VOLUNTEER MANUAL
Revised June 2015
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“…and he said unto the horse, ‘Trust no man in whose eyes
you do not see yourself reflected as an equal.’”
Tierra Madre Horse Sanctuary motto
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TABLE OF CONTENTS
Introduction to Tierra Madre……………………………………………………………......5
Our Mission……………………………………………………….………………………...6
Our Horses…………………………………………………………………………………..8
Horsemanship 101…………………………………………………………………………13
A Typical Day at the Ranch…………………………………………………………….…15
Volunteer Tasks and Responsibilities…………………………………………………..…17
Safety 101………………………………………………………………………………….19
Policies and Procedures……………………………………………………………………20
Quick Q&A………………………………………………………………………………..21
Thank You ……………………………………………………………………...…………23
Waiver and Release of Liability………………………………………………………...…24
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INTRODUCTION TO TIERRA MADRE
Tierra Madre Horse Sanctuary, in the words of owner and founder Jim Gath, evolved more
by chance than by design.
The ranch started out as a boarding facility when Jim moved from LA to Cave Creek,
Arizona in 2004. In addition to being a home for Jim’s own few horses, Rancho Tierra
Madre was a place where Jim taught riding and horsemanship lessons to interested people.
Because of the extra room, other homeless horses came trickling in one by one: a young
racer whose broken knee had ended his career (and nearly ended his life), a Quarter horse
blind in one eye, show horses that had outlived their “usefulness”… they all had something
in common: through no fault of their own, they simply had nowhere else to go.
One day Jim was talking to an acquaintance. In a moment of weakness, he lamented how
much of his time and energy and funds were being taken up by his rescued horses.
Her response changed everything.
“But Jim,” she said, “you’re all they’ve got.”
It was all Jim needed. His real gift, he realized, was to love and care for horses that had
been injured or abused or were simply misunderstood. He realized that he could give so
many horses in need a second chance and all the happiness in the world. Tierra Madre
Horse Sanctuary – once simply Rancho Tierra Madre – was established.
Today the ranch is home to usually around 30 horses from all walks of life. Just as our
tagline suggests, they are happy, healthy, are healing and are home.
With regard to the horses he has saved over the years, Jim says, “Our lives were meant to
intersect at a certain place at a certain time. Tierra Madre Horse Sanctuary is that place and
now is that time. And,” he adds, “we’re all having a ball.”
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OUR MISSION
Tierra Madre Horse Sanctuary is a forever home to previously abused, neglected, injured,
and unwanted horses. Our mission is to keep them as happy and as healthy as fully
possible.
Every so often, a visitor will come to Tierra Madre and want to know if we ever adopt out
our horses. The answer to this question is in our name: Tierra Madre Horse Sanctuary. The
difference between a rescue and a sanctuary is that while rescues will rehome their animals
after a lengthy application process, sanctuaries keep their animals forever. And once a
horse steps onto Tierra Madre property, they – with rare exceptions – are home for the rest
of their lives.
There are two reasons Tierra Madre is a sanctuary. Number one, many of the horses that
currently call Tierra Madre home are there purely because their owners didn’t want them
anymore. Many people take on the responsibility of owning a horse without realizing what
a huge commitment it is – emotionally, physically, and financially – and as a result, they
are quick to place their horses in another home as conveniently as possible when they
decide that their horse is no longer a priority. A lot of the time, the new homes these
owners find for their horses are not good ones. In the more moderate circumstances, the
new owners will also discover how difficult it is to keep a horse and continue shipping the
horse around in a never-ending cycle. Much like a foster child being hauled around to
different homes, this process is unhealthy and devastating for the horse. In the most
extreme cases, the new owner does not particularly care for the animal and is only
interested in selling him or her for a quick buck to killer men.
Killer men have another name – auctioners – but at Tierra Madre we call these people what
they truly are. Killer men (and women) are people that sell horses at slaughterhouse
auctions (horse slaughterhouses are still operated in Mexico) in order to make money.
Coming into contact with a killer man is the worst thing that can happen to a horse, and the
more times a horse changes hands, the more likely it is that the horse will end up in the
hands of someone that will sell him or her to slaughter. By keeping our horses in one place,
under the protection of one owner, they are guaranteed safety for the rest of their lives.
The second reason Tierra Madre keeps horses forever is because our horses are family.
We know them. We know their personalities and we know their stories either because of
their prior owners’ information or from what they tell us through their body language when
we interact with them. We know which ones like the rain and which ones like to stay dry.
We know which ones like a lot of human interaction and which ones mostly like to be
alone. We know which ones dunk their hay in water and which ones like their food to be
dry. We know where each one likes to be scratched and how often they doze off and where
they like to sleep and which ones loathe saddles and which ones love to be ridden. The
idea of sending one of them away is very much like sending away a brother or a sister.
