Volunteers = VIP’s (a/k/a Very Important People)
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For more than forty years, the Tall in the Saddle therapeutic horseback riding program has relied on volunteers throughout the community to support and maintain its continued success.
If you or your friends are interested in volunteering with the Tall in the Saddle Midland County 4-H Exceptional Riders Program, please review the following job descriptions and use the form below to contact our Lead Volunteer Coordinator Beth Hanson for more information. Each new volunteer needs to attend New Volunteer Orientation for appropriate training prior to being eligible to assist with our program classes and must submit forms listed below. In our weekly classes we utilize volunteers primarily as horse leaders and side walkers, although assistance with grooming and tacking up horses and ring set-up is sometimes required. |
Volunteer Opportunities
Horse Leader
Provide a safety measure so that the horse will never be out of control of the rider.
Provide a safety measure so that the horse will never be out of control of the rider.
Sidewalkers
Walk alongside of the horse sometimes providing physical support to the student and sometimes just reinforcing the commands of the instructor or offering emotional support.
Walk alongside of the horse sometimes providing physical support to the student and sometimes just reinforcing the commands of the instructor or offering emotional support.
Greeter/Gopher
Welcomes students and parents, assists with student helmet selection and correct fit, prompts students to do warm-up stretches or exercises to prepare for mounting their horse and riding.
Welcomes students and parents, assists with student helmet selection and correct fit, prompts students to do warm-up stretches or exercises to prepare for mounting their horse and riding.
Ring Set-Up
Follow the riding instructor’s plan, before classes start, to set up the ring equipment (poles, PVC logs, barrels, etc.).
Follow the riding instructor’s plan, before classes start, to set up the ring equipment (poles, PVC logs, barrels, etc.).
Grooming
Horse grooming and tacking up before classes.
Horse grooming and tacking up before classes.
Organizing Committee
Bring your organizing and or fund-raising talents to the table and join the planning committee!
Bring your organizing and or fund-raising talents to the table and join the planning committee!
4-H Volunteer Requirements
MSU has implemented new steps to take in the process of signing up to be a volunteer to keep everyone safe. We are excited to introduce this new system, as it will protect not only our children but also our volunteers and all that are involved. It will be a ONE TIME only process for most of it, and then each year after will be a breeze to renew.
In a nutshell, our volunteers must all be registered and approved to be “Gold Status 4-H Volunteers”. Below are the steps in the process:
Step One: Reach out to us via the contact form below and let us know you want to volunteer and are working on the next steps. If you are already a Gold Status 4-H Volunteer then bonus! You an skip to Step 5!.
Step Two:
Step Three: After completing the application, click on “My Trainings” to launch your training programs. They will take about 2 ½ -3 hours of time to complete and are a 1-time requirement.
Step Four: Following completion of all the above steps, you will be contacted by an MSU Extension support team member to be interviewed.
Step Five: Once you have been notified of an approved GOLD VOLUNTEER status, go to MSU’s “4-H Online” and register as a Gold 4-H Volunteer with Tall in the Saddle.
Once those things are in place, you’re, shall we say, “Good as Gold”!
That’s it!! Then we can schedule your volunteer times with Tall in the Saddle.
Annually you will have to sign in to MSU’s “Volunteer Central” around your anniversary date and fill out a couple of questions to allow an annual background check. They will send a reminder via email. Then, every September 1st you would need to log in to MSU’s “4-H Online” to register for Tall in the Saddle.
In a nutshell, our volunteers must all be registered and approved to be “Gold Status 4-H Volunteers”. Below are the steps in the process:
Step One: Reach out to us via the contact form below and let us know you want to volunteer and are working on the next steps. If you are already a Gold Status 4-H Volunteer then bonus! You an skip to Step 5!.
Step Two:
- Go to MSU’s “Volunteer Central” at https://msu.samaritan.com/custom/502/volunteer_home and Click Apply
- Review the Acknowledgements and click YES to proceed.
- Role: The role you are applying for is Gold.
- Program: 4H Youth Development
- Enter the required information and any optional fields you choose.
- Click Proceed to the Next Steps and review the information on the following screens and accept any required until the application is complete.
- References: Name, email address, address, and phone number for up to five references (at least three must respond). Please contact your references in advance and ask them to respond to watch for the email and respond ASAP. References can be professional or personal references, excluding family members and relatives. They can also be any of the other volunteers that have been approved through the process as well.
Step Three: After completing the application, click on “My Trainings” to launch your training programs. They will take about 2 ½ -3 hours of time to complete and are a 1-time requirement.
Step Four: Following completion of all the above steps, you will be contacted by an MSU Extension support team member to be interviewed.
Step Five: Once you have been notified of an approved GOLD VOLUNTEER status, go to MSU’s “4-H Online” and register as a Gold 4-H Volunteer with Tall in the Saddle.
Once those things are in place, you’re, shall we say, “Good as Gold”!
That’s it!! Then we can schedule your volunteer times with Tall in the Saddle.
Annually you will have to sign in to MSU’s “Volunteer Central” around your anniversary date and fill out a couple of questions to allow an annual background check. They will send a reminder via email. Then, every September 1st you would need to log in to MSU’s “4-H Online” to register for Tall in the Saddle.
Volunteer Training
Volunteer training is scheduled prior to each session. Returning volunteers are encouraged to review the volunteer training video below prior to each session.
