Rising Stars of Equestrian Therapy relies heavily on volunteers. Without volunteers we would not be able to run this program. If you love helping others, whether you are experienced with horses or not, we could always use extra hands here at Rising Stars. Some of the things we need help with are cleaning stalls, sanitizing helmets, grooming, walking the horses around the arena, feeding, and tacking up (putting the saddles and riding gear on our horses). The more the merrier!

If you’re interested you can click on “contact us” in the menu bar and let us know that you would like volunteer.

“There is much we can learn from a friend who happens to be a horse.”

— Aleksandra Layland

MEET THE VOLUNTEERS!

Here are the faces you’ll see regularly at Rising Stars helping out on Saturdays. Volunteers should be 13 years or older.

  • ZOE

    ASSISTANT OF OPERATIONS
    ASSISTANT TRAINER
    FAVORITE HORSE ROSIE
    “DEPENDING ON ROSIES MOOD BECAUSE SHE HAS MOOD SWINGS, SHE IS ALSO THE HORSE I HAVE WORKED WITH THE LONGEST WITH RISING STARS.”
    ASPIRES TO BE AN EQUINE OR LARGE ANIMAL VET

  • THE MELTON'S

    IN ORDER LEFT TO RIGHT
    NATHANIEL FAVORITE HORSE KODA
    ANNABELLE FAVORITE HORSE BASH “HE IS SILLY AND LIKES TO SPLASH IN THE WATER.”
    MATTHEW FAVORITE HORSE CHUCK
    LIA (MOM)
    “THIS PROGRAMIS AMAZING! ANNABELLE HAS LEARNED SO MUCH. HORSES ARE GREAT THERAPY AND IT HAS HELPED NATHANIEL OVERCOME SOME OF HIS MANY SENSORY SENSITIVITIES.”

  • JULIA

    BARN HAND
    FAVORITE HORSES IN ORDER CHUCK, ROSIE, KODA, BASH.
    RISING STARS HAS HELPED ME BE MORE PATIENT AND LEARN MANY NEW THINGS.I HOPE TO BE 90 YEARS OLD AND STILL VOLUNTEERING. IT IS AN HONOR TO BE A PART OF THIS AMAZING ORGANIZATION. IT HAS ALSO HELPED MY DAUGHTER SOPHIA TREMENDOUSLY.
    DREAM CAREER A PARK RANGER.

  • SOPHIA

    BARN HAND
    FAVORITE HORSE ROSIE
    “SHE TAUGHT ME TO NEVER GIVE UP.”
    ASPIRES TO BE A HORSE TRAINER

  • ISABELA

    BARN HAND
    FAVORITE HORSE KODA
    “HE IS SO SWEET AND I CAN ALWAYS COUNT ON HIM TO NEVER GIVE ME ANY TROUBLE. HE IS ALSO LIKE A BIG TODDLER. SOMETIMES HE THROWS FITS WHEN YOU DONT LET HIM DO WHAT HE WANTS.”
    ASPIRES TO BE A VET

  • CHARIS

    BARN HAND
    FAVORITE HORSE KODA
    “HE IS SWEET AND ENERGETIC.”
    ASIPRES TO BE A MARINE BIOLOGIST

  • Lola

    SENIOR BARN HAND
    EQUINE CARE
    PHOTORGAPHY ASSISTANT

  • Courtney

    BOARD MEMBER
    BARN HAND
    DOMESTIC VIOLENCE COUNSELOR
    B.S. PSYCHOLOGY
    FAVORITE HORSE WAS TRICKY BECAUSE FROM THE MOMENT THAT I MET HIM IT WAS LIKE HE SAW ME DOWN TO MY DEEPEST LEVEL AND INSTANTLY CONNECTED WITH ME. HE MADE ME FEEL FREE AND SAFE AT THE SAME TIME.
    (TRICKY HAS MOVED TO A NEW HOME)

  • Kathy

    BARN HAND
    FAVORITE HORSE CHUCK BECAUSE “HE IS SHORT THAT MAKES IT EASE TO NUZZLE HIS NOSE AND GIVE HIM HUGS. HE WAS ALSO A GOOD BOY WHEN I USED HIM IN MY CHRISTMAS CARD PHOTO SHOOT!”

  • Darlene

    PHOTOGRAPHER & WEB DESIGNER
    DARLENE SANCHEZ PHOTOGRAPHY
    FAVORITE HORSE ROSIE
    ROSIE IS SO SASSY YET VERY SWEET.

  • Julia

    EQUINE CARE SPECIALIST

  • Jordan

    BARN HAND
    ATTENDING CAL POLY POMONA
    ASPIRES TO BE A VET
    FAVORITE HORSE CHUCK BECAUSE “HE TENDS TO BE THE MOST CALM.”

  • ILIAH

    BARN HAND
    FAVORITE HORSE KODA
    KODA IS EASY TO WORK WITH MOST OF THE TIME.
    ASPIRES TO BE A LAWYER OR DOCTOR

  • LISA

    BARN HAND

  • SASHA

    SASHA OWNED BY JEFF CLARK
    SASHA IS OUR MASCOTT SERVICE DOG. SHE HAS BEEN COMING TO THE RISING STARS SINCE SHE WAS 8 WEEKS OLD. SHE IS LOVED BY ALL OF THE CLIENTS. JEFF HAS PUT OVER 3,000 HOURS INTO HER SERVICE TRAINING.

  • JEFF

    JEFF
    Board of Directors
    Veterans Affairs

  • KAYLIN

    BARN HAND
    FAVORITE HORSE KODA BECAUSE I LEARN SOMETHING NEW EACH TIME I RIDE HIM. HE IS ALSO THE PERFECT SIZE FOR ME TO RIDE.
    ASPIRES TO BECOME A VET OR HORSE TRAINER

  • JESSE and SOPHIA

    JESSE BARN HAND WITH HIS SPECIAL NEEDS DAUGHTER SOPHIA
    FAVORITE HORSE ROSIE

  • THOMAS

    BARN HAND
    FAVORITE HORSE ROSIE BECAUSE SHE IS ENERGETIC AND MY SIZE

  • JEREMY

    Favorite horse Bash
    Bash has some fun challenges to work on

  • WILLIAM

    FAVORITE HORSE CHUCK BECAUSE HE IS EASY TO WORK WITH.
    ASPIRES TO BE IN THE ENGINEERING FIELD

  • KAYLA

    FAVORITE HORSE CHUCK BECAUSE HE IS SMALL AND EASY TO WORK WITH.
    ASPIRES TO BE A VET

  • NATALIE

    CURRENTLY AWAY AT COLLEGE

  • BEATRICE

    ASSISTANT TRAINER
    CURRENTLY AWAY AT COLLEGE
    PUBLISHED CHILDRENS BOOK AUTHOR AND ILLUSTRATOR
    “RED THE ONE EYED HORSE”

  • ALEXANDER

    ASSISTANT TRAINER
    CURRENTLY AWAY AT COLLEGE

Rising Stars is incredibly grateful for our volunteers from Sherman Indian High School. Their dedication and hard work is very appreciated!

Sherman Indian High School

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"It’s amazing what a healing effect horses can have on kids, particularly troubled kids, that might bridge the gap that a well intended human just can’t do. "

-Buck Brannaman