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Our mission is to give these unique, incredible animals the best lives imaginable. Giving
our horses happy, healthy lives includes ensuring each one has a clean place to live, fresh
water to drink at all times, proper nutrition according to their individual diets, medical care
as necessary, vet check-ups once a year (and more often depending on the horse), and a
sufficient amount of exercise depending on the physical condition of the horse.
All of the above is the bare minimum when it comes to quality of life at Tierra Madre.
Giving our horses happy, healthy lives also means going in their stalls to scratch them
when they are struggling to itch just the right spot and stopping to pick up a delicious piece
of alfalfa hay that might have fallen just out of reach so they can enjoy it. It means taking
them on walks so they can wonder at the world around them and sneaking them a carrot or
two to enjoy. It means giving hugs and kisses and sharing secrets and loving
unconditionally.
That is our mission at Tierra Madre. Because after all our horses been through, after
everything they’ve seen and conquered in order to arrive at our front gates, they deserve
nothing but the best.
And that is where you come in.
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OUR HORSES
The Tierra Madre horses come from everywhere: off the race track, out of the show ring,
from people who just don’t want the commitment of owning a horse anymore, and from
lives of neglect or severe abuse.
Because of the different backgrounds and the large range in temperament among our
horses, there are certain “levels” of horses that our volunteers encounter. We have
categorized them to the best of our ability into BEGINNER, INTERMEDIATE,
ADVANCED and RANCH MANAGER ONLY horses. However, it should be noted that
each horse has a different personality, unique quirks and habits that must be taken into
account. As you will read in the Safety 101 section, all horses can still spook and cause an
accident.
BEGINNER horses can be handled by those with little to no horse experience. They are
extremely gentle, are relatively easy to walk and groom, and are great teachers to those that
might lack confidence or courage when being around horses for the first time. Our
beginner horses are:
 BELLA
 BUDDY
 CHIANTI
 CHIQUITA
 JANI
 JAZZ
 *RAIN & SUNNY
 RUSTY
 SPENCER
 WILD BILL
*Note: RAIN and SUNNY are not to be walked or handled without ranch manager
approval and/or supervision.
INTERMEDIATE horses are for volunteers that have several months to several years of
horse experience. While these horses are typically well behaved, they have some
stubbornness issues, are a little high-strung or have a few bad habits that require gentle but
firm discipline. Our intermediate horses are:
 BENTLEY
 DANNY
 GUESS
 HOLLYWOOD
 KISS
 MIN
 NIBZ
 SEDONA
 SLAYER
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SOLO
SWEET BOY
ADVANCED horses can only be handled by very confident and experienced volunteers.
These horses can be very energetic, pushy, have bad nipping habits, or otherwise have
minds of their own and don’t care to listen to the person on the other end of the lead rope
unless their leader knows what they are doing! Our advanced horses are:
 BOURBON
 CADENCE
 HEIGHTEN
 HUDSON
 IRON MAN
 M’STOR
 RIVER
 SONORA
 STUDLEY
 SUZE
Finally, we have horses that we ask our volunteers avoid altogether: RANCH MANAGER
ONLY horses. These horses are very aggressive to humans they don't know and because
our volunteers’ safety is our number one priority, we ask that you stay away from these
horses at all times. This means getting no closer than ten feet to the horses in question.
