Whether you are a "horse person" or not, there are many roles for a volunteer which will positively impact the life of a student who faces great challenges.
Riders aged four to sixty-plus receive a large variety of benefits in the program. Some ride for physical gains, others to learn a sport, others for educational or emotional benefits.
All of them enjoy a terrific increase in self esteem as well as improvements in balance, coordination, and other physical areas.
The instructors work with riders to design individual lessons that address their physical, cognitive or emotional needs.
Community involvement is an important part of our therapeutic riding and outreach programs which operate weekdays and weekends.
The riders depend on many volunteers during lessons. Volunteer training is offered on a monthly basis. Training is required for each new volunteer. Usually, volunteer training takes place on the 3rd Saturday of the month in the Chastain Horse Park Clubhouse.
To register for volunteer orientation or for more information, please call 404-252-4244 x 29 or email.
Frequently Asked Questions
What do I need to do to start volunteering?
Do I need to register to attend the orientation?
What commitment is required to become a volunteer?
How long does a class last?
Do I need to have knowledge of horses?
Will I get to ride horses if I volunteer at Chastain Horse Park?
What if I just want to groom and clean stalls and not work in the lessons?
What do I need to do to start volunteering?
All volunteers must attend a two hour orientation session before beginning to volunteer. Orientation sessions are offered on the 3rd Saturday of each month 10am- 12n. Classes meet in the clubhouse at Chastain Horse Park.
Do I need to register to attend the orientation?
Please send an email to: volunteer@chpvolunteer.org or call 404-252-4244 ext. 29 and give your name, phone number and the date of the session you will attend. You will only be called if the session is cancelled.
What commitment is required to become a volunteer?
Chastain Horse Park requests that you volunteer for one lesson each week., but does not require a set minimum number of hours from volunteers. The volunteer schedule is emailed to every active volunteer regularly, and posted on www.chpvolunteer.org. Volunteers contact instructors with the times they want to volunteer.
How long does a class last?
With few exceptions, classes are one hour in length. As a volunteer you would be asked to arrive 15 minutes early to help groom and tack the horses. If you volunteer for one class, your total commitment will be approximately 1 hour and 15 minutes.
Do I need to have knowledge of horses?
No, you don't need to know anything about horses. We will provide training to help you with your duties as a volunteer.
Will I get to ride horses if I volunteer at Chastain Horse Park?
Volunteers do not get to ride the program horses, though volunteers are invited to enroll in routine riding lessons with any Chastain Horse Park instructor. These lessons are charged at the instructors’ regular rates. When a volunteer works regularly with a particular instructor, that instructor may choose to offer the volunteer a small lesson fee discount, or an on-the-spot lesson when a rider cancels.
What if I just want to groom and clean stalls and not work in the lessons?
There is no volunteer program available to just work with the horses and not the students. There is a staff that cleans stalls and the volunteers that work with our students do the grooming.
