Draft of 20141107
Volunteer Manual
Welcome to our corps of GallopNYC volunteers – dedicated, enthusiastic, caring, responsible,and knowledgeable people who work with our riders with disabilities.
This manual is designed to get you started with all the information you will need as a volunteer. We will provide you with training at our sessions, and we have additional information available if you wish to learn more, which we do encourage. Feel free to ask questions. We value our volunteers and believe you are the heart of GallopNYC.
This packet contains:
- Volunteer FAQ
- Tips and Guidelines for Volunteers
- Duties and Roles. Tips for each Role
- Tips for Working with People who have Disabilities
- Policies on Treatment of Confidential Information, Volunteer Behavior and Volunteer Dismissal
- Emergency Procedures and Weather/Epidemic Policy
- Job Descriptions for Side Walkers and Lead Walkers, Volunteer Leaders and Paddock Masters
- Volunteer Orientation Checklist
- References and Further Reading
Important Phone Numbers:
Beth McReynolds, Site Coordination Supervisor
(212) 947-5354,
James Wilson, Operations Director
(646) 450-1618,
Peter Byrne, Program Manager
(646) 413-0469,
GallopNYC Volunteer FAQ
As of August 2013
Thank you for contacting GallopNYC’s Therapeutic Riding Program! We are delighted to hear from you and hope
you will join our volunteer team.
About GallopNYC
1. What is GallopNYC?
2. Who can benefit from therapeutic riding?
3. What is the difference between therapeutic riding and hippotherapy?
4. How do I contact you?
About Volunteering for GallopNYC
5. What do GallopNYC volunteers do?
6. Does a volunteer need experience with horses or people with disabilities?
7. What type of commitment do you expect of volunteers?
8. What is the minimum age for volunteering?
9. How do I sign up to volunteer?
Program Schedule and Location of Stables
10. When do you need the help of volunteers?
11. Do you have opportunities for volunteering on the weekends or in the summer?
12. How do we get to the stable?
Specific Questions –13. Do volunteers have the opportunity to ride?
14. What should volunteers wear?
15. When are lessons cancelled?
16. Can GallopNYC verify my hours for school or other requirements?
17. What do people say about GallopNYC?
About GallopNYC:
1. What is GallopNYC?
We are a nonprofit organization based in New York City that offers therapeutic horsemanship programs to children and adults with disabilities. We serve 300 riders a week and operate our riding program at four main locations, though our schedule at each varies with the season:
1. Prospect Park's Bowling Green, an outdoor site adjacent to Prospect Park;
2. Lynne’s Riding School in Forest Hills, Queens;
3. Jamaica Bay Riding Academy on the Belt Parkway in Brooklyn;
4. Bronx Equestrian Center, 6 Shore Rd,, Bronx, NY.
Therapeutic horsemanship uses the pleasures and skills of horseback riding and horse knowledge to build
developmental, emotional, social, and physical skills for each individual rider.
Under the direction of a PATH International certified instructor, supported by trained volunteers, each rider progressively acquires riding skills and measurable improvements in life skills. Through weekly sessions, we help riders walk, talk, connect, focus, behave, learn, and have FUN! We also offer hippotherapy services.
2. Who can benefit from therapeutic riding?
We think that just about anyone will benefit from our therapeutic horsemanship program. GallopNYC works with children, youth, and adults who face developmental, emotional, social, and physical challenges. Our riders have a wide range of disabilities including learning disabilities, autism spectrum disorder, cerebral palsy, and developmental, speech and language delays. We also work with at-risk teens
and children exposed to domestic violence. We focus on the individual with compassion in an enjoyable, supportive, and rewarding learning environment. GallopNYC helps our riders achieve their life goals. As one volunteer observed: “I have marveled to see how much people are capable of when you don't limit the expectations put upon them.”
GallopNYC knows from experience that therapeutic riding is a uniquely effective and engaging form of therapy for people dealing with various disabilities, and growing research is providing evidence to back this up, with two clear themes emerging:
1) The combination of effective physical and cognitive tasking in a motivating context enables people with disabilities to more rapidly attain needed skills, and
2) A bonding relationship with a horse opens individuals to better acceptance of counseling, therapy, or
training.
Therapeutic riding provides concrete benefits, as demonstrated in a recent study that found that a 1-week
therapeutic horseback riding intervention with children diagnosed with [Autism Spectrum Disorders] and result in significant improvement,” specifically in measures of “self-regulation, adaptive expressive language skills, motor skills, and verbal/praxis/motor planning skills” (R.L. Gabriels, Research in Autism Spectrum Disorders).
These research results are consistent with anecdotal reports from parents and teachers, who report gains in
attention span and communication skills that carry over to the home and the classroom. As one teacher of
students with autism spectrum disorders said, "We have been able to use GallopNYC as a springboard for
academic tasks....We have seen astronomical changes in posture, balance, muscle control, body awareness, concentration,[reduced] self stimulatory behaviors, language, socialization, patience and sensory integration." A special needs teacher from an NYC public school wrote: “It is amazing to watch my unruliest students calm down, my most scattered students focus, my quietest students shout, and my least expressive students laugh when they interact with you and the horses… I feel like we can never do enough to express our gratitude."