Our ranch manager only horse is:
 CHANCE
QUICK NEED-TO-KNOW FACTS ABOUT THE HORSES
BELLA
Bay Thoroughbred in late teens • ex-racer, previously broken left front knee • gentle but
does not enjoy being ridden • can only be walked by “advanced” beginners
BENTLEY
Black Thoroughbred in 20s • poor immune system & cuts are slow to heal • cellulitis in
hind legs • slightly underweight and needs lots of food • quick to nip when displeased
BOURBON
Bay young Thoroughbred • ex-racer with a nipping/biting habit • needs firm guidance
BUDDY
Mixed bay Quarter horse in mid 20s • prone to faking injuries to get out of work • slight
arthritis in legs
CADENCE
Chestnut Quarter horse with a blue watch eye • sweet but can be very pushy
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CHANCE
9 or 10-year-old palomino Tennessee walking horse • aggressive with humans he doesn’t
know • abused through stall door in the past so very defensive • DO NOT APPROACH
CHIANTI
Gentle 2-year-old Thoroughbred filly • neurological issues in hind legs and cannot be
ridden • slight lip droop • needs a little extra care when walking to avoid tight turns
CHIQUITA
Sweet bay mustang in mid 20s from BLM • NO ALFALFA
DANNY
Timid and sometimes head shy 3-year-old Thoroughbred • needs gentle coaxing every now
and then when putting on/taking off his halter
GUESS
Bay Thoroughbred in early/mid teens • sweet but alpha personality
HEIGHTEN
Chestnut Thoroughbred in late teens • bad back prior to Tierra Madre • broke hind left
knee in May 2010 which required 14 months of recovery • has arthritic bone spurs as a
result
HOLLYWOOD
Chestnut Arabian in early teens • made a full recovery from laminitis in 2011
HUDSON
Goofy chestnut Thoroughbred in early teens • stubborn; likes to live life on his own terms •
will chew any part of you he can find
IRON MAN
Dark bay/black Thoroughbred in mid teens • ran 124 races in 7-year span • can be high
strung and needs to be handled calmly and confidently
JANI
Chestnut Quarter horse in 20s • former barrel racer/jumper and has ringbone in hind legs as
a result • mainly likes to be left alone but is good with kids
JAZZ
Young paint horse • likes attention and is mostly calm but can be jumpy and uncertain •
prone to having runny eyes • needs gentle discipline every now and then
KISS
Chestnut Saddlebred in mid 20s • prior show horse so used to human attention • likes to
give “love bites” and can occasionally be pushy
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M’STOR
Chestnut Thoroughbred between 10 and 11 years old • broke knee in a race in 2003 • bad
hooves • puts ears back only out of habit • needs a confident and firm handler
MIN
Miniature horse in early teens • chronic laminitis and a bad patella tendon • thinks nipping
and charging at humans is hysterical
NIBZ
Flea-bitten Arabian in mid/late teens • anxious when separated from Bourbon but
otherwise sweet • on a special diet due to intestinal problems • NO BERMUDA
RIVER
Bay 7 or 8-year-old Thoroughbred • broke right front sesamoid bone in a race in 2010 •
very high strung • needs lots of exercise and a calm, confident handler
RUSTY
Very sweet chestnut Quarter horse in mid 20s • loves food and people and everything • bad
tendons in hind legs and cannot be ridden • is actually a cow in disguise
SEDONA
Dark bay Warmblood in late teens • had tendon problems in the past but can be ridden
gently by experienced riders • does not like to be away from Sweet Boy • on a diet (NO
MORE THAN A FEW HANDFULS OF ALFALFA A DAY)
SLAYER
Light bay Thoroughbred in late teens • belongs to another owner but is boarded here • very
sweet personality but can be pushy if it is allowed
SOLO
Bay Saddlebred in late teens • in charge of the field horses and has a dominant personality
• has a club foot and enterolith
SONORA
Sorrel 11-year-old APHA mare • will walk all over handler if allowed • must be handled
very calmly, confidently, and firmly (NO BERMUDA)
SPENCER
Mixed breed in early 20s • has arthritis and can’t be ridden at more than a walk and slow
trot • is prone to loose stool • does not like to be taken too far from the field
STUDLEY
7 or 8-year-old gray Arabian • poor immune system • gets summer sores every summer •
can be very pushy/mouthy
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SUZE
Bay Thoroughbred in early teens • anxious and dislikes change • alpha personality and can
be a bully to other horses
SWEET BOY
Bay mixed mustang in early 20s • abused in the past and dislikes tightening of the girth •
anxious when taken away from Sedona
WILD BILL
Mixed breed in late 20s • very gentle and calm • has Cushing’s disease
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HORSEMANSHIP 101
Whether you’ve never touched a horse before or have 50 years experience, there is always
something new to learn when it comes to horses. Luckily, the Tierra Madre herd are all
great teachers.
Most of what you will learn about horses will be through firsthand experience with them.
However, be sure to read these quick facts about horses that will come in handy when you
are interacting with our horses:
I. HORSE BEHAVIOR
1. Horses are herd animals. From the beginning of their entire species’ existence
right up until this very second, horses have always been prey animals. It is in their
nature to form herds for their own protection. Therefore, when you are interacting
with a horse, the two of you become a herd in the horse’s mind.
2. Humans are predators. When you are interacting with any horse, it is very
important to keep in mind that while you must become a herd in order for the horse
to trust you, you are still a predator to him/her. In the wild, horses regard predators
in the same way any other prey animal natural does: with fear and caution.
Although domesticated horses are used to humans, they do not lose the instinct to
be careful. Watch your movements when you are around horses; avoid quick,
sudden, or jerking movements, raising your voice, flailing your arms, or other
actions that might otherwise be perceived as an attack.
3. In a herd, there is always a leader and a follower. The leader’s job is to provide
warmth, attention, nourishment and protection for its herd. The follower’s job is to
obey his or her leader without question. And whenever you are with a horse –
whether you are walking, grooming, feeding, riding, or just being near them – you
are the leader. For your safety, the safety of your horse and for the safety of those
around you, you must always maintain control. And in order to maintain control,
you must always be the leader.
