Volunteer Riding Assistant

Volunteer Riding Assistant

Posted for Lambourn RDA (Riding for the Disabled Association)

Posted by Volunteer Centre West Berkshire

Register your interest

You will be redirected to the Volunteer Centre West Berkshire website to express your interest.

The principle activities include:

• Helping to prepare the horses/ponies for each riding or non-riding therapy session, which includes grooming, picking out hooves and then tacking up the horses and ponies.
• Once our participants have arrived for their riding session a volunteer will either be allocated as a leader or a side walker for a particular horse/pony and will stay with this horse/pony until the session is over. For our non-riding therapy, a volunteer will assist with the session as guided.
• Assisting with mounting and dismounting.
• When therapy sessions have finished for the day, the volunteer will help to untack and brush down the horse/pony and either turn them out in a paddock or return them to a stable as advised.

No previous experience is necessary as we will provide full training and support for volunteers.

Volunteers also get involved with various fundraising activities, which often take place at weekends, for example manning a stand at a local event. Fundraising also often involves baking cakes or cooking for events and all help is very gratefully received.

Our riding sessions are:

• Monday - 15.00 - 16.30
• Tuesday - 08.30 - 12.30
• Wednesday - 12.00 - 17.30
• Thursday - 09.00 - 12.00
• Saturday morning by agreement

There are also plenty of administration opportunities assisting the Chair of the Group with paperwork as well as helping to organise non-fundraising events, such as the volunteers Christmas and summer parties.

All our riding and non-riding therapy sessions take place at the following address: Manor Farm Stables, Chilton Foliat, Hungerford, RG17 0TJ. The stables are located on the B4192 heading out of the village of Chilton Foliat towards Ramsbury, which is a short distance from Hungerford and within easy reach of Junction 14 of the M4.

What skills do I need?

Experience of horses is useful but not required as we will provide full training and support for volunteers.

Most riding therapy sessions take place on a flat level surface, but for safety of our riders, a reasonable level of mobility is required to lead a horse or be a side walker. All riding and non-riding activity takes place outdoors.

We are looking for individuals who are personable and fun, and a good sense of humour definitely helps.

All volunteers have to be DBS checked in order to be accepted. A qualification in First Aid is helpful, but not essential. Volunteers must be aged over 14.