This Shadow Experience opportunity is for those volunteers in training to serve as an Equestrian Arena Assistant. You will be partnered with a qualified and experienced Staff Lead during this shadow experience to observe, learn, and practice the required skills.
Equestrian Arena Assistant volunteers assist staff in conducting lessons and camps at the Carriage Hill Riding Center. These volunteers are the eyes, ears, hands and heart that ensure each participant has a fun, safe, and engaging experience. These volunteers train and qualify as Barn Aides before training to become an Equestrian Arena Assistant.
Impact
Arena Assistant Volunteers ensure a fun, safe experience riding lesson experience providing a connection to nature through high-quality equine programming.
Tasks
- Retrieve horses from stalls or paddocks and lead to cross ties.
- Assist with grooming and tacking
- Help with checking tack, getting riders mounted, and adjusting stirrups
- Assist with aiding and maintaining safe spacing between the horses during the lesson
- Keep an eye on safety issues throughout the lesson.
Eligibility
- This opportunity is open to Long-Term, Short-Term and Youth volunteers ages 14 and up who are currently in training to qualify as Equestrian Arena Assistants. Learn more about our types of service here. To learn more about training to become an Equestrian Arena Assistant volunteer, click here. Note: Equestrian Arena Assistant volunteers are asked to commit to at least 5 Equestrian Arena Assistant volunteer shifts per year. These 5 shifts can be included in the total of 8 volunteer shifts served annually at the Carriage Hill Riding Center.
- Note: This opportunity is open to volunteers ages 14 and up. Volunteers ages 14-17 must first be approved by a Volunteer Coordinator to respond to this opportunity. Contact volunteer.services@metroparks.org to request approval to waive your background check.
Additional Notes
- Parking & Meeting Instructions: Meet the staff near the barn office.
- Cancelation: If you need to cancel a shift last-minute or are running late, please call the Riding Center office cell phone number at #937-689-6939.
- Environment & Physical Demands: Volunteers should expect to work in outside weather conditions, year-round in a typical ban environment with exposure to cat and horse dander, dust, hay, and other environmental allergens.
- Dress: Please wear your volunteer name badge and volunteer apparel if you have it to make yourself easy to identify as a volunteer.
Look for additional details about this opportunity at the bottom of this listing! See the Programming Volunteer Position Description for more detailed information.
