Volunteer, How You Can Help

Volunteers are the heartbeat of Barnabas. Whether it’s grooming horses, mucking stalls, assisting with special needs kids and adults, fundraising, or helping at an event, we have a place for you! No experience? No problem! We will help you learn everything you need to know.

Here are ways you can be involved:

Horse Feeding and Care

this includes feeding, grooming, bathing, holding horses for the farrier, etc.

Farm Chores

this includes mucking stalls, mowing, weed eating, cleaning water troughs, dragging the pastures, keeping the barn clean and fences in good repair, etc.

Special Needs

whether the kids and adults are learning safe horse handling and care or hopping on for therapeutic riding, this is a fun group that could always use more helping hands.

Fundraising

Feeding twenty-seven therapy horses is not cheap! You can help by promoting events, acquiring silent auction items, join the crafting committee, and selling T-shirts, squeeze horses, and horseshoe art. You can also have your own peer-to-peer fundraising campaign on social media with the proceeds being donated to Barnabas. Every little bit counts!

Events

We have several FUN events throughout the year. Do you like to play? Dress like an elf and join the merry making at Santa’s Castle as we take photos with Santa at the Dickens Christmas Show. Do you like to talk? Sign-up for a two-hour time slot at the Home Builders’ Show, Chili Cook-Off, Blessing of the Inlet, craft fairs, victim advocacy conferences, etc. Do you like to serve? Decorate? Sign up for the one of the following teams: Hoedown, Hot Chocolate and Horses, Blue Ribbon Days, Cornhole tournament, and the Pony Swim.

Whether you have two hours available once a month, once a week, or every day, we could use the help. It takes a village to keep the barn doors open!

Volunteers must be sixteen years of age or older and undergo a background check. To get started, email Volunteers@BarnabasHorse.org or SueM@BarnabasHorse.org.

A Few Words From Our Volunteers

Michele G (Volunteer)

The staff at Barnabas put their heart and soul into building a trusting and mutual relationship with the horses that aid their clients in their trauma journey. Because of this focus on relationship building, I’ve personally watched the coordination amongst equine professional, therapist, client, and horse transform and reshape how trauma is understood and managed, so their life experiences are no longer overwhelming. Barnabas is truly a safe space to work through difficult life events.

Michele G (Volunteer)

Joanne (Volunteer)

I love my time as a volunteer at Barnabas because I have formed wonderful relationships with both people and horses. I believe fully in what Barnabas stands for and that’s why I choose to give my time freely here.

Joanne (Volunteer)

Melissa (Volunteer)

I was fascinated with the idea of equine therapy and decided Barnabas was the perfect place to volunteer. Now, it’s the highlight of my week. Time slows down when I step into the barn and gives me a sense of peace and relaxation. Working with the horses is hard and messy but I find it one of the most rewarding experiences of my life.

Melissa (Volunteer)

Dave (Volunteer)

To me, it is rewarding to give my time to feed & take care of the animals at Barnabas Horse Foundation, and ask for nothing in return, A simple “Thank You”, at the end of my shift, means a world of appreciation, and as a Veteran the work they do for us can’t be put into words.

Having learned of their mission, and each horse’s life story, has been an experience and an honor to be a part of it.

Dave (Volunteer)

Kim R. (Volunteer)

Love volunteering at Barnabas, feels like extended family. Love seeing the smiles on the kid’s faces and the progress they have made from their first day. The kindness and care shown to the horses is exemplary!

Kim R. (Volunteer)

Steve H. (Volunteer)

One of my favorite things about Barnabas is getting to be with the herd and helping keep the farm looking and running as well as possible.  And I LOVE knowing that the work I do helps everyone involved, from the horses and mules that have been rescued to our deserving and appreciative clients.

Steve H. (Volunteer)