Improving the lives of horses and humans in our community through education and assistance
VolunteerCentral Oregon’s Community Equine Rescue, Rehabilitation & Adoption
Getting Involved
Volunteer Program
Join our Crew
Thank you for your interest in supporting Mustangs To The Rescue!
Mustangs To The Rescue’s Crew Members are at the heart of our organization. Without their dedication, loyalty, and hard work we could not do what we do.
There are many reasons why people volunteer with us. All provide the chance to join a thriving, nurturing community whose goal is to positively impact the lives of as many horses as possible.
There are few things as rewarding as helping a previously abused or neglected horse find a loving new home. When you volunteer at Mustangs To The Rescue, you make a difference for the horses in our care- whether you clean their pen, organize a fundraiser, or take them for a walk.
You will find volunteering is hard work, but fun and very rewarding. It’s a great way to make an impact on our community and the lives of hundreds of horses and people.
Most Crew Member opportunities at Mustangs To The Rescue do not require special skills. We provide the necessary training and guidance to make your volunteer experience safe and enjoyable. The most important skills you need to be a volunteer are commitment, love and respect for animals and each other.
Our volunteer Crew Members serve a vital role in the success of Mustangs To The Rescue. A successful equine rescue program requires a team effort and a great deal of hard work from all involved. As a volunteer, your support and dedication enables horses to be saved from abuse and neglect. They are then rehabilitated, retrained and on their way to safe and secure homes.
All Crew Members must sign Mustangs To The Rescue’s liability release form in person. Parents and legal guardians must sign waivers on behalf of their children.
Why Volunteer?
Volunteering allows you to connect to your community and make it a better place. Volunteering allows you to:
Make new friends and strengthen existing relationships in a shared activity
Volunteering makes a difference and it feels good to help others and enact change
Volunteering increases self-confidence
Volunteering helps you stay physically healthy
Volunteering at Mustangs To The Rescue allows you access to specialized training and keeps you up to date on rescue happenings.
Crew Member opportunities
Mustangs To The Rescue offers a wide range of volunteer opportunities; some require horse experience; many do not. All we need is your willingness to give of yourself and your time.
Getting Started
The first step to becoming a Mustangs To The Rescue Crew Member is to contact us to attend a volunteer orientation and training. Orientations are typically 90 minutes in length and may be a one-on-one with a Senior Crew Member or in a group setting. Orientations are scheduled throughout the year, depending on demand.
We have many different options available for volunteers. Some volunteer opportunities require more training than others. For example, a Barn/Equine Crew Member must attend an orientation and shadow another Senior Crew Member before they begin work on their own. Other volunteer opportunities require less time commitment and training and are more flexible.
What to expect
Mustangs To The Rescue is not a riding facility or stable; and Crew Members should not expect that they will be allowed to ride horses as part of our volunteer program. Most of the riding horses find homes quickly and those that have suffered abuse will need to be handled or retrained by professionals.
You can expect to help with chores such as manure management, weed control, feeding, watering, grooming, and handling horses. Other Mustangs To The Rescue volunteer duties can include office support, event staffing, first aid support, publicity, fundraising and anything else that helps our horses find a home.
Youth Crew Members and Service Learning
Crew Members under 18 years of age must have written consent of a parent or legal guardian.
Crew Members under 18 years of age must have all parents or legal guardians sign liability waiver(s) on their behalf.
Crew Members 9-15 years of age and people with special needs must have an adult accompanying them at all times while on-site or during an event. The adult accompanying them also needs to have completed orientation and any subsequent training with their minor partner.
Students volunteering for service, earning credit hours for their school, must submit the school name and contact information before volunteering.
Commitment
Your support is truly needed to care for our equine friends. They depend on Crew Members for their daily care and other Crew Members rely on your commitment. Please understand the time, duties and responsibilities involved in a crew member assignment before accepting it.
Once you finish orientation, we ask for a three month commitment. Ideally, we’d like you to sign up for the day of the week you can consistently come to help. Scheduling will be discussed further during orientation. This helps us to make sure pens are kept clean every day, which is critical to the care of the equines.
The horses don’t care that it’s a holiday or your mom’s birthday, so if you commit to a specific day, please be there or make arrangements for another qualified crew member to cover your tasks.
Crew Member Orientation, Trainings & Meetings
All Mustangs To The Rescue Crew Members must complete the orientation training unless the volunteer’s services are for a particular project and does not involve Mustangs To The Rescue’s program work or handling of animals. For example; if you volunteer to repair a broken gate, you do not need orientation training. Orientation training is a must for anyone wanting to help with chores, animal care or handling, public outreach or any event that involves Mustangs To The Rescue representation.
While some Crew Members, because of interests and time constraints, focus solely on helping with special events or community service projects, they are still expected to adhere to Mustangs To The Rescue’s policies.
All Crew Members working around the horses are required to complete a 90 minute orientation and training. Orientation and training can be held in one-on-one sessions or group setting, and are scheduled throughout the year, depending on demand.
Orientation and training is necessary to keep both crew members and animals safe. It is the time for crew members to learn our policies, procedures and programs, and determine how you can fit into our volunteer program.
Realize that all Mustangs To The Rescue rules and regulations are established for a reason. While you may not understand or agree with certain policies and procedures, these rules and regulations are meant to keep our volunteers and horses safe. As such, Crew members are expected to cooperate and comply with all policies and procedures.
Consider safety first, at all times. You must be aware of safe horse handling techniques, first aid kits, and fire extinguisher locations. You must understand and follow all emergency procedures.
The best way to be involved in the welfare of our local horses is to attend our educational events and help grow our social media community! During this pandemic we are all doing our part to keep everyone safe, however if you are interested in joining our crew, please fill out our application below and we will get back to you.
Volunteer Application
What Drives Us
Our Mission
To help horses in need by providing positive options for both horses and their owners
To help our local community by providing horse owners and potential horse owners with assistance, educational opportunities and resources to ensure safe and secure homes for our equine partners
To assist local, state and federal agencies in managing horses and horse populations; wild or otherwise
To elevate the public’s view of wild horses by placing them in roles of service such as Search and Rescue, Packing Services and Mounted Patrols