Q: What is the time commitment?
Our volunteers help in all sorts of ways in classes and around the farm:
- Horse Leaders - primarily responsible for tacking and untacking the horse as well as leading during lessons. This person should be very comfortable around horses, aware of the ways they communicate and able to maintain control throughout the lesson.
- Sidewalkers - these volunteers are focused on the rider, before, during and after the lesson. They walk closely beside the horse and often facilitate the therapeutic aspects of the class through verbal cues, physical assistance, and sometimes the wearing of silly costumes! They should be able to jog short distances and hold their arms at or above shoulder height for the duration of a 45 minute class.
- Farm Hands - help around the farm in various ways. We're always looking for people to muck stalls, clean tack, maintain the arena and paddocks or provide other types of assistance.
We are looking for volunteers who are passionate and have a lot of positive energy to share with those around them! Working around animals and riders with special needs requires an optimistic and outgoing personality.
Experience with horses or riders with special needs is a plus, but if you're willing to learn we love to teach.
You should be physically able to participate in activities around the farm and volunteers should be willing to get a little dirty!
The magic that happens at Giddy-Up and Ride isn't possible without our dedicated volunteers. If you're looking for a way to get involved in your community, help others, commune with nature and animals and make new friends then we'd love to have you join the family!
Volunteering with Giddy-Up
Q: How do I become a volunteer?
Whatever time you're able to give is welcome and appreciated! We respect that our volunteers' time is precious and want the hours spent at Giddy-Up to be happy and rejuvenating!
Classes are offered on Tuesday mornings, Saturdays and Sundays. Lesson volunteers can come out once a month for one class, every weekend for two classes, or whatever schedule best matches your availability.
Farm Hands can help when they can and when they're needed. The frequency and duration will depend on the task.
Q: What do volunteers do?
Q: Who should volunteer?
Q: Why Giddy-Up?
Giddy-Up offers unique volunteer opportunities and experiences! Set in scenic Fort Lupton with gorgeous views of the Rocky Mountains, time spent at Giddy-Up means being surrounded by animals - from cats, to goats, to prairie dogs, and of course, our amazing horses. It also means spending part of your day with fun, friendly people and riders who work hard and bring smiles to the faces of those around them.
Fill out a Volunteer Application and submit it to Volunteer@giddyupandride.com
"Volunteering with Giddy-Up and Ride is one of the most fulfilling opportunities I have had. I am new to hippo therapy. Justine and the seasoned Giddy-Up volunteers wonderfully guide us newbies. Children, horses, outside, countryside, the sweet smell of hay in the air..... I LOVE this work."
~ Giddy-Up Volunteer