Volunteers - What to Expect
A day at the ranch usually starts at either 12 noon or 1 pm. If your volunteer session starts at this time and you decide to come a little early, you might find the ranch looking a little empty. Don’t worry, we are probably having our morning staff meeting. Be patient with us and we will be out to see you shortly.
The office is where you will be checking in. It is the little building near the arena with the “office” sign posted near the door. Please come see us and introduce yourself when it is time for you to start volunteering. If you were kind enough to include a picture on your application, we may even recognize you and greet you by name. Usually check-in consists of making sure we have a current release form for you on file and then putting you in contact with our volunteer coordinator.
Rachel is our coordinator. She will have the information to get you started. Every day the schedule is different, with the exception of a few activities we do every day.
The first half-hour the ranch is open is usually a scramble as everyone figures out where, when, what, and how to get started on their projects.
When school is out we take lunch at 1:30 pm, please be sure to bring a lunch so you can join us in the main barn.
We usually start feeding the horses around 4:30 pm
The ranch begins to wind down around 5 pm. This is when we start on our “Closing List.” This list, which is posted on the main barn, helps to remind us to complete all of the jobs necessary to close the ranch.
We hope you will have an enjoyable day volunteering at the ranch. To make sure it is enjoyable as possible, you might consider bringing the following items.
What to Bring
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Weather appropriate clothing
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remember it gets colder when the sun goes down
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in the summer the ranch is generally warmer than Bend
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a light long-sleeve might be a good idea to bring a long if we end up working with prickly objects
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Bring a change of clothes if it is your birthday!
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Closed heel and toes shoes – you can’t go in a paddock without these
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Leather or cotton work gloves
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A hat
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Sunglasses
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Sunscreen
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A water bottle
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Something to snack on, or if you are able to join us to eat; a lunch
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For those under 18:
*If you have any questions, please call or write us.