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Volunteer Jobs

Community Association for Riders with Disabilities is an established registered non-profit organization. We rely on our dedicated and passionate volunteers to maintain our organization, and we are always looking for more team members whose values align with ours. If you’re passionate about working with individuals with different abilities, and making a difference in lives, we would love to have you as a part of CARD’s team.

Assistant Instructor

Reports To:  Mentoring Instructor 

Supervises:
Volunteers, Riders, and Horses 

Benefits:

  • Benefits CARD by helping to teach safe, therapeutically beneficial classes.  
  • Benefits the Assistant Instructor (AI) through continuing education, increased knowledge, certification opportunities, the satisfaction of helping others, and socialization opportunities.  
  • Benefits CARD and the AI by freeing up the Instructor for other tasks.  
  • Benefits CARD by increasing the number of trained instructors, and the ratio of individualized attention the riders receive.  

Minimum Qualifications:

  • Working towards CanTRA Instructor Certification  
  • Must attend 75% of the scheduled meetings per year.  
  • Must have volunteered at CARD for a minimum of 6 terms (summer optional).  

Skills Needed:

  • Previous teaching or horse experience  
  • Responsible, punctual, good interpersonal skills, effective communication skills, good organizational skills, understanding of disabilities, willingness to achieve certification if not currently certified  
  • Knowledge of the CARD policies and procedures .

Time Commitments:

  • Depending on the time slot the AI commits to, their weekly teaching commitment may be 1-2 hrs., as well as overseeing the volunteers before and after class(es). 
  • They are expected to arrive 15-20mins before their volunteer team members to update their class list and be ready to go. They are generally the last team member to leave, ensuring everyone is signed out. 
  • Additionally, the AI will spend time before the term reviewing files and preparing the class list, and will also spend approximately 1 hr./week lesson planning. 
  • CARD supplies a great deal of training, time, and expertise in the training of AI/I team members. In return, it is expected that AIs will teach at CARD for a minimum of one year, once fully trained.

Responsibilities:

  • To be familiar with and knowledgeable about the riders assigned for the term.  
  • Aid in developing and implementing a lesson plan for the term of classes assigned  
  • To provide support and encouragement to the volunteers as needed.  
  • Assist with mounting riders  
  • Lead group exercises to warm up riders  
  • Work with individual riders as needed in accordance with the lesson plan  
  • Assist with dismounting riders  
  • Review the lesson plan with the instructor 

 

Instructor

Reports To:

Director of Therapeutic Riding Services/ Director of Volunteer Services

Supervises:

Volunteers, Riders, and Horses

Requirements:

  • EC Rider level 5 or equivalent  
  • Working towards CanTRA Instructor certification  
  • Current First Aid/CPR certification  
  • Must attend a minimum 75% of scheduled meetings per year 

Skills Needed:

  • Previous teaching or horse experience  
  • Responsible, punctual, good interpersonal skills, effective communication skills, good organizational skills  
  • Understanding of disabilities or previous experience within the special needs field  
  • Willingness to achieve certification if not currently certified  
  • Knowledge of the CARD policies and procedures 

Time Commitments:

  • Depending on the time slot the AI commits to, their weekly teaching commitment may be 1-2 hrs., as well as overseeing the volunteers before and after class(es). 
  • They are expected to arrive 15-20mins before their volunteer team members to update their class list and be ready to go. They are generally the last team member to leave, ensuring everyone is signed out. 
  • Additionally, the AI will spend time before the term reviewing files and preparing the class list, and will also spend approximately 1 hr./week lesson planning. 
  • CARD supplies a great deal of training, time, and expertise in the training of AI/I team members. In return, it is expected that AIs will teach at CARD for a minimum of one year, once fully trained. 

Responsibilities:

  • To be familiar with, and knowledgeable about, the riders assigned for the term 
  • To develop and implement a term Progression Plan for the assigned classes 
  • To provide support, encouragement and on-going training to the volunteers as needed 
  • Perform mounting and dismounting of riders, including training and supervision of assistant personnel 
  • Conduct safe, productive, and progressive lessons in line with the riders’ abilities and goals, CARD Mission Statement, and CanTRA standards
  • Review and revise lesson plans as needed 
  • Complete Rider Progress reports each term, discuss them with the client/family and ensure copies are placed in the rider’s file 
  • Coordinate with the Director of Therapeutic Riding Services and the Director of Volunteer Services to ensure the needs of the class are met
  • If you are interested in becoming an Instructor, please contact CARD for more information.

