Contact Us
If you are interested in volunteering, click on the pencil icon to fill out our Volunteer Application Form. Our program director will contact you within 72 hours. You are also welcome to call or email us for more information.
Schedule a Visit
Schedule a visit to see what we do, how we do it, and meet our staff, horses, and other volunteers. This will allow you to get a clearer picture of what will be expected of you and ensure we can match your skills, interests, and schedule with our needs.
Paperwork
After your visit, complete the remaining paperwork using our Volunteer Form App via the link we send you, or request printed copies.
BCI&I Fingerprint Background Check
If you are 18 years old or older, obtain BCI&I fingerprint background report from your local law enforcement location within 30 days of completing your paperwork and send the results to The Shane Center. Click on the fingerprint icon which will take you to the Ohio Attorney General's official website for more information. (Use BCI code 523-081) This check is crucial for ensuring the safety and security of our team and those we serve.
Attend Training
Join us for your job-specific volunteer training and secure your spot on our team schedule!
Prior experience working with horses and/or people with disabilities is helpful but not necessary if you are eager to learn. All volunteers are required to attend training sessions to review and learn safety policies and procedures used by The Shane Center for Therapeutic Horsemanship. Duties may include: Assisting with lesson preparation and/or clean up, leading horses, assisting with the mounting & dismounting of participants, walking and jogging next to participants, etc.
Lesson Volunteers: (ages 14+) Lesson volunteers need to have some degree of physical fitness to be able to walk and jog for a sixty-minute lesson. Duties may include preparing the horses or arena for lessons, leading horses, assisting with mounting and dismounting, walking next to riders, assisting with clean up after lessons. Lesson volunteers must be able to commit to an 8 week session generally the same day/time each week for a minimum of 1 lesson per week.
Stable Mate Volunteers: (ages 12+) Work alongside Shane Center staff. Duties may include: Cleaning stalls, grooming horses, cleaning tack, sweeping, dusting, raking, etc., helping prepare the horses or facilities for lessons, feeding horses, and turning horses in and out.
Stable Buddies: For those under the age of 12 or those who are differently abled and need to be directly supervised for their safety. A parent or caregiver must participate also. This program has a cost to participate in due to the need for Shane Center staff to set up, supervise, and teach this program.
Special Event Volunteers: (ages 16+) Duties may include helping with the marketing, promotion, and fundraising efforts of The Shane Center board of directors and special event committees.
Shane Center Volunteer Training Manual
Click the arrow to view our safety and emergency guidelines.
Shane Center Policies
Click the arrow to view our center policies and frequently asked questions including lesson fees, attire, missed class policies, etc.
Shane Center Sickness Policy
Click the arrow to view our center's sickness policy.