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Frequently Asked Questions
General
Volunteers
Program
Donating (as a 501c(3) we are happy to
give you a receipt for tax purposes)
General
What
are the hours of operation?
Sunday, Closed
Monday, 12:00noon - 6:30pm
Tuesdays, 8:30am - 8:45pm
Wednesdays, 2:15pm - 9:00pm
Thursdays, 11:45pm - 8:30pm
Fridays, 8:30am - 6:15pm
Saturdays, 7:30am - 5:00pm
Volunteers
What
are the hours for volunteering?
Sunday, Closed
Monday, No volunteers needed on Monday
Tuesdays, 8:30am - 12:45pm and 2:45pm - 8:45pm
Wednesdays, 2:00pm - 7:15pm
Thursdays, 11:45pm - 8:30pm
Fridays, 8:30am - 6:15pm
Saturdays, 7:30am - 5:00pm
What are the hours for
practical training and certification?
Our on-site trainer is available for volunteers at the times listed below:
Tuesday, 4:30pm - 6:30pm
Wednesday, 4:30pm - 6:30pm
What kind of work are volunteers expected to do?
There’s never a shortage of work to be done around the barn. Some tasks require certification, but others you can jump into the first day.
Every job around the barn is important for the safety and well-being of our horses and riders.
Volunteers may lead horses, sidewalk or provide physical and emotional support for students.
Volunteers also assist with catching, grooming, saddling and caring for horses, and also assist students in performing these tasks.
Do I need to have prior horse experience?
Absolutely not. No one has ” to work with the horses.
We have plenty of other assignments available to keep you busy.
However, we have an excellent certification program which will allow you to
become comfortable and confident in the handling and caring for horses.
How old do you have to be to volunteer?
You have to be at least 12 years old to volunteer on your own, but kids under 12 years old can volunteer with their parents or other adult.
We have had some great young volunteers, so don’t let age stop you from coming out to help make a difference.
What do I need to do before I volunteer?
Before you volunteer, download our volunteer form and fill it out completely. If you want to hit the ground running on the first day,
take the certification quizzes on our website for the tasks you are interested in helping with. Give us a call or just show up. We will find a place for you right away.
Do volunteers have to work closely with the horses?
There are plenty of jobs to be done that don’t involve the horses. Volunteers assist with
maintenance and repairs, student outreach in the community, fundraising, special events, photography,
administration, research, maintaining our website, statistics, office management and volunteer recruitment.
If you are willing to join us, we will find you a place.
Can I volunteer just once?
You bet. Just download a “Short Term” application and bring it with you anytime we are open.
Can I do my community service with your Center?
Yes, but with some restrictions. If the community service is court-mandated, the situation cannot have
involved offenses against people or animals in any way. We also expect that you meet the general guidelines
of a volunteer (that you are hardworking and kind). This type of volunteer experience could turn your life around if you let it.
Can a rider/participant
or someone with a disability become a volunteer?
This is considered on a case to case basis. And it’s decided totally on the basis of safety.
Many times participants with disabilities are allowed to volunteer but only if they have an adult willing to
learn the safety/risk factors involved well enough to keep their companion safe. There is no doubt about
these participant's willingness and good-heartedness to contribute but it can come down to reaction time and awareness of changing circumstances that can be dangerous.
Do you need any Eagle Scout Projects done for you?
Generally the Executive Director will have a number of different projects available spring, summer and fall.
We would love to work with potential Eagle Scouts to accomplish some of these projects.
As a volunteer,
will I be allowed to ride a horse?
With every 30 hours of volunteering you can sign up for a lesson. We generally have 4 to 6 youth working enough to be having lessons
every other week throughout the year. This is a good thing for everyone because the more
our volunteers knows about
horses and the experience of riding, the better they will be able to assist in the lessons.
This is definitely a win-win situation!
Program
When can I sign up for riding lessons?
You may sign up for a lesson anytime except for the last week of each quarter,
when we are closed. Riding classes are assigned according to skill level.
After having your intake, the instructor will
recommend days and times available appropriate to your skill level and objectives.
Are scholarships available?
Yes Scholarships are available, and are handled one of two ways. 1) An individual/group
can donate money or 2) you may work directly with an agency/company to apply for assistance with funding. There have been times where volunteers
donate their earned lessons to those in need.
Do you have any small horses or ponies?
Yes we do. We currently have 19 horses, 3 of which are Icelandics and 2
of which are Fjords. Although considered “horses” in their
country, here in the US they are considered large ponies.
