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Sebastian
Volunteers are the Best!
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Volunteers are the backbone of Sebastian's program. Therapeutic riding is extremely labor
intensive and SRA depends largely on community and family volunteers to conduct safe and
enjoyable lessons. Like our students, our helpers
come in all shapes and sizes, with diverse backgrounds and experience.
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Under the supervision of SRA instructors, volunteers
assist in lessons, care for
program horses, and help with special events. Our volunteers help students groom and tack,
lead a horse through a lesson, or walk alongside a horse and rider.
Though many volunteers have previous experience with horses or working with
people with disabilities, no experience is required. What we value most in our
volunteers is dependability, the desire to learn and pitch in as part of a
team.
Sebastian volunteers must be a mature 13 years
old and able to work with minimal supervision. We ask that our volunteers select
a day and time each week or every other week when they can come regularly and
give us a couple of hours. Our regular volunteers get to know our students, our
horses and staff, and become valuable members of our team.
We conduct Volunteer Orientation & Training sessions every 6-8 weeks and require that interested volunteers attend.
Person-power permitting, staff and seasoned volunteers will provide on-the-job
training during the sessions.
Sebastian Riding Associates Volunteer
Handbook
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What Have I Gotten Myself Into
By Bonnie Stevens
"It’s a funny thing.
When I started volunteering at Sebastian Riding Associates, I thought of it as
the opportunity to “give something back” to the community. Reflecting on this
thought more than a decade later, I am struck by the realization that my life
has been so deeply enriched during my time at Sebastian that I have no hope of
ever giving as much as I have received.
I have shoveled manure with some of the finest people I have ever known. Staff personnel have
always made the time to patiently explain everything from horse behavior to
stable management. I’ve met parents and children who struggle daily against
great odds and who face unclear futures head on—and I’ve seen the miracle that
occurs when these children proudly ride out into the arena. The parade of horses
that has patiently and faithfully carried Sebastian riders over the years has
left its hoofprint on my heart.
When I leave at the
end of the day, I am tired in body and rejuvenated in spirit by the honor of
another day spent volunteering at Sebastian Riding
Associates."
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| Lend a Helping Hand
We LOVE our volunteers. If you're interested in joining the Sebastian team, give us a call at (610) 489-3741
and come visit us!
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