4. Horses can sense fear and uncertainty. Leaders carry a confidence within them
that cannot be diminished. Because you are the leader of your little herd when you
are interacting with a horse, you too must carry yourself with quiet confidence. And
because all horses are different, they will react to a lack of confidence in different
ways. Some older, gentler horses will still know what is being asked of them and
obey out of habit. Some horses will decide the person handling them must not be
the leader of their herd after all and assume that position for themselves (read: they
will not listen). Some horses will sense uncertainty and fear and feel scared
themselves, for if their leader is scared of something then to them that means
danger must be near. Because the horses’ behavior can range from worrisome to
dangerous, it is important to always be confident. Note: when you are ever working
with the Tierra Madre horses, we will always match you to a horse that best suits
your confidence level.
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II. HORSE ILLNESS
Tierra Madre Horse Sanctuary not only deals with abscesses, cuts and scrapes. We often
have to deal with medical emergencies. Luckily, there are warning signs we can watch for
that can help us catch the ailment in question in time, so we ask that you be on the lookout
for any of the following behavior while at the ranch:
Warning signs of COLIC:
 Distress and uneasiness
 Sweating
 Rolling outside the arena
 Pawing restlessly at the ground
 Refusing to eat
Warning signs of LAMINITS:
 Pronounced limping without signs of an abscess
 Standing at an angle
 Feet that are hot to the touch
 Constant weight shifting
 Increased respiratory and heart rates
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A TYPICAL DAY AT THE RANCH
Once you officially begin as a Tierra Madre volunteer, you will discover that there really is
no typical day at the ranch.
Some days everything goes according to schedule: the chores get done on time; we get
horses in and out of the arena with ease; everybody is happy and healthy and we all have a
good time.
Some days a horse will have an abscess in his or her foot and we have to put everything on
hold in order to dig it out. Some days a horse will have a wound that needs to be addressed.
Some days we’ll have hay deliveries or a farrier visit that will throw us off schedule. Some
days a horse gets loose and runs around while we chase after him or her and all the other
horses squeal and shriek with excitement. And some days Min doesn’t want to go home
after we let him out of his stall, which means we have to put on a three-ring circus act in
order to get him home.
Sometimes the horses are acting up and need gentle discipline. Sometimes they’re in bad
moods or want food or want love or want to be left alone or want to run around or want to
bury their faces in your chest and not let you leave.
Every day is different. Every day is an adventure. And every day we somehow manage to
make it all work.
Our tentative schedule is as follows:
5:00 AM: Breakfast is fed. (Horses are grazers by nature, and it is much better for their
stomachs if their food is spread out over the course of 12 hours.)
5:30 AM: Our grounds manager starts on the chores.
6:00 AM: Horses begin going in and out of the arena for their playtime. Certain horses go
out every day and are there from between half an hour to an hour. SEDONA and SWEET
BOY go first at 5 AM, followed by SOLO, SUZE, RIVER and SPENCER at 6 AM, then
RAIN and SUNNY go out at 7am
7:00 AM – 7:30 AM: Volunteers arrive and begin chores.
7:45AM: A ranch manager takes RAIN and SUNNY home, then IRON MAN and
SLAYER go out into the arena to be exercised.
8:30 AM: Other horses begin going out into the arena. Depending on the day (most horses
go out every other day), the horses that will go out at this time will be one of the following
groups:
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The Girls: GUESS and BELLA
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The Chance Crew: CHANCE, STUDLEY, BOURBON, NIBZIE, SONORA,
HOLLYWOOD, and CADENCE
The Akira Crew: BUDDY, JANI, RUSTY, CHIQUITA, JAZZ, and WILD BILL
HEIGHTEN and HUDSON
M’STOR (who can also go out with HUDSON, BOURBON, and NIBZIE)
RIVER (who can also go out with SPENCER or HUDSON)
KISS (who can also go out with M’STOR
9:00 AM: By this time, chores are usually completed and mashes are given to SOLO,
BENTLEY, SONORA and any other horse that needs special medicine.
9:00AM -10:30: Any projects that need to be completed are completed during this time
frame: filling stalls in with dirt, cleaning feeders and railings, wiping off fly masks, doing
NoFly, working with horses with behavioral issues, organizing the tack room, occasional
riding done by ranch managers and experienced volunteers, etc. Horses are changed in the
arena every 45 minutes or so.
10:30 AM – 11:00 AM: Depending on when we finish getting horses in and out of the
arena, we will feed lunch.
11:00 AM – 5 PM: Ranch manager completes administrative work.
5:00 PM: Our grounds manager feeds dinner.
