HORSE LEADERS
Summary
Location
When
About This Opportunity
Horse leaders are an integral part of every riding lesson provided at KTRA. Horse
leaders can be responsible for catching, grooming, warming up, and tacking the horse before the rider arrives, or assisting the riders when grooming and tacking in some cases. The horse leader controls and guides the horse during the lesson, ensuring the safety of the riders and volunteers. The horse leader must be able to take direction from the instructor, allow the rider to guide the horse when appropriate, but still maintain control of the horse at all times. Horse leaders must be safety conscious at all times. Volunteers with horse experience are preferred for this position, however, horse leader training is available for volunteers wishing to learn and move into this role.
Physical Requirement: walk 30 mins, jog short distances, and control horses at all times.
● The main responsibility of a horse leader is safe control of the horse. This requires the leader’s undivided attention. He/she should always be alert, and have a constant awareness of the horse, the instructor, the rider, and the surrounding environment, including other horses.
● In a therapeutic (adaptive) riding lesson, the leader assists in guiding, stopping, and starting the horse without making the rider feel like simply a passenger. So waiting for the rider to ask the horse to walk on first or ask the horse to woah etc. and then stepping in second.
● In a riding lesson, the instructor will address the rider most of the time, so the handler must “read between the lines”.
Volunteer Requirements
Whether you meet these requirements or not, we encourage you to share your interest in us. You may still be a fit for a different opportunity with our organization.
- Minimum 16 years old
- Driver's License
- Access to car
- Valid Driver's License
- Comfortable commuting to opportunity location
- Willing to undergo a background or police records check