Because you cared. . . People with many different disabilities can come to ride and enjoy the horses and animals at the Carousel Center. Volunteers, riders and families interact and find the true beauty and strength of spirit in each other. A group of wonderful, talented horses can enjoy gentle work and lots of love despite advancing years. The dream, started with a child named Steven, a grand old horse named Carousel, and a talented rider from Denmark named Brita Anderson, is a reality. Thank you from the riders, vounteers and horses of Carousel Riding Center. Carol Wooley, Director
Volunteers are needed to take an active part in making the program work. Some riders may need as many as three volunteers to assist them during the lesson. Volunteers who would like to work in the ring with the riders need not be "horse people". However, volunteers should like horses, show no fear and be willing to follow through on procedures and techniques requested by the instructor following a training session.
Helpful CharacteristicsReliability: Attendance on assigned date is essential to the smooth operation of the program. Provision of a suitable substitute is appreciated when absence cannot be avoided.
Punctuality: It is helpful to arrive at least 10 minutes prior to your assigned starting time. Late arrivals can be very frustrating for the instructor and riders.
Physical Fitness: Be prepared for a lot of walking in deep sand.
Relaxed: Stay cool, calm and collected. An anxious volunteer can make a nervous rider and a tense mount.
Alertness and Anticipation: Despite an outward appearance of relaxation and calmness, always be ready for the unexpected.
Empathetic: Avoid pity and false sentimentality. Freely express your caring and understanding in an appropriate manner.
Horse Knowledge: Knowledge of horses is an advantage. However, a willingness to learn and acquire new knowledge and skills is encouraged.
Patience: Endless patience is required to adjust to the often slow movements and progress of the riders.
Sensible and Comfortable Clothing: Good sturdy walking shoes or boots are essential.
Leader: The person to handle the mount during mounted instruction for those people who can not control their own horses. It is a very important position.
SideWalkers:These people walk beside the horses and may or may not have a hand on the rider
Feeders: People to help both in the AM and the PM and willing to make a commitment to come on certain days to help feed, the horses eat twice daily and it generally takes an hour to do the feeding, haying and watering.
Stall Muckers: Once a day the stalls need to be picked out and shavings added if needed. It generally takes about an hour a day, sometimes a little longer. We need people that will commit to come and show up, even though this job is not that fun.
Grant Writers: We need people to help us contact major companies and the smaller ones and work on gettings grants, sponsorships and donations.
Fund Raising Chairman: We are in desperate need of getting some strong fundraising going on. There is just too much to do and too little time, would you be willing to help?