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VOLUNTEER TASKS AND RESPONSIBILITIES
It is important to understand that at Tierra Madre, most of what you do will be
unsupervised. It takes a lot of manpower to run a horse ranch because many different
projects usually happen all at once. For example, a typical morning could look like this:
while a few volunteers muck stalls, one or two work on cleaning and refilling water tubs
while another volunteer scrubs mud and dirt off a few horses and another volunteer gives
mashes full of medicine to another horse and another volunteer helps a ranch manager take
horses out to the arena. Needless to say, the mornings can be very busy. Because the ranch
manager on duty must supervise all of what goes on during the morning, volunteers
typically complete basic tasks with minimal supervision and instruction after his or her
orientation day.
To make things easier for volunteers, tasks that must be completed for the day are written
on the smaller whiteboard up in breezeway each morning. We call these daily necessities
basic tasks. Optional tasks and projects will be written up on the board in addition to
news and events of which volunteers should be aware.
BASIC TASKS
Basic tasks are necessary chores that are completed daily mainly without supervision.
 Mucking stalls (they are mucked in the morning by our grounds manager but can
always use more cleaning)
 Cleaning, scrubbing, and refilling water tubs
 Walking horses to and from the arena
 Giving necessary mashes
 Feeding lunch (breakfast and dinner are fed by our grounds manager)
OPTIONAL TASKS
Optional tasks are other necessary projects that need to be completed around the ranch
but do not need to be done immediately and as often. Optional tasks include:
 Sweeping the aisles (mucking up old fallen hay outside stalls and pens)
 Wiping down feeders, fly masks, and stall bars
 Organizing and cleaning the tack room
 Walking horses that need gentle exercise
 Grooming!
Activities such as assisting with wound care and other medical treatment, doing training
and/or groundwork are completely optional (and encouraged!) and will be supervised by a
ranch manager.
DRESS CODE
While the Tierra Madre team doesn’t have an official uniform (the plaid skirts didn’t go
over well), there is a certain way to dress while around horses. Whenever you are
volunteering, we ask that you comply with the following for your own safety:
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Wear close-toed shoes (preferably boots or sturdy hiking shoes). Note: your shoes
will get very muddy and dirty! Leave the nice pairs at home.
NO jewelry, especially rings and earrings since they get caught in halters and gates
easily (plus our horses like to play with them).
While they are not required, we also recommend wearing long pants since we kick up quite
a bit of dust and dirt as we walk and they keep legs clean. Not to mention, several of the
horses like to nip gently to say hello, and it hurts far less to have a pair of pants bitten
rather than skin!
Other recommendations we have:
 Bring a bandana. Our horses stir up lots of dust when they run!
 Bring water. Even if it’s cold outside, we still live in a desert and it’s important to
stay hydrated at all times.
 Bring a hat and/or sunscreen. It’ll keep you protected from the sun.
 Bring a snack. Feel free to take a break whenever the need may rise and keep your
body fueled! Food that must be refrigerated can be stored in the
employee/volunteer fridge in the tack room.
MISCELLANEOUS RESPONSIBILITIES
In addition to helping us complete tasks each morning, we ask a few other favors of our
volunteers:
 Please write your tentative volunteer schedule on the calendar in the tack room
each week. If you cannot make it out on a day you are scheduled to show up, please
don’t feel sorry or guilty at all – just let us know a day or so in advance.
 Help us keep the grounds clean. If you see trash or anything out of the ordinary
laying around the property, please help us out by cleaning it up. Tierra Madre is
Spanish for Mother Earth, and because we always strive to live up to our name, it is
important to make sure our grounds reflect our respect for nature and the
environment.
 Please report any concerns you might have to a ranch manager when it comes to the
horses. NOTE: There is no such thing as a stupid question or concern. Anything
that looks suspicious should be reported to a ranch manager immediately. It is far
better for nothing to be wrong than something urgent to go untreated.
 Make sure you follow all the policies and procedures (defined in the following
sections). Not only do we have your safety in mind, visitors look to the volunteers
for a representation of the ranch and we want them to have the best impression.
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SAFETY 101
At Tierra Madre Horse Sanctuary, our number one mission is to provide a home for horses
with nowhere else to go. Number two on our mission list is to keep our volunteers safe at
all times.
Horses are huge, unpredictable animals. Any horse can, at any time, spook, start, whip
his head around, kick, stomp her hoof, swish his tail, bolt, bite, or lunge. It is often said
that when it comes to getting hurt around horses, it’s only a matter of time: how soon and
how often.
Sanctuary horses take this fact to a whole new level.
