A place for every volunteer.
CHOOSE YOUR LEVEL OF ENGAGEMENT
Ranch Support
Support can include mucking; grounds upkeep; feeding and watering; building maintenance (construction/plumbing/ electrical); maintaining and driving farm equipment and trailers; administrative/office work; or volunteering at our thrift store.
Must complete volunteer orientation and Horse Handling 101 (below). Cost is a $40 nonrefundable donation.
Level 1-2* - Horse Handling 101
All ranch hands must complete Horse Handling 101 in addition to orientation. This class will be interactive and teach you how to approach, catch, halter, tie, open gates, lead forward and backward, groom, and lift and clean a horse’s feet. To register, click here. After completion and a skills assessment by our trainer, ranch hands earn the right to handle Level 1 and 2 horses. Minors (accompanied by an adult) may attend Horse Handling 101 and 102, but must be ages 12 and up to participate.
Horse Psychology 102
Prerequisite: Horse Handling 101
Volunteers will learn how horses think, why they behave the way they do, and how we can communicate them. Topics include common traits and behaviors, anatomy and physiology, body language, and more. Cost for this level of training is a $20 donation payable the day of the class.
Level 1-3* Horse Handling 103
Prerequisite: Horse Psychology 102
Ranch hands who want to handle Level 3 horses must successfully complete and be assessed for Horse Handling 103 where you will learn Ground Games, which are the basis for communication, trust and acceptance between handlers and horses. After completion, ranch hands earn the right to handle Level 1, 2 and 3 horses. Cost for this level of training is a $20 donation payable the day of the class. Minors (accompanied by an adult) must be ages 16 and up to participate in Horse Handling 103.
Level 1-4* Horse Handling - 104
Prerequisite: Horse Handling 103
This class provides both demonstrative and hands-on instruction on working higher-level horses. Topics range from teaching Ground Games, joining up with more challenging horses, saddle training, duress, trailering, and more. There's no end to this training. Upon the trainer's discretion, ranch hands can be assigned to work with a Level 1, 2, 3, or 4 horse.
Continuing Education
We also offer other periodic continuing education classes in horse handling, including advanced round pen work, trailer loading, catching difficult horses, duress, and more. Cost for these classes is a $20 donation payable the day of the class.
Every year, Walkin N Circles hosts an Adopt-a-thon, which includes a volunteer Training Challenge. This program usually lasts several weeks starting in May. Participating volunteers are paired with a horse and attend weekly Saturday classes where they are instructed on how to work their assigned horse through an in-hand obstacle course. At the end of the training period, volunteers will perform the in-hand course at the Adopt-a-Thon. Volunteers must have completed all levels of training and regularly attend 104 to be qualified to participate.
*Horse level descriptions
Check the ranch office for the most current status of each rescue horse.
Level 1: Can be easily caught, haltered, groomed, and led around the ranch.
Level 2: Can be easily caught, haltered, groomed, and led around the ranch. Does the Ground Games in the round pen very well.
Level 3: May be more difficult to catch, halter, groom and clean hooves. May spook more easily and push boundaries, but can perform the Ground Games in the round pen.
Level 4: Very difficult to catch and halter. Will spook easily and push boundaries. Is in the process of learning the Ground Games.
Level 5: Cannot be caught or haltered and should not be approached by volunteers while doing chores. Handled by staff trainers only.
Note: Some horses may not be able to perform certain tasks due to health issues regardless of level. Volunteers should always confirm with staff before handling a horse.
Register for a training class
Call the ranch office at (505) 286-0779 for upcoming dates.