Volunteer Opportunities

To volunteer for any of our endurance rides, please click on the Contact link in the menu and use the online form provided to send us a message.

To volunteer to drag ride, please contact Duane Martin at martindh@iname.com

Every endurance ride, clinic, project, depends on the generous help of volunteers. Our volunteers come from all walks of life, and if there is one firm guarantee we can give, it will be that you will learn tons of really neat stuff about endurance riding, and have lots of fun at the same time.

Opportunities to volunteer are available in:

• Trails - assist in helping mark, clear, maintain the trials used for upcoming endurance rides and training rides. If you can hang a ribbon on a tree, or pull a tree branch off the trail -- you're in!
• P/R - Pulse and Respiration is the first step for the riders at all the vet checks. Job requires a watch, good ears, and ability to count heartbeats - we will provide the stethascope, great scenery, and wonderful staff to assist.
• Timers - Ingate and Outgate Timers make sure the riders go out when their hold time is complete, and record when they come into the hold as well. Job only requires you to bring your own chair -- we'll provide the clipboard and pen!
• Vet Secretary (Scribe) - assists the ride vets in recording horse information on the rider's card for each hold. Ride vets are the nicest in the world and you will learn things you never knew about how a horse handles the stress of distance riding. Job requires ability to hold a clipboard, a big smile while forever asking spaced out riders for their rider card, and the desire to stick like glue to the assigned vet. We provide the clipboard, pens, super vets, and great riders.
• Station Heads - for those who aspire to the top -- here's a managerial role in overseeing the staff and running organization of the ride vet check. Requirements are a decent knowledge of ride protocol, enjoyment of overseeing a volunteer staff and professional vets, and a sense of humor. We provide the site, the layout, equipment, vets, and a great volunteer crew.
• Drag Riders and Traffic Control - to ensure the ultimate safety of riders and horses that are part of our competition. Drag riders bring up the rear of the competition and get to enjoy short segments the trail at their leisure and their own pace. Our policy is to pair up drag riders with a like-minded companion, or a friend of their choice. Either way, it's a great way to train a young endurance horse, or enjoy some quality trail time with a favorite equine on wonderfully marked trails without the stress and rigors of competition.
• Riding Mentor - help and encourage new riders to learn the proper ins-and-outs of endurance riding, including how to pace oneself on the trail, what to bring to the ride for horse and rider, and what to expect at base camp, on the trails, and in the vet checks.
• Lecturer - give talks and lectures on various aspects of endurance riding that meet with any particular technical expertice you have to offer -- from shoeing and medical issues, to what to pack in a crew bag. If you love to talk, we'll put you up front with people who love to listen. Whatever you have to offer in the way of endurance advice will find a ready audience!
• Organizer - help develop and host clinics or training rides, or other endurance related projects that help promote the Endurance sport.
• Helper - for setting up vet checks, assisting in the "on the ground" organization, and lending a helping hand where ever needed. You can often pick and chose the areas you would like to help -- we are always happy to accomodate our volunteers!

No experience is necessary to volunteer -- we are happy to teach and train.