• Life On Land
Available from Feb 2025

Horse Welfare Assistant

location
1 - 4 weeks  ·  Age 16 - 50+

rating  Great 4.4  · 
  Verified by Volunteer World
  Very high response rate

Complete your reservation as soon as possible. This project fills up quickly and is already booked on certain dates.


Highlights

  • Become part of our team at unique IHP horse rescue center!
  • Horse management, meal preparation, stable cleaning and assisting vets, every day! We host more than 40 horses at our center.
  • Learn everything about free life of rescued horses and the ethological management of equines!
  • Live an immersive experience in contact with horses in the tuscan countryside, with other volunteers from all over the world!
  • Visit Florence, Pisa, Siena, San Gimignano, Certaldo, Volterra and explore Tuscany in your free time, the perfect location for Italy lovers.


Especially good for

Age 16+
Singles
Couples

About the program

Volunteers work all together at the Rescue Centre, contribute to the care of the horses every day and learn about these beautiful free animals!

PLEASE NOTE - SUMMER 2024: we have no more room until 21 September.

Our Volunteer Program takes place at the IHP Rescue Center in Tuscany, where we host about 40 horses, most of which are under legal custody because they were abused and then legally confiscated.

Volunteers are very important for us ...

About the program

PLEASE NOTE - SUMMER 2024: we have no more room until 21 September.

Our Volunteer Program takes place at the IHP Rescue Center in Tuscany, where we host about 40 horses, most of which are under legal custody because they were abused and then legally confiscated.

Volunteers are very important for us because they become part of our team and help us in the daily activities related to the care of the animals: 

preparation of feed for older horses and horses with special feed; 
preparing hay for asthmatic horses; 
daily monitoring of our guests (state of health, general conditions); 
cleaning of the infirmary boxes and other environments; 
assistance in any checks and treatments by our veterinary managers.

The work is voluntary and is done almost entirely in the open air, in a group of people which can also come from different countries.We don't require volunteers with horses experience, our staff will teach everything about horses management and their ethology.
The Center develops on the side of a hill, so there is a lot of walking and sometimes sloping. We work outdoors, so it is possible that there are very hot periods, or very cold, and that sometimes we move in the rain. We recommend tetanus vaccination. 
Volunteer live with the staff in a shared accommodation in the Recovery Center, with a common kitchen and bathroom. 
We would like have volunteer enthusiastic from horses and beware of animal rights, who love nature life and work with animals.

We welcome volunteers throughout the year, with a minimum stay of one week, with departure and arrival on Saturday.




Typical day

Our volunteers arrive on Saturday. The first day is dedicate to visit the Horse Rescue Center, learn center and house rules and meet the staff and the other volunteers. The first day we also do food shopping at the Castelfiorentino supermarket. Sunday is the first volunteer day!

We ask for one ...

Typical day

Our volunteers arrive on Saturday. The first day is dedicate to visit the Horse Rescue Center, learn center and house rules and meet the staff and the other volunteers. The first day we also do food shopping at the Castelfiorentino supermarket. Sunday is the first volunteer day!

We ask for one volunteer shift per day: mornings from 8 am to about 10 am. We as staff have longer hours: mornings from 6 to about 10 am and evenings from 6 to about 8 pm.

If you choose, you can participate in the entire routine, morning and evening. Otherwise - as mentioned - do only two hours in the morning (remember! Times may vary slightly according to season, weather and emergencies: we will notify you any change). 

Every volunteer is independent with food preparation and the time to wake up and sleep (always with respect for the other volunteers). 

In your free time you can decide if stay with horses at the Rescue Center or explore Tuscany countryside and towns. We can give tourist advice to visit Florence, Pisa, Siena, Lucca, San Gimignano, Volterra, Certaldo, San Miniato and others. Very important to remember: the flat where we will host you is inside the Rescue Centre and we are in the countryside, 5 km from Montaione and 13 km from Castelfiorentino, where the nearest railway station is. This means that, without a car, it is almost impossible to get around here to visit the surrounding area (in that case, we recommend to rent a car).


Free-time activities

Tuscany offers beautiful landscapes and picturesque villages perfect for day trips, such as the nearby Certaldo, to admire the walls and the incredible view, or the elegant San Gimignano with its famous UNESCO heritage towers. 

Furthermore, Florence, Siena, Pisa and Lucca are all about an hour's ...

Free-time activities

Tuscany offers beautiful landscapes and picturesque villages perfect for day trips, such as the nearby Certaldo, to admire the walls and the incredible view, or the elegant San Gimignano with its famous UNESCO heritage towers. 

