2015-2018 Program Volunteers

Volunteers are the heart of Pegasus. Without their dedication, loyalty and hard work, it would not be possible for us to fulfill our mission. There are many individual reasons why people volunteer with us, but all provide the chance to join a thriving, nurturing community whose goal is to positively impact the lives of as many people with needs as possible.

Pegasus offers a wide range of volunteering opportunities. Some require horse experience, but many do not. All we need is your willingness to give of yourself and commit your time. Volunteer opportunities include:
 

Program Volunteers: assist by leading horses or walking beside students (sidewalking) during classes. Horse leaders need a general knowledge of horses. Horse leaders may assist in preparing horses for classes (grooming and tacking) and are responsible for leading horses during class. Sidewalkers do not need horse experience. They are responsible for communicating with the students and offering them physical and emotional support. Program volunteers should be willing to commit to the same day and time each week and are required to attend our introductory volunteer orientation and training session.

Barn/Equine Volunteers: assist with general barn chores and work directly with barn staff to care for the horses and get them ready for program (grooming and tacking). These volunteers should be willing to commit to a specified, consistent period of time each week. Riding volunteers are experienced riders who have passed an evaluation qualifying them to help us school and exercise our horses when they are not working in program.

Rider's Closet Volunteers: In 2010, Pegasus assumed management of The Rider's Closet, Georgina Bloomberg's charitable clothing exchange program. The Rider's Closet accepts new or gently used equestrian apparel and sends it to pony clubs, therapeutic riding centers, scholastic teams and individual riders in need. Volunteers for The Rider's Closet assist with processing clothing donations and fulfilling requests from all around the country. No prior experience is required, but the work does involve some light physical labor. These volunteers should be willing to commit to a specified, consistent period of time each week and are required to attend our introductory volunteer orientation and training session.

Farm/Facilities Volunteers: help with general maintenance, repairs and improvements of the facility, including fence repair, manure management, gardening and trail maintenance. They are required to attend our introductory volunteer orientation and training session prior to beginning their work.

Other Volunteer Opportunities: on an as-needed basis, Pegasus also requires volunteer help with special events, administrative tasks and skilled work such as carpentry, sewing and photography. Depending on the scope of the task(s), special-assignment volunteers may be asked to attend our introductory volunteer orientation and training session prior to beginning their work.

Corporate and Civic Volunteer Groups: Pegasus is very fortunate to partner with many corporate and civic groups seeking a meaningful volunteering experience. We welcome the help of local organizations and can assure you your efforts will have a lasting impact on the lives of hundreds of deserving students. Most group volunteer efforts involve farm projects that we design to enhance our students' therapeutic experience, benefit our therapeutic horses or help us maintain a safe and beautiful environment at Pegasus Farm. We are also open to discussing other project ideas with your group. Click here for a current list of group projects with which we could use your help.

Youth Projects Volunteers: As a PATH International Premier Accredited Center, we are required to follow certain guidelines regarding youth volunteers under the age of 14. While they are not permitted to assist in the barn or in program, there are other ways they can help and also fulfill the requirements of their school or religious projects. 
 

Helping Hands Volunteers: Pegasus is often contacted by schools regarding volunteer opportunities for students in their vocational or special education programs. We created the Helping Hands volunteer program with this goal in mind.