“Volunteers are love in motion!” ~Unknown

VOLUNTEERS

SIRE riders rely on the dedication of our incredible volunteers. Annually, SIRE volunteers donate 1,000’s of hours of service. This can be equal up to 10 full-time employees working for the entire year!

Volunteers assist our riders in a variety of ways, both inside and outside the riding arena. In the arena, volunteers are side walkers (providing physical and verbal support) and horse leaders (assuring safe horse handling during each session). Outside the arena volunteers tack horses, clean stalls, do minor repairs, assist in the office and much more.

Volunteers can:
Be a SIDE WALKER – No horse experience is needed. You’ll be responsible for supporting the rider during the lesson, which can involve anything from providing physical support while they’re on the horse to occasionally helping redirect their focus.

Be a HORSE LEADER – Horse experience is required. You’ll be responsible for leading the horse during lessons and occasionally assisting with tacking up the horse.

Requirements – Side walkers and horse leaders must be able to walk for 30 minutes, jog briefly, and support a moderate amount of weight. The minimum age for volunteers is 14. Younger volunteers may assist with tasks outside the arena under parental supervision. A background check through Verified First is required, with a fee of $25.

Volunteer OUTSIDE THE ARENA – You can participate on a board committee or serve on a committee for one of our two annual fundraising events. Publicity is always a great way to spread the word about SIRE. You can help connect SIRE with the public by promoting us to different media outlets such as newspapers, television, radio, magazines and and share and interact with our posts on social media. Other volunteer opportunities include helping in the administrative office and with special events. If you have time to donate, we have a project for you! For more information about volunteering at SIRE, please call 281-356-7588 or email sireoffice@sire-htec.org. Thank you.

Are you interested in volunteering with SIRE? Just fill out the form below. Once received, we will contact you to set up a schedule.

VOLUNTEER SIGNUP

CONTACT INFO

First
Last

For more information about Volunteer Opportunities at SIRE, call or email our Volunteer Coordinators:

Brooke Wrzyszczynski // Fort Bend
(346) 261-1403 or
brooke@sire-htec.org

For questions about schedules, messages, etc. click the button below to log into Fort Bend VicNet.

SIRE Volunteers VicNet – Fort Bend

Julia Stephan // Spring
(832) 535-2209 or
julia@sire-htec.org

For questions about schedules, messages, etc. click the button below to log into Spring VicNet.

SIRE Volunteers VicNet – Spring

Please download our volunteer flyer and share at work, school, church, with friends and family.

Calendar of Events

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“We came because of the horses, and we stayed because of the people.”

Two SIRE Volunteers
A boy and his horse

FAQs

SIRE serves adults and children with a wide variety of special needs including, but not limited to cerebral palsy, autism, Down syndrome, multiple sclerosis, developmental delay, attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder, traumatic brain injury and spinal cord injury.

Through equine-assisted activities and therapies, our riders experience the many benefits of therapeutic horsemanship described below. Our mission is to improve the quality of life for people with special needs through therapeutic horsemanship activities and therapies and educational outreach.

Volunteers can:
Be a SIDE WALKER – Walk beside the rider and their horse in order to assist with balance and reinforce the instructor’s directions. No horse experience needed.

Be a LEADER – Lead the horse in the class and possibly groom and tack up the horse. Prior horse experience IS necessary. Volunteers will work with the horses from the ground and not be asked to ride.

Requirements – Side walkers and horse leaders must be able to walk for 30 minutes, be able to jog briefly, and possibly support a moderate amount of weight. The minimum age is 14. Younger volunteers may be asked to participate in opportunities outside the arena (see below) with parental supervision.

Volunteer outside the arena – Fundraising, publicity, office help, special events, etc.

SIRE’s program is broken into three semesters through the year.
Spring Semester – 16 weeks      Summer Semester – 6 weeks Fall      Semester – 14 weeks

We ask volunteers to commit to at least once a week for the semester, as becoming a consistent part of a rider’s team is crucial to the success of our program. You will develop a rapport with the rider(s) you work with and help them build on their accomplishments from week to week.

If you cannot make a weekly commitment, we have a substitute volunteer system where volunteers come and fill in when their schedules allow.

The atmosphere at SIRE is upbeat and fun. The riders will amaze and inspire you. Some classes take place in a covered arena, while some are in an outdoor arena.

Please check our Calendar for the latest info.

Sessions are held Tuesday – Saturday with varying time blocks.

Yes. A background check through Verified First is required, with a fee of $25.

RIDE

Maximum of 4 riders.
Minimum age required 3 years old.

DONATE

Provide scholarships for riders
and equine care for SIRE horses.

VOLUNTEER

Sign up to volunteer inside or outside
the arena today.