Furthermore, Florence, Siena, Pisa and Lucca are all about an hour's drive away machine from the Rescue Center. Upon your arrival you will be provided with advice and ideas to better organize your tourist excursions.
Please remember: to move around independently you need a car. We are in the countryside and public transport is very scarce.


Requirements

Requirements

Minimum Age: 16 years

In order to join the program you need to be at least 16 years old on the program start date.

Language Skills

You need to speak English (basic level) or Italian (basic level)

Nationality Restrictions

No restrictions. Helping hands from all over the world are welcome.

Other Skills

We are looking for volunteers with a lot of enthusiasm: volunteering with animals is a challenging experience, both physically and mentally, but very rewarding. In our volunteers we look for team spirit and desire to learn and live this adventure.

Time Commitment

Your helping hand will be required on Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday

What's Included

What's Included

Services by Italian Horse Protection

The fee includes:
  • food (not the preparation)
  • accommodation
  • transport from Castelfiorentino train station (if possible)
  • welcome kit (with the official Italian Horse Protection t-shirt and the personal membership card)
  • certificate of participation

At the time of booking confirmation you can request the service of transport from the Castelfiorentino train station (arrival must be communicated in advance). 


Accommodation

IHP provides accommodation for volunteers at the Rescue Center headquarters. 

The apartment is shared with other volunteers. Depending on the number of volunteers, the room can be single occupancy or shared with another volunteer.
At your disposal: 
  • In the bedroom: blankets and pillows, bedside table, wardrobe, lamp. 
  • In the common areas: equipped kitchen, bathroom with shower, washing machine, drying rack, hairdryer, safe first aid, garden with relax area. 
On request we can provide sheets and towels. You are requested to keep the common spaces and the bedroom clean and tidy, to clean the kitchen and the kitchenware after each use. You are asked to respect night rest hours. Within the confines of the Centre, for safety reasons, smoking is not permitted. The introduction of other owned animals will be assessed on a case-by-case basis. There is Wi-Fi in the apartment.

Food & Beverages

In the apartment there is a common equipped kitchen. The staff do the shopping for all at the Castelfiorentino supermarket on a weekly basis. Every volunteer can buy own favorite food, respectin some little rules for the prices. Following our principles the food we purchase is plant based food (no meat, no fish, no eggs, milk and cheese from animals). We would appreciate if you don't introduce animal origin food inside the Center. Meals are prepared independently by volunteers when they want. 

Internet Access

Good access at the project site

What's NOT included?

What's NOT included?

Airport Pickup at Firenze-Peretola Airport

An airport pickup isn't included within the program fees either.

Flight Tickets

The nearest airport is Firenze-Peretola Airport (FLR) in Florence. We assist you to find cheap flights to Italy. FIND CHEAP FLIGHTS

Travel Insurance

Going abroad is an adventure and it is always best to be prepared. Sudden illness or injury, cancellation or theft - a travel insurance for Italy provides security and is a plus to have. GET A QUOTE

Vaccines

If you are intending to volunteer in Italy you should seek medical advice before starting your social journey. Check your required vaccinations for Italy. VACCINE CHECKER

Details on arrival

We welcome volunteers throughout the year with departure and arrival on Saturday.

The closest airports are Florence and Pisa. The closest train station is Castelfiorentino. 
If you arrive by train, we can pick you up at Castelfiorentino train station: we need to know in advance your arrivale time.
Our transfer is free but we prefer that you arrive between 10 a.m. and 5 p.m. If you arrive earlier or later, we must have different arrangements. 

Availability
Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec

Program fees

1 week (min. stay) 350€
2 weeks 700€
3 weeks 1,050€
4 weeks (max. stay) 1,400€
Average fees 350€/week

Program fees

350€ per week 1 - 4 weeks Age 16 - 50+

Payment methods

Visa Master Card Maestro American Express PayPal

NO CREDIT CARD FEES


Duration

1 - 4 weeks

Deposit

The deposit is simply to reserve your volunteer placement. Payments are handled by PayPal, our trusted global payment provider. If you don't have a PayPal account, you can also pay using a credit card.


Final Payment

Your final payment will be agreed with Italian Horse Protection during the application process. Common solutions are either via bank transfer or a cash payment at the project site.


Meet your organization

Italian Horse Protection

Great 4.4 rating (16 reviews)

Non-profit - founded in 2009

Verified by Volunteer World

  Very high response rate

Coordinated by

Sonny

Spoken languages: Spanish, Italian, English

About the project

IHP is an independent animal welfare Association for horses protection. At our Rescue Center in Tuscany we host horses rescued from abuse and offer them a new life.

