Sunrise EquiTherapy relies on volunteers to make our program a success! The opportunities with the program are endless as there are so many facets to the program.

Volunteers are an integral part of the organization.

To become a volunteer you must participate in the Volunteer Training Workshop and Hands On activities completed at the facility where riding program is operating temporarily. The facility is located 1 1/2 miles South of HWY 2, on 176th St, more specific directions will be given the day of training. In addition you must complete the application form, be in good health, and commit to at least once a week with the same rider for a six week session (or more if you can), be on time and not be afraid to get dirty! You are not required to have extensive horse knowledge (unless you want to be a horse leader) or knowledge about various disabilities information will be made available to you prior to lessons.

High school students who need hours for their Citizenship Issues class can fulfill this requirement through our program. Internships are available to students from UNL and SECC.

Sidewalkers & General Volunteers: The primary duty is to assist the rider, under the direction of the therapist/instructor, with mounting and dismounting and balance.

You will be expected to assist the instructor with getting aids, charts and games set-up and riding equipment ready before the lesson. A Rider Protocol is available as a reference guide for equipment. You are responsible for putting items away after the lesson. Your input will be important as the instructor evaluates the session and plans for the following week.

Horse Leader: You must have additional training to secure this position. Horse knowledge and experience is required. Leading our horses during a lesson takes a different approach. Your attention is on the horse, but you must also listen carefully to the instructor, rider and sidewalkers, yes this is mental multi-tasking. You must be a good communicator to the horse and to humans!

Volunteers 12-13 years: There is a place for you until you are 14! You may not directly assist in the arena during a lesson, but you can help before and after. Stalls always need cleaning, manure dumped, buckets washed and filled, initial grooming, tack cleaning, arena watered down, equipment put out and put away in the appropriate place, etc! Also ,helping with fund raising events, horse shows, golf tournaments, and exhibition rides at various events.

Clerical Volunteers: If computers are your thing then your help is needed in maintaining current lists of our riders, volunteers, instructors, donors/potential donors. In addition we need people to work on the newsletter publication and maintain the newsletter mailing lists. Newsletters go out twice a year.

Fund Raising: Sunrise needs your help by assisting with developing and researching fund raising ideas and implementing the ideas. Chairing the fund raising events which can include advertising, recruiting volunteers, working with the media, securing sponsors, and the bottom line is raising money! This is your chance to be creative and secure funds for our ever growing program and our new facility.

If any of these jobs interest you, please apply! You can help to make the lives of those individuals with special needs a bit brighter. As a Sunrise EquiTherapy volunteer you can help “turn small steps into confident strides!”

Volunteer Application Form | Download

Volunteer Training Guide | Download