Change a life on a Tuesday afternoon
Heartland Heals relies on volunteers every week to make sessions possible. No horse experience needed. We’ll teach you everything.
Why people volunteer here
Because you get to be there for the moment a nervous child takes the lead rope for the first time. Because the barn is good for volunteers, too: fresh air, real work, and horses that are happy to see you. Because it’s a team of kind people doing something that matters, right here in Portage County.
Ways to help
Horse leader
Lead the horse during sessions, keeping it calm and moving safely. Some horse handling experience is helpful; we’ll train you on our horses.
Sidewalker
Walk beside a rider to offer balance, encouragement and an extra set of hands. No horse experience needed, just steady feet and a kind heart.
Barn & grounds
Grooming, tack cleaning, mucking, fence checks and general care. The work behind every good session.
Events & fundraising
Help plan and run community days, open houses and fundraisers, or spread the word around town.
Skilled help
Carpenters, photographers, grant writers, bookkeepers, designers. If you have a skill, we probably have a project.
Something else?
Tell us what you’d love to do. We’re always open to good ideas.
What it takes
- Volunteers 18 and older for most roles; ages 14–17 welcome with a parent or guardian’s permission
- A reliable schedule, even if it’s just a few hours a month
- Attending a volunteer orientation and safety training
- Comfort being on your feet outdoors and in a barn
- Respect for participants’ privacy
- A sense of humour (horses are funny)
We’ll train you
Every new volunteer goes through an orientation covering horse safety, how sessions work, and how to support participants with dignity. You’ll shadow experienced volunteers before taking on a role on your own.
Apply to volunteer
Takes about three minutes. We’ll reach out about the next orientation.