VOLUNTEERS…THE HEART OF MVHR
Volunteers Scott and Louise with their Hopeful Hearts partners Carmel and Babe.
Volunteer Cody with his Hopeful Hearts partner Rio.
Volunteer Vicky and her Hopeful Hearts partner Angel.
Racey is loving her winter grooming!
Spring Fling! 2024 was a great success! Thank you to everyone who came out for pancakes, ponies, and projects! From new visitors to seasoned volunteers, we were excited to welcome you all. We appreciate your hard work that helped us get the ranch ready for summer. It was also the perfect opportunity to recognize the efforts of all of our incredibly dedicated Volunteers as we celebrate you during National Volunteer Appreciation Month.
Did you know that over the past 12 months, 145 Volunteers have given over 2,040 hours to Mountain Valley Horse Rescue?! Wow!! THANK YOU!
A big shout out to the Herota Family who generously sponsors our Volunteer Program! Thank you!
NEW VOLUNTEERS ARE ALWAYS WELCOME! Mountain Valley Horse Rescue could not exist without our dedicated volunteers. Our goal is to provide each volunteer with an experience that connects you to our rescue horses and keeps you coming back. And best of all, no horse experience is needed! MVHR provides introductory and ongoing training to help you develop a variety of horsemanship skills, allowing you to spend time with the horses in a variety of roles based on your interests. We want your experience at MVHR to be meaningful and fulfilling.
Community Volunteer Days and Volunteer Orientation
Saturday, April 27, 10 am ~ 1 pm and Saturday, May 18, 10 am ~ 1 pm
All ages, individuals, families and groups are welcome and no horse experience is necessary!! We’ll introduce you to MVHR, provide a tour of our facilities, then get to scoopin’ poop, filling water troughs, and hanging out with the horses. For those who are interested in becoming a returning volunteer, we’ll teach you all you need to know to come back to the Rescue whenever you would like.
Lunch is provided, so please email volunteer@mvhr.net to let us know you’ll be there.
Bring a refillable water bottle, sunscreen, hat and jacket, and wear closed-toe shoes that can get dusty and dirty. See you then!!
STAY TUNED FOR UPCOMING CONTINUING EDUCATION AND HOPEFUL HEARTS MATCHING DATES!
THANK YOU to everyone who has participated in our Community Volunteer Days and to those who have already returned to visit the horses and help with chores. If you haven’t had a chance to return yet, we hope to see you soon, and if you would like a refresher or have someone there when you do come back, just send an email to volunteer@mvhr.net and we’ll be happy to support you on your return to the Rescue.
Once you’ve attended a Volunteer Orientation, come on up anytime between 9am and sunset to pitch in with any of these chores. Drop-ins are welcome, but if you know ahead of time and would like to be added to the schedule, email us at volunteer@mvhr.net. Here are some fun ways you can volunteer at the Rescue:
Corral Catering - Water needs to be topped off throughout the day, and the horses will love you for it!
Manure Meditations - What more valuable way to spend time than putting a corner of the world to rights, and all for the horses?! There's always plenty of manure to go around, and whether you scoop one corral or five, every single pile picked up helps the horses stay happy and healthy....and you too;)!
Once you’ve volunteered 10+ hours, you are ready to help with:
Grooming Gurus - For those who can’t wait to get in there and curry and comb and get all the dirt and tangles out! Grooming helps improve the health of each and every horse, and this is a great way to get to know the herd!
Tuesday Tech - Both the vet and the farrier are at the ranch on Tuesdays, and that makes for a busy day when we could use extra hands to help handle horses! You can learn to be a "Tech" and assist with catching and holding horses while they have their vet and farrier treatments, and even help with any ongoing treatments they may need on other days of the week.
OTHER WAYS TO VOLUNTEER!
Maintenance Assistants - the ranch, facilities, and equipment are always in need of maintenance, repairs, and improvements. Lend a hand to our Director of Maintenance in keeping everything running smoothly!
Program Assistants - help program staff introduce groups who visit the rescue to horses, chores, the work that MVHR does and the reasons behind it!
Special Events - spread the word about MVHR and act as an ambassador for the horses at events at the ranch and in the community.
Administrative Help - filing, data entry, editing, design, and communications (most could be done from home!)
Fundraising and Development - helping MVHR continue to help horses by garnering financial support from our communities.
Volunteer Appreciation Program
Thank you, thank you, thank you! Our Volunteer Appreciation Program provides exclusive perks and programs just for our Volunteers as a way to express our appreciation. As you volunteer hours and work your way up the Volunteer Milestones ladder, we’ll show our gratitude with special gifts including MVHR Volunteer t-shirts, gift certificates for MVHR gear, your name on our Volunteer Honor Plaque, and more. If you choose to participate in our Hopeful Hearts Program, you will have the opportunity to be matched with a Rescue horse that you will nurture and work with on their Journey of Hope to help move them toward adoption. As a Pass It On Partner, you will receive a very special gift each time you bring a friend to the Rescue who completes volunteer orientation and volunteers 10+ hours.
VOLUNTEER TIPS:
Be prepared for changing weather and the mud and dirt that come with a horse ranch.
Bring a jacket, hat, sunscreen, refillable water bottle, and snacks.
Wear comfortable, closed-toe shoes, and clothes that can get dirty.
Be ready for a fun and fulfilling day with the horses!
We would like to thank the Herota Family for
generously sponsoring our Volunteer Program.
