Volunteer
Volunteer Opportunities
Training: Fresh Start volunteers use natural horsemanship methods to gentle, (re)train and (re)socialize our horses. We are looking for volunteer trainers who are familiar with, certified in, or willing to try natural horsemanship methods. Trainers should share our philosophy that every horse is an individual with a destiny, and worthy of our time, patience and respect.
FSHR Board: Fresh Start seeks board members with some or all of the following qualities: knowledgeable about running nonprofit organizations; knowledgeable about horses; good organizers; enthusiastic advocates; understand the unique and practical challenges presented by rescuing horses in Montezuma County, Colorado.
Horse Care: Everything from cleaning hooves to dressing wounds, help with horse care in all its forms would be welcomed. Training is available. Equine professionals such as veterinarians, farriers, and chiropractors willing to donate their services will be especially appreciated, as most of the rescue funds are tied up in hay.
Fund-raising: Fresh Start is a 501(c)(3) tax-exempt organization and needs grant writers and other forms of fund-raising help. People are invited to help with planning events, donating/storing/labeling items for yard sale and silent auction, donating baked goods, manning booths and volunteering at events.
Foster homes: Off-site foster homes provide an alternative for horses that need extra room or to be separated from the rest until they can be adopted to a permanent home. The people fostering the horse help by providing food/pasture and day-to-day care/interaction with the fostered horse. They may assume other responsibilities for the horse at their discretion as arranged with Fresh Start.
Facility and Trail Maintenance: Twenty-three horses can inflict a lot of wear-and-tear on a place. There are always pens and troughs that need cleaning. A fence that is secure one day can be damaged the next. Existing shelters and old fences need maintenance and new ones need to be built. Construction debris accumulates and needs to be hauled off. New trails are being cleared in the woods so that volunteers and potential adopters will have more options for training and evaluating horses. Existing trails need maintenance. The list goes on. No skill goes unneeded here!