The horses at Tierra Madre Horse Sanctuary are here for a reason. Some of them were used
to brisk human contact while on the racetrack. Some of them had next to no human contact
for most of their lives. Some of them have been abandoned again and again by people and
do not trust easily. And a few of them have been abused so severely that they are still
recovering from their psychological wounds. Add these facts to the above knowledge of a
normal horse and they become all that more unpredictable. Most importantly, every single
one of the Tierra Madre horses is different.
Please review the Horsemanship 101 section of this manual to better understand horses and
the best ways to interact with them. In the meantime, we ask that you be sure to carefully
read the Tierra Madre waiver and release of liability at the very end of this manual in order
to better understand all the risks and dangers involved with equine recreational activities
and interactions.
If you are well aware of the fact that horses are huge and unpredictable going in and are
cautious and handle horses suited to your level of experience, then you have nothing to
fear! The ranch managers on duty will always be present to give guidance and to make
corrections or suggestions when it comes to working with our herd.
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POLICIES AND PROCEDURES
For the safety of our awesome volunteers and our wonderful horses….
1. If it isn’t latched, latch it! Close and latch all chains, clips, handles – everything
2. All our cool kids aged 12 and under must be supervised by a parent or guardian at
all times
3. If the horse isn’t happy with what you two are doing, take him/her back to his stall
immediately. A ranch manager can at any time request for you to return a horse to
his/her stall.
4. All small dogs (and big dogs that like to wander into stalls/the arena/field) must be
on a leash
5. Report any strange behavior to ranch managers (we only like a little bit of crazy)
6. Horses may be walked by volunteers but only if they have permission
7. For newer volunteers, please no wandering into the field or the arena without
permission
8. If you are new around these parts, please don’t approach our horses unless you are
wearing close-toed shoes and are supervised by a ranch manager
9. No feeding horses treats by hand
10. Take out anything you bring into a horse stall
11. Tell Lee he’s one awesome dog (he likes compliments)
12. Drink lots of water and be sure to rest if you’re tired
13. Official tours are offered on Saturdays at 9am. Family and friends are welcome to
accompany volunteers for tours any time, but they may not assist with daily tasks
or go into the stalls of horses until they’ve been through an orientation.
14. HAVE FUN!
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QUICK Q&A
Are you an official nonprofit organization?
Yes. Tierra Madre Horse Sanctuary is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization.
When are you open?
We are open from 7:30am to 11am, 365 days a year. If you are not an official volunteer,
intern or horse pal, please call to make an appointment before your arrival so we can make
your visit something to remember.
I am in love with one of the horses. Do you ever adopt them out?
No. Tierra Madre Horse Sanctuary is a forever home – once horses walk through their
gates they do not transfer hands ever again (except in very rare circumstances).
What should I wear/bring when visiting/volunteering?
Close-toed shoes are the most important things (NO steel-toed shoes!). Depending on the
weather, bring a warm jacket, gloves, sunscreen, and/or a hat. No matter what the weather,
ALWAYS bring water. Snacks (always encouraged!) can be stored anywhere around the
breezeway or in our fridge in the tack room. And you can never go wrong with bringing a
carrot or two for your favorite horse.
How old do I have to be to volunteer?
You can volunteer at any age! We do ask for volunteers aged 12 and under to be
supervised by a parent or guardian at all times, and while it is not required, we do
recommend that volunteers between the ages of 13 and 17 are accompanied by a parent or
guardian as well. Due to our busy mornings, our volunteers are not supervised by Tierra
Madre management 100% of the time. All volunteers under the age of 18 will need a
parent or guardian to sign a waiver on their behalf. The Tierra Madre family is made of
people of all different age groups!
Can I bring my dog out with me when I volunteer?
As long as your dog is well behaved off leash, avoids going into stalls/pens/arenas, and
gets along with our (very friendly) ranch dog, Lee, then your dog is welcome to
accompany you to the ranch!
Can I ride at Tierra Madre?
While our employees occasionally work with horses that can (and like to) be ridden,
volunteers, interns, and horse pals do not ride at the ranch. Tierra Madre is first and
foremost a facility for previously abused, neglected, injured or unwanted horses and our
priority is to give them what they need.
Do you offer riding lessons?
Yes! Lessons are $50 per session – which can range from an hour to two hours depending
on the rider – or $200 for five sessions. Lessons are offered between the months of October
and April. All ages are welcome. While we are not a formal riding facility nor are we
certified, we teach riders how to connect with their horse spiritually and emotionally in
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order to become one in the saddle. We teach that our horses are not machines to be
ordered, rather they are our equals and the goal of riding is to enjoy one another’s
company.
Your fundraisers are so boring. Can I plan something for the ranch?
Yes! We LOVE for our volunteers to get involved in fundraising. Any ideas you might
have, we want to hear them and make them happen. The sky is the limit.
What happens when a horse dies?