Do you offer Team Building Activities using the horses for Corporations?
We do. We usually limit these activities to groups of eight but can also rotate you to a riding experience to allow a larger number of people to be invited.
How do instructors become qualified to conduct
Hippotherapy?
Instructors do not conduct Hippotherapy. Those classes are offered by a licensed occupational, physical therapist or speech pathologist.
However, instructors receive special in-house training to blend their current teaching abilities with the considerations/techniques sometime
used during Hippotherapy. After the first year, instructors are asked to get their certification from PATH International
(Professional Association of Therapeutic Horsemanship). Our facility is a Member
Center of this organization.
How long are lessons?
We have 3 different lesson times:
1)
˝ hr Riding Lessons (no prepping of the horse)
2)
45 minutes, Equine Assisted Pyscho-therapy Sessions or Growth and Learning Activities
3)
1 hr Riding Lessons (15 minutes tacking/grooming, then 45 minutes on the horse)
How much do lessons cost?
They range from $15 to $150 depending on length of time and type of session.
Can parents watch?
Yes, we encourage parents to watch. We might, however, discuss with you moving out of their sight if they are focusing too much on you and not their instructor and support team.
Does my child have to have a disability to participate?
No, we allow what we term “general riders” on a limited basis. They, like those with disabilities, will be placed in classes
matching their ability level. They will not need to complete a “Medical Release” or participate in an intake process.
Is this safe for my child?
Good question. This is why our student riders begin with a “medical release” from the rider’s doctor.
Our goal is to “do no harm”.
Please understand there are dangers inherit to working with horses. We
try to minimize any dangers by proper selection, and by having the
correct number of people assisting each rider as is indicated by their
present skill level. This being said, there are no guarantees.
Can I sign up for just one session?
For riders with disabilities yes, with this exception. Only if you have been a previous rider, which means your intake has already been completed. You might be asked to complete
and submit a current medical release if your previous release has expired.
General Riders can call to make a one-time riding
appointment, however a minimum of two weeks my be required based on
our current schedule. Our Weekly Riding Schedule is generally very full.
How old must my child be to participate?
Three years of age is required. However, if they are participating in a Hippotherapy Session conducted by a licensed professional
this requirement may be waived. We have had riders as young of 24 months old
participating in Hippotherapy.
Donating (as a 501c(3) we are happy to
give you a receipt for tax purposes)
Can I Sponsor a horse?
Absolutely! Many of our horses are older or have been rescued from
difficult situations and often need various supplements and special care. You can either sponsor a specific horse or
donate to the general horse fund. Anytime someone contributes we are
extremely grateful, as it allows up to continue this service our
community. It costs us about $1,300/year to properly care for each
animal (you can look at the horse section for the services and care given our wonderful partners).
Could I support a rider?
Yes, as this is probably one of the most rewarding ways of giving, and
you can remain anonymous. At the same time,
you could be told the day and time of the rider's lesson, to allow you to stop in and see how things were going.
We even offer an
update on the rider's participation which can be sent out every 6 weeks to
you.
Can I support specific riders with specific disabilities?
Yes, we have worked with private parties, companies and foundations who have wished to support
riders with specific disabilities.
We track our current riders and those coming to us during the intake process
as to their specific disabilities. You may either choose a specific
disability to sponsor or you may sponsor the general disability fund. If there is a large body of possible candidates
with the specific disability you would like to sponsor, then
we set up a rotation so as many as possible can benefit from financial relief.
Do you ever have improvement projects needing financial support?
Always! Currently we have a reservoir to re-line, two fencing projects, re-modeling a horse loafing shed
(to include a hay room) and
providing some outdoor lighting to an arena and surrounding paddocks.
All of these projects are needing donations to complete.
Could we organize our “giving” as employees of a company?
Yes, and currently we have a relationship like this with the Utah State Employees Charitable Fund. You might want to look at their website to see how they manage such a program.
Please call us if we may help.
Are there ways to donate other than money?
You bet!. You may give an “In-Kind” free or discounted product or
service donation that is needed or wanted by Courage Reins.
One way to make money is to save spending it to begin with! Currently we have discounted vendor companies for our IT, Veterinary and Farrier
services along with companies providing discounted products such as
glucosamine and licensed software. Likewise, as an individual or business, you might have new or used horse equipment, office supplies, flat screen TV’s, a used but serviceable ATV for dragging the arenas,
etc. This, so improves the quality of what we can offer and is greatly
appreciated. Feel free to get in touch with the Executive Director to brainstorm any ideas you have.
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