Reins of Life Therapeutic Horseback Riding Center in Michigan City has an active roster of nearly 200 volunteers and is trying to recruit even more! From feeding the herd to helping with special education school programs, hitching a horse for therapeutic carriage driving class to side walking during horseback riding lessons, each and every volunteer plays an important role to help meet its mission to improve the quality of life for children and adults through equine-assisted activities and services.

Each rider requires between one and three volunteers for their lesson. Volunteers are asked to commit about two hours per week. Volunteers learn how to handle horses and groom and tack; driving volunteers also learn how to tack and hitch horses to carriages.

Each skill learned and every goal met is an achievement for the participant and the volunteers. One young rider was recently overheard telling his volunteer, “You’re a great teenager!” Not only do volunteers get to spend time with horses, they witness dreams coming true and life goals being met. An 8-year-old rider recently exclaimed from atop his horse, “This is my dream come true - to be a cowboy.” Good vibes and precious moments abound at the barn!

Volunteers don’t have to have horse experience, but do need to attend New Volunteer Training. This will be offered on Tuesday, May 28 from 5:30-8:30 p.m. CT. Volunteers must be at least 13 years old and wear closed-toe shoes. 

Reins of Life will also be offering Therapeutic Carriage Driving training on Thursday, May 30, from 5:30-7:30 p.m. Reins has the largest therapeutic driving program in the country, and it is their fastest growing program. Driving volunteers walk much less than volunteers in other roles. New volunteer training is a prerequisite (see previous paragraph). Another interesting program offered by Reins is Interactive Vaulting. It is akin to gymnastics on horseback. Volunteers who participate in Interactive Vaulting can expect to trot next to the horse while boosting a rider onto its back. Training for this program will be April 4 from 5:30-7:30 p.m. CT. New Volunteer Training is a prerequisite (see previous paragraph).

There are also volunteer positions for horse feeders, who sign up for one shift a week at either 7 a.m. or 3:30 p.m. Feeder training is done as people sign up. Groups are also welcome to sign up for one-time or repeating volunteer projects.

To RSVP for any of these training sessions, please call 219-874-7519. If no one answers, please leave a message including your email address.

Reins of Life is located at 9375 W. 300 N. in Michigan City. For more details on its programs, visit https://www.reinsoflife.org