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Volunteer Training

Volunteers extend your reach. They become brand ambassadors for your organization. And they help you do more without burning out.

Empowering Humans. Supporting Herds.

Strengthening Mission.

A strong Volunteer Program doesn’t just support your staff—it supports your why. When volunteers are trained with care, presence, and purpose, your entire operation benefits: horses are safer, staff are less overwhelmed, and your mission has more hands and hearts behind it.

WildHeart Equine partners with equine-assisted nonprofits to build and manage grounded, relationship-based volunteer training programs. With a trauma-informed, horse-centered approach, we create a structured system where volunteers grow into confident, capable contributors—anchored in mindfulness, attunement, and responsibility.

Why Start Here?

Before WildHeart can safely and meaningfully offer programming like The Unbridled Hour or WildHeart Journeys at your facility, we need time—time to observe, connect, and build trust with your horses.

This isn’t downtime. It’s groundwork.

Our Volunteer Training Program is intentionally designed as a first step, offering immediate value to your organization while allowing the essential time needed to understand your herd’s personalities, sensitivities, and unique dynamics.

Hiring WildHeart as a part-time staff member to build and manage your volunteer program ensures:

Equine familiarity before facilitation

I prioritize the safety, trust, and attunement of the horses and people, above all else.

Real-time impact

Even before additional programs begin, you gain a reliable, professional partner contributing to your team.

A phased, sustainable approach

This structure gives us space to grow into deeper programming without rushing the process—or the horses.

What You Gain:

Staff Support

Volunteers trained under WildHeart’s system can confidently take on daily chores, freeing your staff for medical care, training, and admin work.

Expanded Capacity

With trained volunteers in place, your team can serve more clients without burning out.

Eyes on the Herd

Volunteers learn what to watch for—catching behavioral shifts and minor injuries early, so horses get what they need, faster.

Community Advocacy

Volunteers become more than helpers—they become storytellers, spreading your mission into the community with heart and conviction.

Safety & Culture

My training doesn’t just cover tasks—it cultivates presence, emotional regulation, and deep respect for the horses and the work.

“Before taking Volunteer Training, I had only a little horse experience—but Polly’s guidance changed everything. This experience truly changed the course of my life, and I’ll always be grateful.”

— Lenore I.
Volunteer hired as Staff

What People Say

Before taking Volunteer Training, I had only a little horse experience —but Polly’s guidance changed everything. She has a unique and memorable way of teaching that helped me build real confidence and connection with the horses from the ground up. Her passion and support not only helped me grow, they helped me land a job on an equine care team. This experience truly changed the course of my life, and I’ll always be grateful.
Lenore I.
Volunteer hired as Staff
Before taking Volunteer Training, I had only a little horse experience—but Polly’s guidance changed everything. She has a unique and memorable way of teaching that helped me build real confidence and connection with the horses from the ground up. Her passion and support not only helped me grow, they helped me land a job on an equine care team. This experience truly changed the course of my life, and I’ll always be grateful.
Lenore I.
Volunteer hired as Staff
I wanted to build a two way relationship with horses based on trust and respect, not on manipulation and control. Polly showed me how to feel comfortable, safe, and trusting with horses by understanding horses’ natural instincts, behaviors, and their methods of communication. She helped me step out of my comfort zone and positively engage with 1 ,200 pound beings which certainly made other challenges in my life less intimidating.
Chris Barnes
Volunteer
I wanted to build a two way relationship with horses based on trust and respect, not on manipulation and control. Polly showed me how to feel comfortable, safe, and trusting with horses by understanding horses’ natural instincts, behaviors, and their methods of communication. She helped me step out of my comfort zone and positively engage with 1,200 pound beings which certainly made other challenges in my life less intimidating.
Chris Barnes
Volunteer
Polly knows how to foster an atmosphere of mutual respect and care between horses and humans. Her training often took me out of my comfort zone, but never out of my safety zone!
Bet LaRue
Volunteer
Polly knows how to foster an atmosphere of mutual respect and care between horses and humans. Her training often took me out of my comfort zone, but never out of my safety zone!
Bet LaRue
Volunteer
Before starting my volunteer journey, I had some fear around these majestic animals —they are so BIG! Polly is an amazing teacher who taught me to groom, feed, and care for the horses, which has changed my life. I now have purpose and direction at the farm, and understand the importance of the connection on a deep and personal level.
Amy Bogatch
Volunteer
Before starting my volunteer journey, I had some fear around these majestic animals—they are so BIG! Polly is an amazing teacher who taught me to groom, feed, and care for the horses, which has changed my life. I now have purpose and direction at the farm, and understand the importance of the connection on a deep and personal level.
Amy Bogatch
Volunteer

Let’s Talk.

Let’s create something that lasts—solid systems, supported staff, and a herd that feels safe, seen, and respected.

Ready to start with a foundation that grows into transformation?


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Volunteer Training

WildHeart Journeys

The Unbridled Hour

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About Me

Volunteer Training

WildHeart Journeys

The Unbridled Hour

Contact