Being a forever home, Tierra Madre Horse Sanctuary promises health and happiness to
each of its family members. When neither of those things are no longer possible for our
horses, we send them home to the Great Herd with great dignity and respect. Our vet
comes to administer a humane injection and another organization comes to take the body
away. More often than not, the body is taken to Native American tribes that will recycle it
and use it with honor and reverence. We are with the horse until the very end – or, as some
might view it, until the very beginning.
Are there any horses I should avoid while working?
Yes. Because Tierra Madre is a horse sanctuary, there are bound to be some horses here
and there that have some psychological challenges – in other words, horses that are
aggressive or would feel threatened if you got too close to them. A ranch manager will tell
you which horses are “ranch manager only” horses on your first visit/day.
I have a horse I don’t want anymore. Can you take him/her in for me?
Tierra Madre Horse Sanctuary is first and foremost a home to horses that – quite literally –
have nowhere else to go. In other words, the severely abused, neglected, or injured horses
that would otherwise be sent to slaughter take priority. We will gladly put you in contact
with our network of horse rescues and sanctuaries across the Valley, but we typically do
not take in perfectly healthy horses whose owners are still capable of taking care of them.
Am I allowed to complete community service hours at Tierra Madre?
Yes! In fact, several volunteers and workers discovered Tierra Madre because of their need
to complete volunteer work. Our ranch managers are happy to sign off on log work, write
letters of recommendation, or do anything else that might be needed for assignments and
assessments.
I can’t come out to volunteer very often, but I’d love to help you guys in any way I
can. Do you have any suggestions?
Absolutely. You can help us raise awareness by telling your friends and family all about
the ranch. Additionally, we value those that do grant writing, fundraiser brainstorming and
planning, and marketing.
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THANK YOU
There is a great story out there about a young boy that goes around on a beach throwing
starfish back into the ocean before they shrivel and die on the sand. There are thousands of
starfish on the beach, and a man comes over and points out to the young boy that he cannot
possibly save them all or make a difference. The boy then points to the starfish he has just
thrown back into the water and replies, “I made a difference to that one!”
This sort of thing is exactly what we do at this ranch. By volunteering at Tierra Madre
Horse Sanctuary, you are making a difference in the lives of very lucky horses that,
through no fault of their own, had nowhere else to go. The horses always come first at this
sanctuary, and by putting their needs before their own, you will find that they will give you
their undying love in return.
Lastly, here are just a few words of advice from those of us who have, at one point, also
been new to the sanctuary:
Horses are unpredictable and will test your patience, courage, and strength. They rely on
a leader. You will learn how to be that leader.
It’s okay to have bad days. We all come here to be healed.
We want you to take the time to simply bury your face in a horse’s mane. Hug and kiss
them to your heart’s content. You and the horses are here to love each other.
Eyes are the windows to the soul. Watch the horses’ eyes to read their energy.
Just like people, every horse is different.
Horses never work, they play. Try to make your work here into play time.
There is nothing in the world so wonderful than having a horse look at you with trust in his
eyes. Take the time to develop that trust.
Listen to the horse. Always.
Your instinct is usually right.
Tierra Madre Horse Sanctuary is not just a sanctuary for horses – it’s a sanctuary for
people, too. You are safe here. You are welcome. You are home.
To our newest volunteer, welcome to the Tierra Madre
Horse Sanctuary family!
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TIERRA MADRE HORSE SANCTUARY
WAIVER AND RELEASE OF LIABILITY
PLEASE READ CAREFULLY BEFORE SIGNING. THIS IS A RELEASE OF LIABILITY AND
WAIVER OF CERTAIN LEGAL RIGHTS.
IN CONSIDERATION FOR MY BEING PERMITTED BY TIERRA MADRE HORSE
SANCTUARY AND EMPLOYEES TO PARTICIPATE IN THE VARIOUS
RECREATIONAL ACTIVITIES THAT TAKE PLACE IN AN OUTDOOR
ENVIRONMENT IN ROUGH OR MOUNTAINOUS TERRAIN AND/OR
VISITING/TOURING THE SANCTUARY, I AGREE TO THE FOLLOWING WAIVER
AND RELEASE. CERTAIN RISKS ARE INHERENT IN ANY RECREATIONAL
ACTIVITY AND CANNOT BE ELIMINATED OR REDUCED. THE SAME INHERENT
RISKS THAT CONTRIBUTE TO THE UNIQUE CHARACTER OF THE ACTIVITY CAN
BE THE CAUSE OF DAMAGE TO THE PERSON OR EQUIPMENT ASSOCIATED WITH
THE ACTIVITY, OR INJURY, ILLNESS, PARALYSIS OR DEATH. I UNDERSTAND
AND ACKNOWLEDGE THAT THERE ARE RISKS, HAZARDS AND DANGERS THAT
ARE INHERENT AND INTEGRAL TO THESE ACTIVITIES WHICH TAKE PLACE IN A
WILDERNESS OR OUTDOOR ENVRIONMENT. I UNDERSTAND THAT THESE
INHERENT RISKS, HAZARDS AND DANGERS INCLUDE WITHOUT LIMITATION:
1. Risks involved in horseback riding. These risks without limitations areas where objects are
not marked and hazards may not be visible; where trails are not groomed, maintained or
controlled; where weather is changeable, unpredictable and dangerous; and where lightning,
thunder, bee hives, streams, creeks, fallen timber, wild animals and other natural hazards and
dangers exist.
