Providing attention and care for 14 equines, many of which have special needs, every day is a critical task at the farm. That is why we developed a volunteer program. We get the help we need to be able to provide for the horses and our vounteers recieve hands on training in horse care, stable management and basic veterinary/first aid skills. Many of our volunteers are able to fufill community service requirements for thier schools. Several of our volunteers have gone on to get jobs in barn management and the critical skills that enable them to become successful horse owners. Our volunteers are an invaluable part of our programs.
Volunteers typically sign up to perform evening feed shifts which include feeding of the horses, mucking of stalls and fields and weather appropriate tasks such as blanketing, bathing and trough scrubbing. Shifts typically occur in the late afternoon/early evening and last from 1 to 3 hours depending on the amount of volunteers assigned to a shift. Many volunteers like to spend extra time with a special horse they connect with. The horses enjoy the additional treats, grooming and extra attention. We accept volunteers as young as 10 to work under supervision in the barn. No horse experience is required and we provide continual training.
Spending time with horses gives our youth a positive outlet for their energy and talents. Working in the barn gets young people off the couch and into the fresh air. The barn chores are a great way to get active and the responsibilites given to the volunteers help to take the focus off oneself and put that focus into the care of another living being that needs you. Life lessons learned from horses are invaluable and the sheer presence of a horse can be therapeutic in many ways. At Hidden Haven Farm we take pride in offerring a supportive, caring environment that allows our youth to grow into responsible adults while nurturing their spirits.
If you'd like to apply for a volunteer position, please contact us! info@bigpurplebarnbowie.org or barbara@bigpurplebarnbowie.org or call Barbara at 301-613-6390