GallopNYC offers therapeutic horsemanship programs to children and adults with disabilities, including Veterans and at-risk youth.
Therapeutic horsemanship teaches the skills of horseback riding and horse knowledge to build developmental, emotional, social, and physical skills for each individual rider. Under the direction of a PATH International certi?ed instructor, supported by trained volunteers, each rider progressively acquires riding skills and measurable improvements in life skills.
Through weekly sessions, we help riders walk, talk, learn and have FUN! Volunteers play a very important role in our therapeutic riding lessons. In fact, we can't have lessons without you. New volunteers support our riders during therapeutic riding lessons by walking alongside the horse and supporting the riders and leading our horses. Experienced volunteers can support our therapeutic riding programs by becoming Site Leaders or Paddock Masters.
Volunteer requirements
- Age 16+ or by instructor permission
- Ability to stand and walk for an extended period (at least 30-minute intervals)
- Ability to brie?y jog with the horse and rider
Volunteer Duties
- Side-Walking: Assist the instructor during therapeutic riding sessions by working directly with the riders. Act as an intermediary between the rider and instructor by assisting the rider in carrying out the instructor’s directions.
- Help prepare riders for lessons
- Assist with rider support during mounting and dismounting
- Walk (and jog) next to the rider throughout the class and provide physical support as necessary
- Help the rider follow directions given by the instructor
- Lead- Walking: Lead horses during therapeutic riding classes, working with a group of side-walkers, keeping the primary focus on the assigned horse (and not the rider) while maintaining communication with the team.
- Executes directions of the instructor during therapeutic riding sessions
- Depending on the site, will bring horses in and out of the arena