2. Risks arising out of any activity involving horses, which are unpredictable and
uncontrollable in all circumstances; which react to the conduct and actions of other riders and
persons; which without warning kick, bite, stomp, stumble, rear, bolt, fall down, and react to
sudden movements, noise, light, vehicles, other animals or objects; and which involve
equipment that may break or otherwise fail and other riders who may not control their animals
and cause a collision or other unpredictable consequences.
3. Risks involved in guide decision making and conduct in connection with recreational
activities in a wilderness environment. These risks include without limitation the risk that
guide may misjudge an individual’s capabilities, or misjudge terrain, weather, water level or
the character of the horse, donkey, or mule.
4. Risks arising from riding or recreating where firearms are allowed, and where others may be
handling or firing firearms, or both. These risks include without limitations the risk of being
shot or struck by flying debris or of accidental discharge of a firearm or the malfunction of a
firearm.
5. Pursuant to Arizona law, inherent risks of equine activities include without limitation: the
propensity of the animal to behave in ways that may result in injury, harm, or death to persons
on or around them; the unpredictability of the animal’s reaction to such things as sounds,
sudden movement, and unfamiliar objects, persons, or other animals; certain hazards such as
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surface and subsurface conditions; collisions with other animals or objects; and the potential of
a participant to act in a negligent manner that may contribute to injury to the participant or
others, such as failing to maintain control over the animal or not acting within his or her
ability.
6. Such other risks, hazards, and dangers that are integral to recreational activities offered and
engaged in, in a wilderness or outdoor environment.
I acknowledge that the above description of inherent risks is not complete and that there are
other risks, hazards and dangers associated with participating in recreational activities in an
outdoor environment that may be unknown or unanticipated. The inherent and other risks,
hazards and dangers may result in damage to the person or equipment or injury, illness,
paralysis or death. I acknowledge that Tierra Madre Horse Sanctuary has been available to
more fully explain to me the risks of these activities. I understand that I have responsibilities as
a participant in these activities. There are no mental or physical problems or limitations
associated with my participation in the recreational activities which I have not disclosed in
writing to Tierra Madre Horse Sanctuary. I am fully capable of participating in these activities.
I understand that the presence of Tierra Madre Horse Sanctuary personnel is no assurance of
my safety or the lessening of any of these risks.
I AM VOLUNTARILY PARTICIPATING IN OR AM ALLOWING MY CHILD(REN)
TO PARTICIPATE IN THE RECREATIONAL ACTIVITIES OF HORSEMANSHIP
INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO RIDING, WALKING, AND/OR GROOMING
WITH FULL KNOWLEDGE OF THE RISKS, HAZARDS AND DANGERS
INVOLVED. I HEREBY ASSUME AND ACCEPT ANY AND ALL RISKS OF DAMAGE,
INJURY, ILLNESS, PARALYSIS OR DEATH. I, for myself, my heirs, successors, executors
and subrogates, hereby KNOWINGLY AND INTENTIONALLY WAIVE AND RELEASE,
IDEMNIFY AND FOLD HARMLESS Tierra Madre Horse Sanctuary (“indemnify” meaning
protect by reimbursement or payment) its owners, agents and employees, with respect to any
and all claims, actions, causes of action, liabilities, suits, expenses (including costs and
reasonable attorney’s fees) and NEGLIGENCE OF ANY KIND OR NATURE whether
foreseen or unforeseen, arising directly or indirectly out of any damage, loss, injury, paralysis,
or death to me or my property in any way connected with my participation in these recreational
activities or my use of Tierra Madre Horse Sanctuary horses, equipment or facilities.
I AGREE that neither I, nor anyone acting on my behalf, will make a claim of any kind against
Tierra Madre Horse Sanctuary, the owner of any leased private lands, the U.S. Forest Service,
National Park Service, the Bureau of Land Management, any governmental agency whose
property any activity schedules may be required to utilize, as a result of any damage, injury,
paralysis or death to me or my property.
_________________________________________________________________________
(printed name)
(signature)
(date)
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