VOLUNTEER WITH US!
If you would like to volunteer, please fill out our Volunteer Application and email it to us at info@13handsequine.org. We will contact you and schedule you for the next orientation program.
Who may volunteer?
If you are willing to give your time in exchange for a rewarding and fun experience, we would love to have you. Can you make a commitment of at least 4 days per month? This is a general guideline for the minimum amount of time you should be able to commit to. We need reliable and consistent support. We need to rely on your commitment so that we can staff all the chores we need to complete. This is a guideline, not a rule. It is up to you to determine if you are able to make a consistent commitment. It is also extremely helpful if you can pick a day/days and stick to it. You must be 18 years of age to volunteer.
Note: You would still need to sign up on “Sign Up Genius” below. Can I help out during the summer?
Community Service Work: We love to have students join us to fulfill community service hours, but this is approved on an individual basis and dependent on the applicant’s horse experience. Minors have to be accompanied by a parent or guardian at all times.
How do I become a volunteer?
Please complete a Volunteer Application (link at top of page). After completing the forms contained in the application packet, please scan and email the completed forms to info@13handsequine.org. We will review your application and contact you to schedule an orientation at the farm. We ask that no one comes to the farm without a prior scheduled appointment. There is a $30.00 processing fee/donation to participate. This fee is due prior to attending our orientation via a check, Zelle (bank to bank transaction using the telephone number 914-325-4941) or PayPal to 13handsequine@gmail.com. This helps us offset the administrative fees associated with processing your application.
After attending a volunteer orientation session, you may schedule your volunteer dates. Use Sign-Up Genius to schedule the dates you will be coming. This allows us to plan for coverage and special projects. If you can come the same day each week that is helpful to us, but not a prerequisite. However, you MUST attend an orientation session prior to signing up or volunteering.
SIGN-UP GENIUS IS BACK IN USE AS THE WAY TO SIGN UP FOR VOLUNTEER TIMES.
I have horse experience. Do I need to attend an orientation session?
Yes, everyone, regardless of experience, must attend an orientation session. You will be able to ask any questions you might have, receive a full tour of our facility, meet our horses and learn about the day-to-day chores.
Do I need previous horse experience?
Horse experience is highly recommended to volunteer here.
Inherent Risk
Seems like a good time to mention this. Many people who volunteer or have children that want to volunteer may not have any horse experience. There are risks associated with working with any animal. Horses are no different. Because of their size, you could potentially be severely hurt if you do not follow all safety rules. While we are very careful, just being on the property has associated risks. Horses are generally very peaceful, but have a strong “fight or flight” instinct. Please read and understand all our rules & regulations and ask one of us if you aren’t sure of something. Never go into a paddock or stall with a horse you do not know. Never do this unless you are authorized.
What is covered in the volunteer training orientation sessions?
- History of 13 Hands Equine Rescue, Inc.
- Volunteer policies and procedures
- Safety rules & regulations
- Any of your questions
When do you need volunteers?
Our needs are year-round. We are open 7 days a week. Our day starts at 8:00 a.m. and during the summer months it ends around 6 or 7pm. When completing the volunteer application packet, please be as specific as you can about your availability. That’s when we feed the horses, turn them out and/or bring them back in for the night.
What is the commitment to volunteer?
We ask that you commit at least 4 days per month to volunteer (once a week). Click through to our SignUpGenius at the bottom of the page to see our Volunteer Schedule and sign up for days and times that fit your schedule. SIGN-UP GENIUS IS THE WAY TO SIGN UP FOR VOLUNTEER TIMES.
*Please note that all NEW volunteers must attend orientation prior to their first visit. To be scheduled for orientation, fill out and submit the volunteer application.
Please try to stick to a minimum of 4 hours per visit so that we can plan any projects appropriately. The busy times are 8 am and around 4 pm. Please do not plan on arriving between 12 noon and 1:00 pm as we do try to take a lunch break.
What will I be doing?
If you choose to work with the horses, you will be be doing farm chores. This involves cleaning out stalls, filling water buckets, giving out hay/grain, scooping poop, etc. It’s physical work and it’s hard. It’s also extremely rewarding. We ask that for your first 30 days you do not handle a horse unless you are supervised. There is so much to do without exposing you to a 1000 lbs animal if you are not familiar with them. There will be some bonding time with the horses as you progress. Sometimes it’s as simple as socializing a very scared horse, or leading a horse from one place to another. We do not want you to do any of that until you are familiar with our horses. There are other opportunities to volunteer with us, read on to find out about them.
Can I ride?
We do not ride the horses at 13 Hands, except for training purposes. These are rescue horses and we are not familiar with their backgrounds. If you are a trainer and are interested in volunteering your time training, please send your work qualifications on the application.
Why volunteer?
Aside from being fun, volunteering provides the opportunity to receive rewarding personal experiences, fulfill community service requirements, learn new things, engage in good exercise and even develop lifelong friendships.
What other volunteer opportunities are there at 13 Hands?
There are certain skills that we always need:
- Fundraising
- Administration
- PR & Marketing
- Events
- Grant Writing
- Newsletter
- Quarterly Volunteer Meetings
We have great opportunities for volunteers all the time. We need your help with our events, organizing our Spring Help a Horse Day, coordinating fundraising, helping at our Information Tables at the summer farmers’ markets, creating communications, and so much more. Volunteers are what make our events possible! Please let us know if you are interested in helping us with any of the following: Public Relations, Marketing, Event Planning, Fundraising, Grant Writing, Education, and Operations. You can indicate your areas of interest in the Volunteer Application.
Please download the Volunteer Application to print and complete. Please email the completed forms to us at info@13handsequine.org. We will schedule you for the next available orientation meeting. We look forward to meeting you and hearing about your interests in volunteering. We’ll be in touch with you shortly. Thank you for your interest!