3. What is the difference between therapeutic riding and hippotherapy?
Therapeutic riding lessons teach an individual to ride, which typically offers many therapeutic benefits. Lessons are conducted by a PATH International certified therapeutic riding instructor employed by GallopNYC. Lessons are typically in a group format with up to three riders. A lesson may consist of the teaching of horsemanship skills, such as the care of the horse and equipment, how to lead, and proper vocabulary, in addition to or instead of riding.
Hippotherapy sessions are offered by a physical therapist trained in Hippotherapy, a method that uses the horse as a physical therapy tool, with less emphasis on learning to ride.
4. How do I contact you?
Email us at or call 917-727-1241.
About Volunteering for GallopNYC:
5. What do GallopNYC volunteers do?
Most of our volunteers help us by leading horses (“lead-walking”) and assisting our riders (“side-walking”) during riding lessons.
GallopNYC volunteers may be trained to be Volunteer Leaders. This role includes managing the session’s
volunteers, greeting volunteers as they arrive for their shift, assigning duties, orienting new volunteers to our program and introducing them to our team, answering questions, helping to make sure each volunteer is involved, and maintaining volunteer logs and data entry.
Experienced GallopNYC volunteers who have significant experience with horses may be trained to be a Paddock Master. The Paddock Master is responsible for, among other duties, preparing the horses for the lessons. Volunteers also help with fundraising, web design, and as support for special programs and activities.
6. Does a volunteer need experience working with horses or people with
disabilities?
No prior experience working with horses or people with disabilities is necessary. You will be provided with the information and training required during our orientation sessions and on an ongoing basis.
7. What type of commitment do you expect of volunteers?
We ask our volunteers who wish to help during our lessons to commit to a minimum of two hours a week for an 11-week period. If you must miss a shift, we ask that you give a minimum of 24 hours advance notice to the Volunteer Coordinator.
8. What is the minimum age for volunteering?
We accept volunteers as young as 16 years of age.
9. How do I sign up to volunteer?
To sign up for an Orientation go to: Once you register, we will send you the forms you need to bring with you to the orientation. At the orientation, you can talk to the Volunteer Coordinator about the different volunteer jobs and sign up for a volunteer shift. If you do not have access to the Internet, call 646-281-4268 and ask for an application packet and information on orientation dates to be mailed to you.
Program Schedule and Location of Stables
10. When do you need the help of volunteers?
Since the majority of our volunteers help with the lessons, our greatest need for volunteers arises during the program year, which currently runs from September through June, divided into three 11-week sessions. We offer lessons most days of the week at one of our three locations. Our lessons generally take place between the hours of 10:00 AM and 6:30 PM. Our schedule follows the public school schedule.
Throughout the year we often need volunteers to help with special projects and activities. When you fill out the volunteer registration form you have the opportunity to indicate whether you are interested in assisting with, for example, special activities or fundraising.
11. Do you have opportunities for volunteering on the weekends or in summer?
We have opportunities to volunteer on weekends at Bowling Green and Lynne's Riding School.
Opportunities in the summer are limited. Contact with questions.
12. How do we get to the stable?
GallopNYC offers its program at four locations. All information about the locations can be found on our website at You can also look up door-to-door subway directions using Additional links for specific stable directions are below:
Bowling Green in the Parade Grounds Section of Prospect Park, Brooklyn, NY Location: in the Parade Grounds section of the Park; South of Parkside Ave.; on the corner of Coney Island Ave. and Caton Ave. (note: Caton Ave. is a different street than Caton Place which is 2 blocks away.)
Lynne’s Riding School, 88-03 70th Rd. Forest Hills, Queens 11375
See
Jamaica Bay Riding Academy, Shore Parkway, Brooklyn NY See
Bronx Equestrian Center, 6 Shore Rd,, Bronx, NY. See
Specific Questions:
13. Do volunteers have the opportunity to ride?
Although there may be a chance once in a while for a volunteer to ride, it is not a regular occurrence.
Private riding lessons are offered at all four stables at which we offer our program. You can arrange a lesson or discuss trail riding opportunities directly with the stable.
14. What should volunteers wear?
Volunteers should dress appropriately for the weather, as we do not have heat or A/C in the arenas. Volunteers should wear long pants and closed toe shoes or boots with heels. Jewelry and hair ornaments can catch on the horse’s mane and tail and should not be worn to lessons. Lessons at Bowling Green in Prospect Park are held outdoors, so consider wearing a hat and bringing sunscreen.
15. When are lessons cancelled?
Except on Saturdays, our lessons run rain or shine, as we have access to enclosed indoor arenas. However, if the temperature is, or is predicted to be, 90 degrees Fahrenheit or above, or 25 degrees Fahrenheit or below, lessons will be cancelled. In the event of an epidemic or pandemic, GallopNYC will follow the guidance of the city health officials for school closings. Every effort will be made to contact volunteers by email when we cancel lessons. We also post cancellations on our web site and Facebook group. If in doubt, you may contact the Volunteer Coordinator.
