Opportunities From: iVolunteer Powered by United Way British Columbia

Side Walkers ensure the safety, confidence, and engagement of riders during lessons, helping them participate fully in therapeutic riding while supporting their physical, emotional, and cognitive goals under the guidance of the instructor. 
 
As a Side Walker, will be directly supporting individuals with disabilities or barriers to experience the joy and benefits of therapeutic riding, helping them improve strength, confidence, and independence while ensuring their safety. You will witness the small victories—a rider sitting taller, saying a new word, or smiling as they connect with their horse. 

No experience required– all training will be provided. Experience is an asset.  
This is the right role for you if you are someone who: 

Enjoys helping others and want to make a meaningful difference in someone’s day. 

Is patient, kind, and encouraging, with a calm presence. 

Is interested in therapy, adaptive recreation, or healthcare and would like firsthand experience in a therapeutic setting. 

Is comfortable walking for 30 minutes, jogging short distances, and supporting others physically as needed. 

Is comfortable around animals or open to learning, even if you do not have horse experience. 

Is reliable and can follow direction while staying focused on safety. 

Enjoys being part of a team working toward a shared purpose. 

Side riders will: 

Ensure the safety of riders while mounted. 

Greet riders when they arrive until instructor and horse are ready. 

Walk alongside the riders to ensure safety. 

Help facilitate the lesson under the guidance of the instructor.  

Take direction from the instructor. 

Demonstrate or help the riders with specific tasks 

Help mounting and dismounting of riders from the horse 

Be safety conscious at all times. 

Horse Groomer/Tack-er ensures our therapy horses are prepared, comfortable, and looking professional for their riders, supporting the smooth, safe, and joyful operation of our therapeutic riding lessons. This role is essential in keeping our program horses happy, healthy, and ready to help our riders achieve their goals. 
 
By volunteering as a Groomer/Tack-er Upper, you are directly contributing to the physical and emotional well-being of our therapy horses, who in turn help our riders build strength, confidence, and connection. Your care ensures that horses are calm, comfortable, and ready to provide the best possible experience for riders with disabilities or barriers. 

No experience required– all training will be provided. Experience is an asset.  
This is the right role for you if you are someone who: 

Loves horses or animals and enjoy spending time caring for them. 

Is interested in the world of equine therapy and want to learn more about how horses help people. 

Is detail-oriented and care about doing things “the right way.” 

Is reliable and can arrive on time, ready to work with purpose. 

Can enjoy quiet moments grooming horses as well as working alongside others in a team environment. 

Is looking to build practical horse skills while making a difference in people’s lives. 

This role is ideal for people looking for meaningful volunteer hours, horse lovers looking for more experience, or anyone interested in the field of therapy and wanting to be part of a supportive barn community. 
 
As a Horse Groomer/Tacker you are vital in keeping our program horses happy and take the utmost attentive care when grooming them a certain way and tacking them up the ‘KTRA way’ especially with girths/cinches. 
A horse Groomer/Tack-er will: 

Be responsible for catching, grooming, and tacking the horse before the rider arrives. 

Ensure the horse is ready 15 mins before their lesson starts so that Horse Leaders can warm them up.  

Warm up a horse and assist with mounting or dismounting if needed.  

After lesson untacking, and horse care 

Barn cleaning and management 

Horse Leaders ensure the safe, confident, and professional handling of our therapy horses during lessons, creating a secure environment for riders to develop their skills, independence, and connection with the horse while ensuring the horse’s well-being throughout each session. 

As a Horse Leader, you are directly impacting the lives of children and adults with disabilities or barriers, enabling them to experience the therapeutic benefits of horseback riding. You will see firsthand how your calm leadership helps a child sit taller, smile wider, or say their first words during a ride. 

Volunteers with horse experience are preferred for this position, however, horse leader training is available for volunteers wishing to learn and move into this role. 

This is the right role for you if you are someone who: 

Is comfortable around horses and either has horse experience or is eager to learn. 

Enjoys working as part of a team in a purposeful, outdoor environment. 

Are calm, observant, and safety-conscious, able to focus fully on the horse and the rider’s needs. 

Is interested in equine therapy, adaptive recreation, or the healthcare field and want firsthand experience in a therapy-focused barn. 

Is comfortable walking for 30 minutes, jogging short distances, and supporting others physically as needed. 

Is reliable and can commit to arriving on time  

This role is ideal for people looking for meaningful community involvement, or individuals exploring careers in therapeutic riding, physiotherapy, occupational therapy, or equine management. 

Horse leaders are an integral part of every riding lesson provided at KTRA. Horse leaders will: 

Be responsible for catching, grooming, warming up, and tacking the horse before the rider arrives 

Assisting the riders when grooming and tacking in some cases 

Control and guide the horse during the lesson 

Be safety conscious at all times. 

Take direction from the instructor 

Allow the rider to guide the horse when appropriate, whilemaintaining control of the horse