Horse Leader Evolution
Challenges of Volunteer Horse Leaders
MOST therapeutic riding centers utilize volunteers as horse leaders for their lessons. At the beginning of 2024, Justin’s Place made the decision to create seasonal part-time paid positions for this role on our farm. This came after working through some challenges in 2023. We learned that having multiple different handlers for our horses made them cranky and perpetuated behavior issues and burn out. There are often mixed messages coming from rider and horse leader during lessons, so it is very important to be highly sensitive to the “whole picture” of what’s going on and affecting horse behaviors. While all volunteers go through training and are amazing, it is nearly impossible to keep a few dozen people all on the same page, aware of the horse care needs, and handling the horses similarly.
Benefits of Staff Horse Leaders
Since making this change, here are a few of of the benefits we’ve noted.
Higher standards of care for our horses
Our volunteers are AMAZING and give so much of their time and talents. However, there are limits to what we can expect of a volunteer. To educate multiple different volunteers on all it takes to care for each horse is quite the task! Expectations before and after lessons can include: treating skin and hoof ailments, removing/applying blankets and fly masks, grooming needs, applying their specific tack and more!! By having a few staff members who are working with 1-2 horses per week, they can receive excellent training to take the best care of our horses before, during and after their lessons.
Improved predictability of schedule
By having paid staff instead of volunteers, we can maintain attendance standards that result in less cancellations. This predictability of their attendance allows our instructors to not worry if they will show up or not and have to scramble for a last minute substitution.
Improved riding quality for our participants
If our horses are happy and are communicating well with their leader on the ground, they will be calmer, happier and move better!! A stressed horse may be unbalanced, jerky with their head and movements and not consistent in their gait. A happy horse who is ‘in groove’ with their leader will provide a steady, forward walk and excellent input for their rider!
The opportunity to partner with young equestrians in our community
By creating this staff position, we have met some incredible local equestrians who are attending college with a goal of entering the equine industry! These staff members are getting great hands-on work experience and we are getting some amazing team members that we can train to our standards.