16. Can GallopNYC verify my hours for school or other requirements?
We can provide formal letters of verification with 5-7 days notice. For informal verification of hours, please give us 48-hours notice. Contact to request verification of hours.
(Remember to always sign in and out when you volunteer.)
17. What do people say about GallopNYC?
A list of links to press about GallopNYC’s therapeutic riding program can be found on our website at
Tips and Guidelines for GallopNYC Volunteers
No matter what horse background you come from, or the extent of your experience, please be aware that there are special guidelines that must be followed in a therapeutic riding program, which may be contrary to practices you are used to. Please try and do things the GallopNYC way.
RELIABILITY AND RESPONSIBILITY are the two most important requirements for a volunteer. We depend on our volunteers and need a firm commitment for whatever time you feel you can give us. If you are unable to come at your designated time, please contactyour Site Coordinator or the Site Coordinator Supervisor. Please note that your duties begin 30 minutes before the session starts.
Calendar:Our schedule is posted on Google calendar (see References page). Classes are held rain or shine, except for those at Bowling Green and some of those at Jamaica Bay. We post cancellations on our web site at
and on Facebook at
If in doubt, please call or email the Site Coordinator or the Site Coordinator Supervisor.
Please remember to sign in and sign out each time you volunteer. First, check in with the on-site volunteer leader. By signing in, you help us keep track ofwho is on the premises at any given time, which is important in case of an emergency. It also helps us to track the number of volunteer hours given to GallopNYC during the course of each week. These statistics are vital for our fundraising and allow us to thank you for your service.
Substance abuse and smoking policy: GallopNYC is an alcohol-, drug- and smoke-free environment. If you must smoke, we ask that you do so out of sight and never in the stable or arena. Every member of the GallopNYC team is a role model for the riders in our program.
DRESS CODE: Long pants and sturdy shoes are a must. We recommend that you remove jewelry (and leave it at home). Long hair should be tied back and a cap is a good idea. Barn facilities are not heated or air-conditioned, so dress appropriately for the weather.
A few other tips may be helpful:Be sure to observe our confidentiality policy.
NEVER be alone with a rider.
Let the riding instructor handle the instruction; let the rider do the riding. Your job is to assist.
Horses love treats but if we feed them too much it distracts them from the lesson. At Bowling Green, only feed carrots after the riders are dismounted and only with the permission of the instructor. Be very careful to protect a rider’s fingers (and yours) if feeding a horse. Please note that we are not permitted to feed treats to any horse at Lynne’s Riding School.
We want to hear from you! Please take concerns and suggestions to the Site Coordinator, Site Coordinator Supervisor, or Program Director.
Go out of your way to be courteous and considerate of staff at the Stables– they are running a business and meeting customer needs and we try not to get in their way.
There is plenty to do at GallopNYC. Feel free to volunteer for jobs other than handling horses, such as tidying up, organizing tack, or helping with special events or administrative work.
BUT DON’T BURN OUT!!! Be prepared – the more you do the more we will ask you to do! So learn to say no and don’t feel guilty about it. We want you to stay around for a long time. THANK YOU for VOLUNTEERING!!!
HELMET FITTING GUIDELINES
Proper helmet fit is the responsibility of the instructor, however you may be asked to help.
First, make sure you have the back in back – the manufacturers name usually is in the back and the brim, if any, goes in the front.
Ask the rider to remove or adjust hair clips, hats, caps, ties, and other items that might make the helmet fit uncomfortably.
Once on the head, there should be no more than 2 fingers width and no less than one fingers width between the eyebrow and the helmet.
The helmet should be snug enough to be secure. When you move it up and down, the skin on the forehead should move with it. Some models allow adjustment from outside the helmet, for others you will have to remove the helmet to adjust it.
The harness clips under the rider’s chin and the strap should be snug but comfortable.
DUTIES AND ROLES
Paddock Master – Volunteer designated to assist Instructor in operation of lessons, liaise with stable to assign horses, oversee grooming and tacking, clear arena, set up mounting block and ramp, open doors and similar tasks to ensure GallopNYC is ready to accept riders. Also keeps time and makes sure paperwork is completed (rider logs and instructor logs).
Volunteer Leader– Person designated to act as liaison with volunteers. The Volunteer Leader assigns volunteers, keeps attendance logs, helps train volunteers, collects paperwork for volunteers (logs and releases) and gives to Volunteer Coordinator and/or enters data into Salesforce.
Side-walker Qualifications and Responsibilities:
Qualifications:
- Able to walk/jog for up to an hour at a time (indoors and outdoors) on uneven surfaces
- Able to hold arm raised and out to the side for extended periods of time
- Able to hear, speak, and understand instructions in English
- Minimum age of sixteen years
- Horse experience welcome
Responsibilities: