Volunteer With Us!

How to Start Volunteering

We simply could not fulfill our mission without the support of dedicated CATR Volunteers!

Our primary volunteer roles are as horse leaders or sidewalkers in our therapeutic riding program. If you are interested in volunteering for the therapeutic riding program, please complete our online Confidential Volunteer Application Form. Completing an application is the first step toward becoming a CATR program volunteer! When we receive your application, a CATR staff member will contact you to register for an upcoming training. Please read over CATR's Volunteer Handbook ahead of your scheduled training.

Trainings are typically held in August and January and may be added on an as-needed basis throughout the year. We begin collecting applications for these trainings months in advance, so please submit your application as soon as possible to help ensure space in the training.

Other volunteer opportunities are listed below. Additionally, we value your unique skills! Please be in touch if you would like to help with special events or have a skill you would like to share with CATR.

For all volunteer questions, please contact Kenna Brookshire.

  • Group Volunteer Opportunities

  • Volunteer Education

  • Volunteer Auxiliary

Group Volunteer Opportunities

Corporate, military, community, and school groups make a meaningful contribution to our students by participating in half-day or full-day group volunteer projects that help to keep our farm accessible and beautiful. Past projects have included painting fences or barn exterior, facility clean up, exhaust fan installation, stall leveling, and event set-up. For most of these opportunities, no special training is required.

Volunteer Education

CATR is so grateful for the many volunteers who help make our programs possible! While we can never thank volunteers enough for the time, energy, skill, and passion they share with our students, we DO try to give back to our volunteers throughout the year in several ways. One way is by providing training and education relevant to current volunteer roles at CATR.

Initially, all CATR program volunteers are asked to attend a general Orientation and Sidewalker Training. Volunteers with prior horse experience are then invited to attend a Horse Leader Training.

In addition to these two initial offerings, CATR offers Volunteer Enrichment throughout the year such as: Awareness Training for Working with Students with Disabilities, Advanced Horse Leader Training, Understanding Vision Impairment, and more.

Volunteer Auxiliary

The Volunteer Auxiliary is a team of experienced CATR volunteers that exists to support and promote CATR. Auxiliary members meet twice a year as a group to help plan and provide insight into CATR's volunteer program and outreach opportunities. Auxiliary Members are asked to support CATR at two events (or more!) each year, which includes setting up for special events and attending volunteer fairs and community outreach events.

Thank you to the Auxiliary for their amazing level of commitment to CATR!