By volunteering for our program, you can be a special part of this mission.

Therapeutic riding is an alternative treatment that uses horseback riding to improve a rider’s strength, balance, concentration, flexibility, motor skills, and self-esteem. Originating in Europe in the 1960s, therapeutic riding quickly evolved into a proven method for helping people with autism, cerebral palsy, spina bifida, Down’s syndrome, and other disabilities. Using a horse as the therapist, our specially trained instructors and volunteers teach students to groom, tack-up, and ride a horse.

Bonita Equestrian is extremely dependent on its volunteers! Most of our Volunteers (are needed to) help out before, during, and after the students’ lessons. It can take up to three volunteers to safely allow one student to ride in a class – one person to lead the horse and two to walk beside the student. It is common to have at least 4 to 6 volunteers in the arena during a lesson, plus other volunteers preparing the horses for the next lesson. The Instructor and Volunteer Captains assign specific responsibilities to each volunteer for each day. Without the required number of volunteers per rider, the lessons must be cancelled. As you can see, volunteers are heartbeat of our program!

(Additionally) However, Bonita Equestrian also relies on volunteers for office administration duties, preparing for special events, fundraising, grant writing, and more! If you have special training or talent, you can probably put it to good use at our program! Just ask us how!

We invite you to join us in this exciting and rewarding work! Please call our office at 619-475-9056 if you are interested. Our street address is 2974 Equitation Lane in Bonita.