Volunteering at Riley Equine Center
Can you picture a place where your only care in the world is something that cares for you
as well? For the past four months I have spent 45 hours volunteering for Riley Equine Center in
Boonville, MO, and the environment is just that. Riley Equine Center is a therapeutic horseback
riding stable. They specialize in creating a loving atmosphere where a person with disabilities,
special needs, or even just wanting to learn to ride a horse can come and enjoy the simplicity of
the country environment and leave the stressors of daily life behind. I enjoyed everything I
participated in. When I get to the barn to volunteer, we get the horses ready by brushing and
saddling them. We head up to Riley Equine’s new covered arena and wait for the arrival or the
students. In Equine Assisted Activity, there are a few things volunteers can help with. One
opportunity is to be a “side-walker” who walks next to the person riding the horse and holds on
to them to keep them balanced on the horse. With people who have extreme balance problems or
just can’t hold themselves up, we use a belt called a “gait belt” that wraps around the students
waist and that’s what we hold. Another position is the person leading the horse. Most people
with special needs have trouble guiding the horse on their own so we need someone to lead the
horse. Sometimes, as is the case with one little boy who doesn’t walk and can’t hold his body
weight up, a volunteer needs to sit behind the saddle on the horses back end to hold the body of
the rider. Most of the time I side walked. I grew emotionally close to many of the students at
Riley, and watched as they grew close to the horses and the environment.I think that the students
could see that they could get up on that horse just like anybody else could, and when they were
riding, they were riding as normally as anybody else would. Their disabilities couldn’t stop them
from doing something exactly like someone without special needs.There are things from class
that I learned had a lot to do with my service. I saw that the horses served as social lubricants for
the students who were shy to communicate with the staff or volunteers. I observed the aspect of
unconditional love that we discussed in class. The students loved their horse and the horse was
always there for them every time they came to the barn. I think they can feel the non-judgmental
nature of the animal, they would feel loved by this animal no matter their disability. I witnessed
the effects of the Human-Animal Bond defined as “A mutually beneficial, dynamic relationship
between people and animals that is influenced by behaviors that are essential to the health and
well-being of both”. The students were receiving the benefits of exercise, and unconditional love.
The horses were receiving exercise and the care and maintenance of the student. I think that the
Human-Animal Interaction is a big part of how Equine Assisted Activity works, because the
horse stimulates the student’s brain and body.I would recommend volunteering at Riley Equine
Center to anyone in the future, whether they have been around horses or not. The environment
and staff are so welcoming and caring and really want their volunteers to have as much fun as the
students. Don’t turn away from the idea of volunteering just because it’s thirty minutes away. It’s
worth every minute it takes to commute. If you’re scared of horses, the staff will teach you about
them and get you more comfortable being around them-which can also add to your learning
experience! Bonnie Riley, the owner at Riley Equine Center, is the heart and soul of the
operation (although, so are the horses!). Riley Equine is her “labor of love” and with only one
employee, they depend a lot on volunteers to help them out. Bonnie has a favorite expression“the horse knows”, and I’ve learned that the horse does know. The horse knows if it needs to be
gentle, and it knows if a person needs a little extra love. A horse can’t talk back, but will always
listen.
Written By: Laura Hayes