Volunteers are crucial to our rescue center – providing much needed help and allowing us to properly care for our rescued Mustangs.
What can you expect?
Anyone over 21 years old can volunteer at WHRC – regardless of physical abilities, there is always something to do. Rare exceptions to this age requirement may be made for volunteer applicants age 18-20 who have advanced horse experience and are approved after a video interview with Diane. If you sign up to volunteer, we expect you to work and participate in all activities; however, if there are any physical aspects that make you unable to participate in everything, we can adjust your tasks. As a volunteer, you will help with daily chores, such as mucking stalls, daily care of the horses, and infrastructural improvements to stables. You will also assist in real hands-on rehabilitation work with wild horses. The majority of our horses come from abusive environments, and when they first arrive, they are often genuinely afraid of people. As a volunteer, you will play a critical part in helping these horses understand that not all people are bad.
Weekly Volunteer Program
As a volunteer with us, you will get real hands-on experience with our mustangs – both wild and tame! Our volunteers help with everyday barn maintenance, horse care and exercise, capital improvements, and helping to socialize wild horses. A big part of volunteer work with us is socializing with rescued and wild/semi-wild mustangs.
Our rescue work with wild horses is drastically different than work with domestic horses, so please keep an open mind! You can expect to do some riding during your stay; however, as we are a rescue and rehabilitation center, the focus is not on riding. We do not allow volunteers to go off-site individually with the horses for insurance and safety reasons.
There will be activities scheduled such as beach trips, kayaking, horse riding trails, etc. for the volunteers, and, if you wish, you can arrange transportation for off-site activities on your free days. We are in a remote area, but public transportation, such as UBER, is available.
All volunteers will be responsible for keeping their living area clean.
Your payment goes toward:
- · Lodging (which you keep clean yourself) in either a single or
double room in our bunkhouse or a single or double cabin.
- · Access
to laundry facilities and a fully-equipped kitchen stocked with food essentials such as seasonings, spices,
condiments, flour, sugar, coffee, tea, etc. PLEASE NOTE: MEALS ARE NOT PROVIDED BY WHRC. Volunteers will be taken to grocery stores
where they can purchase and pay for the food for their meals, which they will
prepare on their own.
- · The remainder goes toward animal care and facility
maintenance.
DURING YOUR VOLUNTEER STAY AT WHRC:
·
All WHRC volunteers will go through a volunteer orientation upon arrival and will be
responsible for keeping their personal areas, bathrooms, and common cooking
areas clean.
·
Volunteers will participate in everyday horse care and barn
maintenance, as
well as, real hands-on care and rehabilitation of our rescued and abused
mustangs. A big part of our volunteer
work is socializing our rescued and wild/semi-wild mustangs.
·
WHRC is a rescue and rehabilitation center, so the focus is not
on riding. We do not allow volunteers
to go off-site individually with the horses, due to insurance and safety
reasons.
·
Volunteers will have one day off
each week. Volunteers are
encouraged to schedule off-site excursions on their days off. These activities may include visiting
Central Florida attractions, beach excursions, water skiing, kayaking, zip
lining, river tubing, boat tours, etc. PLEASE
NOTE: Volunteers will pay for all off-site excursion expenses, including
transportation costs.
WHAT TO
BRING:
Personal
Items:
• Backpack / rucksack (for excursions)
• Toiletries, including sunscreen, insect
repellent, and a small medical kit
• Cell phone/charger
• Travel size laundry detergent
(Washer/Dryer is provided)
• Antibacterial hand sanitizer (does not
need water to rinse off)
PLEASE NOTE: Bed linens
and bath towels will be provided.
Clothing:
• Walking shoes, trainers, or sneakers
(You must bring shoes that cover the feet fully.)
• Mud boots
• Sandals or flip flops
• A hat to protect you from the sun and
work gloves to protect your hands
• T-shirts, tank tops, long sleeved
shirts, shorts, long pants, beachwear, and sleepwear
• Jacket, rain coat, and warm coat (in the
winter)
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