting is an activity in which participants work together to perform movements on and around the horse while it is stationary as well as in motion. Some work may be done on a vaulting barrel as well. Volunteers may participate at times in the activities with the clients and should be comfortable energetically walking or running during class. 

This class is in the arena for approximately 1 hour and 45 minutes. Arrive at 8:00am to help prepare the horse and the arena for class, assist in class as directed, help take care of the horse and equipment after class, finish approx. 10:30am.

Volunteer Process

*Program Volunteer opportunities are available for those 14 and older.

* If you are age 12 or 13, you can work in the barn, but you must have a parent or guardian come work with you initially. It is not required, but it is encouraged that you attend training. Both you and your parent or guardian must complete applications and call to schedule a brief orientation and volunteer times. If you are 13 and very horse-experienced, you may be able to volunteer on your own as a Program Volunteer with a written letter of recommendation from your trainer or barn manager.

NOTE: Please park ONLY in the Equest parking areas - NOT the first lot closer to River Ranch. See map below. 

Our literacy program encourages first graders to develop their reading skills by including the miniature horses as active participants. A highlight of this Equine Assisted Learning program is a field trip to Equest where students interact with the horses and participate in various activities. 

Volunteers help at Equest with each 2-hour field trip by assisting small groups of students to participate in various activities, including hands-on, unmounted activities with the horses and a craft project. 

This opportunity is for all the gardeners and landscaping lovers! If you want to help maintain our flower beds and/or help with tree trimming, lawn/pasture mowing, and other landscaping tasks, this is the perfect choice for you.

Outdoor clothing appropriate for the weather, work gloves, and footwear appropriate for the environment (eg., work boots for lawn mowing, sneakers for the flower beds.) Bring your sunscreen, bug repellant, and water bottle. 

Seasoned volunteers who help with volunteer training can record hours under this opportunity. This includes scheduled volunteer training events as well as individually scheduled make-up trainings.

Special events include fund raising events, our Annul Gala, the WAUX luncheon, and any other community focused event. 

Volunteers help with riders/clients and horses at a variety of competitions both on-site at Equest and off-site at regional and national locations. This includes (but is not limited to) Chisholm Challenge, Special Olympics Equestrian Games, and the Annual Spring Horse Show. 

Individually scheduled help with office tasks such as data entry, mailings, filing, etc.

This includes randomly scheduled program-related activities that are not classes.

This is the first of two leading-specific training opportunities for Equest Volunteers who have completed the initial Volunteer Training.

Blue Star Leader Training introduces you to the skills needed to lead our horses successfully in lessons. The initial training is approximately 2 hours and follow up sessions are approximately 1 hour each to allow you to practice on the variety of equine personalities in our herd. Blue Star leading skills include leading the horse at the walk and trot, standing square, leading through the mounting block, emergency situations, etc.

Prerequisite: Complete the initial volunteer training

Requirements: Attend the introductory meeting which is the first date on the schedule. Then attend 3 to 4 of the scheduled follow up trainings to practice and confirm your skills. Follow up trainings are offered on Tuesdays (4pm to 5pm) and Saturdays (3pm to 4pm).

Barn help involves maintaining the cleanliness, orderliness, and function of the barn as well as individual horse stalls, paddocks, and arenas.

Activities include mucking stalls, cleaning water buckets, feeding and haying the therapy horse herd, sweeping the barn aisles, cleaning out the cross ties and wash stalls, turning out and bringing in the horses from paddocks, and assisting the facilities manager with subsequent projects or tasks.

This role is perfect for those with varying schedules, or prefer taking care of the horses.

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Barn helpers are needed seven days a week, especially on holidays. Each day, barn work begins at 7am, and continues until the lunch break at noon. Work continues at 1pm and ends around 3pm, depending on what needs to be finished. Come help in the morning or all day!

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Barn helpers do not need to schedule work hours, but are welcome to help when their schedule permits.