It takes a bevy of volunteers to make Project Ride gallop around the arena even on a slow day. With only five paid staff members, a full day of therapeutic recreational rides for people with special needs might require the assistance of another 20 to 30 people depending on schedules.
Horses draw volunteers to Project Ride
Local people volunteer at Project Ride for various reasons but a main attraction in addition to helping people is working around horses. Many of the horse are in their golden years and seem to enjoy the calm environment of the arena as much as the volunteers and riders. Project Ride offers a unique opportunity for volunteers to hug a horse every day they work while sharing this equestrian affinity with others.
Indoor arena or sanctuary?
The 34,000 square foot enclosed equestrian center is almost like a sanctuary for the soul. Inside the large cavernous structure is this incredible open space filled with the muted voices of volunteers, riders and horses. Actually, horses are usually making the loudest noises when they whinny or snort. But under the tall roof there is this unique collision of the heart from the volunteers, joy of the riders and the mysterious presence of this large beast walking gently with a most vulnerable person astride his back.
Volunteer therapy
There are even rewards in the most humble of volunteer activities: grooming the horses, cleaning the stalls and general maintenance throughout the equestrian center. While picking up horse poop may not be as fulfilling as being Sidewalker when students ride, there is a peacefulness of physical activity without mental stress. My friend and Project Ride volunteer Rod Pugh echoed this sentiment to me as walked the grounds. The routine and predictable tasks of being a volunteer can be very therapeutic for our often stressed mental health condition.
Calm environment to focus and grow
Each rider will be attended by two Sidewalkers and a Leader. On busy days the indoor arena will have three horses being ridden for twenty minute intervals consecutively. The horses are continually being groomed, the facility being cleaned and riders prepared for their turn to ride. All this activity happens in a relatively quiet environment so that the rider can focus on the riding experience.
A trinity of care: rider, horse, volunteer
After spending a few hours watching the dance of the volunteers, I can see what drew my friend who is an engineer and educator by training to volunteer at Project Ride. The structure and rhythm of the day is very calming for the riders, horses and volunteers. Rarely have I witness such a unique symbiotic relationship where the psychological benefits for one can only be created in the presence of two others. When you are at Project Ride, you are never alone and always walking with friends.
