Curious about volunteering with us? Join our Volunteer Orientation event on August 20th at 5:30pm! This session includes a 1-hour informative discussion on volunteer position opportunities, followed by an exciting barn tour. Don't miss this chance to learn about our volunteer roles and explore our facility firsthand! The Volunteer Orientation event is NOT mandatory to apply as a volunteer and attend one of our training session in the future. Free session - Save your spot HERE

Join us for a celebration of the year at VTRA while observing the herd in the backfield. This family-friendly event is the perfect opportunity to relax, enjoy nature, and spend quality time with friends and loved ones. Date and Time: Saturday, July 11th from 11:30 am - 2:00 pm. What to Bring: Picnic essentials (food, beverages, blankets, or chairs). A few picnic tables will be set up in the ring, but plan to sit on the ground. So, bring your blankets or chairs for added comfo

A gentle reminder to follow our no-fragrance policy when coming to your shift. Did you know horses have an incredible sense of smell? They are estimated to have around 300 million olfactory receptors, compared to only 5–6 million in humans! That means strong scents like perfume, deodorant, or even heavily scented laundry detergent can be overwhelming or unsettling for them. Strong smells can: Distract or stress horses Interfere with their ability to read their environment Ma

When going behind a horse, always start by checking the situation. Is the horse relaxed? Are their ears or eyes on you? Awareness is key. Use a safety hand: Place your closest hand on the horse’s hindquarters Stay close to the horse, not far away, this helps the horse know where you are and allows you to feel if they shift Move smoothly and confidently, no sneaking or sudden movements Keep your path clear and intentional as you move from one side to the other Remember, most i

A great takeaway from Sharon Wilsie’s podcast is this: horses are always communicating — we just need to know how to listen. Horses use subtle body language (ears, head, movement, tension) to tell us how they’re feeling. When we pay attention, we can respond in a way that helps them feel safe, understood, and relaxed. As volunteers, you can support this by: Staying aware of the horse’s body language Giving the horse space and time to respond Keeping your own movements calm, c

Did you know that hippotherapy and adaptive (therapeutic) riding are not the same thing? Hippotherapy (Early Intervention Program on Friday mornings) is a medical therapy led by licensed professionals (like PTs, OTs, or SLPs), where the horse’s movement is used as a treatment tool. Adaptive riding (Lessons from Monday to Thursday) focuses on building confidence, independence, physical mobility, and overall wellbeing in a supportive environment, with riding skills as one piece