Volunteer

Volunteers play a vital and valued role in our work.

We pride ourselves in creating a relaxed and inclusive safe space for our clients, their parents and carers, our amazing volunteers and all visitors to the yard.

We do not tolerate bullying or any form of disrespect to people, animals or property.

Volunteer Roles

Volunteer roles at Horses Connect can be broadly divided into two categories.

SUPPORT ROLES include helping with events, fund-raising activities general yard work and other non-hands-on support positions.

HANDS-ON ROLES involve helping during Therapeutic Horse-riding sessions by preparing the horse and arena, leading the pony or acting as a side-walker during the session.

Hands-on roles also include general yard duties such as mucking out, sweeping, grooming etc. Hands-on roles involve a good level of physical fitness.

ALL ROLES require that you are friendly, calm, flexible and pleasant to have around.

Volunteers for hands-on roles will be trained in the preparation of the horse and arena, how to lead, how to side-walk and how to help the coach before, during and after a session. They will also be trained in general yard duties. Trainee volunteer leaders will be accompanied by an experienced leader until they are deemed confident and competent to lead on their own.

By law, volunteers working with children and/or vulnerable adults are required to hold a minimum Safeguarding 1 Certificate. Safeguarding 1 courses are help regularly online and can be found through www.eventbrite.ie.

Volunteers for hands-on roles are also be required to be Garda Vetted. If accepted for a volunteer role with Horses Connect that involves interacting with clients, you will be required to complete a Garda Vetting Form, which will be processed by relevant department.

ALL HANDS-ON VOLUNTEERS NEED TO BE PHYSICALLY FIT AND HAVE THEIR OWN TRANSPORT.

Horse experience preferred but not always essential.

All prospective volunteers undergo a trail period of varying duration.