Board Member

Do you have professional / executive leadership or community building skills?

Consider the position of a board member. The CARD Board of Directors needs people with a variety of skills, knowledge and experience in all areas of the non-profit sector to sit as a board member. Applicants must be willing to attend monthly meetings, participate in group decisions and sit on one of CARD’s committees.

Leader / Sidewalker

 

Time Involved:

Two to four hours a week for a minimum of nine to eleven weeks. Our instructors rely on regular weekly participation of volunteers to provide a quality program in a safe environment.

Training:

Is provided.

Responsibilities:

  • To assist people with disabilities in our therapeutic horseback riding program.
  • The help prepare horses for class, assisting with the grooming and tacking (saddle, bridle or special equipment). New volunteers will be assisted by an experienced volunteer.
  • Once the horses are ready, the volunteers act as either horse leaders or side walkers.
  • Horse leaders are responsible for a horse in the class.
  • Side walkers are responsible for the rider and walk along side the horse to offer rider support when needed.
  • After classes, volunteers must complete their assigned tasks.
  • Both leaders and sidewalkers must assist with the maintenance of the barn and tack room
  • Perform miscellaneous tasks as needed.

Requirements:

  • A non-fear of horses; a liking for people; comfortable helping people with disabilities; generally good physical condition (there is some running involved in some, but not all classes).
  • Willingness to learn and follow CARD’s procedures.
  • Willingness to attend continuing education opportunities.

Qualifications:

  • A minimum age of 13 is required for both leaders and side walkers
  • Volunteering at CARD is not suitable for those with mobility issues.  Volunteers must be in generally good physical condition and be able to briskly walk for approximately 30 minutes.  There is some running involved in some, but not all classes.
  • Must be able to understand and respond to directions promptly.

Requirements:

  • Must be able to volunteer one morning, afternoon, after school or evening per week.  Two to four hour commitment once a week for a minimum of nine to eleven weeks is required.
  • Be able to commit to at least one term a year (nine to eleven weeks per term).
  • Provide at least 1-business day notice (Monday – Friday) if you are unable to volunteer at your designated time.  For weekend lessons, you must notify CARD by Friday 3 PM latest if you will not be able to attend.
  • Be comfortable around horses; experience is not necessary.
  • Must enjoy working with people, especially those persons with different abilities.
  • Be familiar with CARD’s procedures.
  • Willingness to attend continuing education opportunities when and if available.
  • Maintain an 80% or better class attendance record each term.

Clothing Requirements:

  • Hot weather: Wear comfortable casual clothing suitable for the weather.  Shorts may be worn but must be mid-thigh in length.  No cut off jeans. Tank tops must have straps that are 3 fingers wide.  Baggy and too loose clothing may not be worn.
  • Cold weather: The barn and arena areas may be cold during the winter months.  Layers of clothing should be worn, which would include gloves as your hands must never be in your pockets for safety reasons.  Jackets/cardigans must be done up throughout the lessons and hoods must be tucked in.
  • Footwear: When working with and around horses proper footwear is essential for safety. Volunteers are required to wear sturdy footwear that protects the whole foot (heels and toes), such as shoes, boots (short or long) or running shoes (not canvas). The following footwear is never acceptable as it is not safe when working around horses (grooming, leading or side walking):  Sandals, flip flops, crocs, clogs or canvas running shoes such as Converse/Keds/etc.).
  • Hair: Long hair should be tied back and secured off the shoulders.
  • Electronic devices: including cell phones are not permitted in the barn/arena.
  • Jewellery: such as necklaces, long earrings and rings should not be worn when working around the horses.
  • Perfumes and colognes: cannot be worn.
  • Chewing gum: is not appropriate when working in the barn or with riders in the arena.

 

Apply to Volunteer