Volunteer

Everything You Need To Know About Volunteering

Volunteer FAQ

Q: Where is People Helping Horses located?

A: People Helping Horses is located in Arlington, Washington, approximately 45 minutes north of Seattle.

Q: How do I become a volunteer?

A: First, attend a volunteer orientation.

Therapeutic riding volunteer orientations generally occur on the first Saturday and third Monday of the month. See our calendar for more detailed information.

PHH barn volunteer orientations occur on the last Saturday and second Tuesday of the month.

If you would like to attend a barn volunteer orientation please contact us to let us know which orientation you would like to attend.

If you would like to attend a therapeutic riding volunteer orientation please contact us.

Second, commit a month in advance to a minimum of four hours of volunteer time per month. Please consider this requirement carefully. We ask volunteers before the start of each month to sign up and commit to the day and time they will volunteer that month. When you commit, we are counting on you.

After you have completed your first 24 hours of volunteer service you will be eligible to sign up for our Horsemanship 101 class, which must be completed along with a demonstration of what you have learned to our resident trainer, before working with any rescue horses.

Q: What will I be doing as a volunteer?

A: As a therapeutic riding volunteer, you will be helping to get the horses ready for lessons, assisting the riders during lessons, and putting the horses away after the lessons.

A: As a barn volunteer, there are many different ways to help in addition to working directly with the horses. Remember, we rely on our volunteers to help maintain not only the horses but our facility as well. Everything from painting fences and mowing lawns to filling and cleaning water buckets and washing blankets serves our mission. If you have an area of expertise that you think may fill a PHH need, please indicate that on your volunteer application.

After completing 24 hours of preliminary volunteer work and our Horsemanship classes, volunteers also have the opportunity to work with horses directly by grooming, hand walking, blanketing, and bathing. This rule is in place for the safety of our valued volunteers as well as the horses. No substitutions will be allowed.

Q: How old do you have to be to volunteer?

A: We accept volunteers of all ages. However, we do ask that for barn volunteering those under the age of 16 are always accompanied by an adult. For therapeutic riding volunteering those 15 and older can volunteer with the program. Volunteers must be at least eight years of age to work with horses.

Q: Are any of my expenses related to volunteering tax deductible?

A: Volunteer travel expenses such as transportation (actual expenses or 14c/mile), meals, and lodging for qualifying charities may be deductible if there is not a significant element of personal pleasure, recreation, or vacation in the travel. Please speak with your personal tax advisor for more details about your specific situation.