Meet your organization

IHP is an independent association dedicated to the welfare of all equids, born in 2009 in Tuscany. Sonny Richichi is the president and the legal representative of the Association. He was a LAV National Directive Council member from 2002 to 2006, LAV President from 2004 to 2006, and the National Manager of the LAV Equine Sector from 2004 to 2008. He was Director of the Flaminia da Filicaja Foundation in 2009, before founding IHP. Our team include biologists, veterinaries and experts in communication.

IHP was born to change the world of horses and other equines, whose rights have always been trampled on due to ignorance, inadequate laws, exploitation and ruthless trade practices. In the last years we have fought against the use of horses to pull tourist carriages in Italian squares and against the "blood farm" to produce PMSG, a hormone extracted from the blood of mares who are four months pregnant. In May 2023 we have participated in a Italian television program about the use of PMSG and the horrible horses situation. We fight to achieve this by working consistently and professionally every day. We work on several levels:

  • Complaints: we report cases off abuse and support the authorities in rescue operations.
  • Investigations: we perform investigative activities to discover exploitation.
  • Rescue: we recover horses and host them at our Horse Rescue Centre. We help horses from every part of Italy.
  • Care: in our structure horses receive mental and physical rehabilitation and veterinary care adapted to their needs.
  • Rehabilitation: the horses at the IHP Centre live in a semi-wild state with a comfortable and natural social life. We are the first Horse Rescue Center in Italy! 
  • Adoption: we find new families for some of the horses, after a careful selection of potential adopters.
  • Conservation: we promote and support activities for the introduction of new equine welfare laws.
  • Information and awareness: we try to improve the relationship between humans and horses through scientific dissemination. We are against the use of horses in horse-racing, equestrian sports, events and for commercial and/or competitive activities of any kind.
IHP is in Tuscany! One of the most beautiful regions in Italy! Tuscany is famous all over the world for its beautiful landscapes, historic towns and cities of art, such as Florence and Pisa. We are sure that you will love explore Tuscany countryside, drink our incredible wine and visit all unique cities. Tuscany is a safe regions with a good climate and no special health requirements. 

We accept volunteers from all over the world all year round! Volunteers are very important for use because they become part of our team and help us to disseminate correct information about horses. We are looking for enthusiastic people with desire to learn and love for horses!

PLEASE NOTE - SUMMER 2024:
WE HAVE NO MORE ROOM ON THE FOLLOWING DATES:
20 TO 26 JULY
24 TO 31 AUGUST

16 reviews · rating4.4

Martha Soriano rating5

2024 at Horse Welfare Assistant

If you love horses and want to see how they should truly live and thrive--this is the place for you! Be prepared to have your heart stolen and at times broken. Some of the horses come from horrible conditions and need special food, daily therapies and care. Working for a month gives you the ...
Carmen Iasenza rating5

2024 at Horse Welfare Assistant

If you love horses, have a genuine concern for their welfare, and a willingness to devote time, attention, & physical strength to helping the IHP association, this place is for you. Pack a loving heart, hiking boots, a pair of gloves and enjoy a memorable volunteer experience. I recently ...
Simona Gruber rating3.8

2024 at Horse Welfare Assistant

The work at IHP is exhausting because it can be physically demanding but I liked it still. I liked taking care of these horses, which were all very sweet. Additionally the landscape is beautiful. Living with other volunteer was great and also the organization and support of VolunteerWorld were ...
Sophia Hinrichs rating3.6

2024 at Horse Welfare Assistant

working 3 weeks for IHP was one of the best work experiences i ever had with horses. Its a great project in which injured, sick and mistreated horses find a beautiful home where they can live free, safe and get medical treatment if needed. The 2 workers martina and marco are lovely people. Very ...
Adrianne Loosli rating1.8

2024 at Horse Welfare Assistant

First let me say, that this was my experience as some others had a really great one. The work task are absolutely fine and what you would expect from a stable (cleaning buckets, help with the food- and hay-preperation, clean etc.). However the work environment was not fine at all. I didn't get ...
Bárbara Morales rating4.8

2023 at Horse Welfare Assistant

I had my first volunteering experience on Italian Horse Protection and it was very special. Its grateful to see how Sonny, president of the association, is really passionate and expert about horses and takes all the daily tasks – the very simple ones and the most complex - with passion, dedication ...

Location

Europe > Southern Europe > Italy > Montaione

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Contact Sonny
  Very high response rate
Spanish, Italian, English

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