University of Wisconsion - Eau Claire

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Proposal

Adaptive Riding Volunteer

30 hours

Community partner: Trinity Equestrian Center
Supervisor: Amanda Weber
Beginning date:
2024-09-03
Ending Date:
2024-12-17

Service-Learning Proposal Description

1.

Briefly describe the project and the community need to be addressed.

Answer Trinity Equestrian Center is looking for volunteers to be horse leaders and side-walkers for our Adaptive Riding (AR) program. These groups allow children and adults with special needs to build social skills in a group setting while working with a horse. The horse acts as a teammate and friend, allows grounding, and helps the client to be successful and safe in a unique setting. After training, responsibilities for volunteers would include leading horses in from pasture, brushing and saddling horses to prep for sessions, leading horses for clients to ride or side-walking with clients who need physical assistance or verbal assistance, set up of arena for session, and clean-up of arena and prep areas.

2.

What is the mission of the agency or organization?

Answer Trinity Equestrian Center changes lives through connection; transforming struggles into strengths for youth and survivors of trauma.

3.

What skills are required for this project? 

Answer Volunteers must be able to walk for 60 minutes straight, jog/run for short periods of time, and lift up to 50lbs. Volunteers must be able to follow directions, be flexible with changes of plans, be patient, kind, and caring with all who they work with. Volunteers must attend a volunteer orientation prior to participating in sessions.

4.

What are the objectives for the student learning and service?

Answer Students who volunteer at Trinity Equestrian Center will gain an understanding of the horse-human connection and how it is beneficial to those with special needs. Students will learn how to best work with the needs of their rider. Students with support growth of client social skills and individual goals in a group setting.

5.

What are the availability requirements for the student?

Answer 2024 AR Group Schedule: Tuesdays at 4pm and/or 5pm, 3- 4-week commitment, new group each month. Volunteers are able to select which/how many groups they sign up for. Volunteers arrive 15-30 min early to their selected time slot to prep for session. We ask that volunteers make sure they are able to commit to their time regularly before signing up as consistent helpers and faces are extremely important to our client’s comfort and to make sure we are able to provide the service to them.

6.

Additional information (not required).

Answer No Horse Experience Necessary. Closed toed shoes required.
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