Join Rainbow Riding as a Volunteer Horse Leader

Rainbow Therapeutic Riding Center in Haymarket, VA, is a very special place that serves children and adults with physical, developmental, and mental health disabilities from all around northern Virginia.

Each week, approximately 70 students come to us for equine assisted activities, from Tuesday through Saturday, learning how to ride and take care of their horses.

Riders with mental health challenges develop emotional regulation and coping strategies, helping them manage anxiety and stress more effectively; riders with physical disabilities experience increased motor skills, better balance, and coordination through structured riding activities, which help foster greater independence in daily life; and all our students develop increased confidence and resilience as they bond with horses and engage in goal-oriented tasks.

The supportive environment we nurture at Rainbow encourages social interaction, reduces feelings of isolation, and benefits the wider community by fostering inclusivity and better understanding.

Our team of six PATH Intl. Certified Instructors plan and supervise each lesson, but every single session needs the help of one or more volunteers; they are the backbone of our program. Last year, our volunteers dedicated 2,000 hours of time to our equine therapy program.

Our primary volunteer need is for Horse Leaders. Their role is to tack up and prepare our horses for their lesson, lead them during it, and take care of them afterwards. Leaders should be experienced horse people who are able to read a horses body language, control their own energy and body language, have good communication and listening skills, and physically be able to walk and/or trot.

Students may also have one, two, or more volunteers acting as side walkers, who support them physically and emotionally dependent on their individual needs. Rainbow students form a bond with their team and its beneficial for them to see regular faces, week in, week out. Thats why we ask our volunteers to try to commit to a regular time slot each week, during a day and time that works for them.

We value all our volunteers, whether they come to us for a couple of hours per week, or a couple of afternoons as some do. And our volunteers reap huge rewards seeing their students undergo life changing improvements, learning more about the profound impact of equine assisted therapy, and themselves enjoying the emotional benefits of being around our calming horses.

Rainbow volunteers are hands on members of the team, and also contribute by serving on the all-volunteer board of directors, supporting fundraisers, and help out with other projects. Full training is given and they work closely with Rainbow Instructors and Volunteer Coordinator.

We have a beautiful indoor arena, outdoor arena, miles of trails, and an activity loft, allowing us to support our students whatever the weather!

Email us at [email protected] or fill in our online application here.