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Windrush Farm

AnimalsChildrenHealthLife Skills
479 Lacy St, North Andover, MA 01845
Phone (978) 682 - 7855
I'm Interested Visit Website Volunteer Page
Our mission

Promotes confidence, independence and well-being in children and adults with physical, cognitive or emotional challenges through therapeutic riding and horse-related programs.
Opportunities

Corporate, Community, or School Group Volunteering

Windrush Farm is a 38-acre working farm, with access to miles of trails. We always have something do on the property! We welcome groups to help with a wide variety of projects including: painting, cleaning, washing, fence mending, clearing trails, building new pathways, weeding ans mulching.
  • One-time, Occasional, Monthly
  • Teens, 55+, Adults
  • Groups (2-10), Groups (10+), Corporate Teams
  • Indoor, Outdoor
  • On-site
  • Weekdays, Weekends

Summer Program Volunteers

We need volunteers with horse experience to help with both our recreational and therapeutic programs. Volunteers are an extension of the instructor. They help teach our clients to groom and tack, and give lots of encouragement! Volunteers also help with general barn chores such as turnout and feeding. Volunteers are asked to commit to at least one full week of volunteering in the summer. Some programs include reading, writing and gardening as part of the curriculum.
  • Weekly
  • Teens, 55+, Adults
  • Individuals
  • Indoor, Outdoor
  • Formal, Skilled
  • Weekdays, Weekends

Barn Buddies

Volunteers in our “Barn Buddies” program work one-on-one with a client, who may or may not be accompanied by a caregiver. The volunteer will help teach the client about various topics which may include horse behavior, horse management, horse health, and barn management. Barn Buddy volunteers should have good recent horse experience and a willingness to utilize Windrush horsemanship techniques.
  • Weekly, Monthly
  • Teens, 55+, Adults
  • Individuals
  • Indoor, Outdoor
  • On-site, Skilled
  • Weekdays, Weekends

Horse Handlers

A horse handler will: bring the horse from the barn to the arena, lead the horse during the class, and return the horse to the barn. For our unmounted programs, horse handlers help the client learn to groom and tack a horse. Horse handlers need to have good horse experience and a willingness to utilize Windrush techniques to keep handling skills consistent for our horses.
  • Weekly, Monthly
  • Teens, 55+, Adults
  • Individuals
  • Indoor, Outdoor
  • On-site, Skilled
  • Weekdays, Weekends

Sidewalkers

A sidewalker walks and/or jogs alongside the horse to help keep the rider safe and achieve his/her goals. This may involve a safety hold of the client for an entire lesson, or a more hands off approach, depending on the needs of the client. The sidewalker is an extension of the instructor, who helps guide and coach the client through the lesson.
  • Weekly, Monthly
  • Teens, 55+, Adults
  • Individuals
  • Indoor, Outdoor
  • On-site
  • Weekdays, Weekends
How you help

Windrush trainers, volunteers and staff members, many of whom have been with us for decades, are committed to providing the best equine facilitated therapeutic services to our clients in the most compassionate manner.
About us

Each year, Windrush provides an array of educational services and therapeutic activities to more than 1,000 children and adults – and their families. Founded in 1964, Windrush Farm was one of the first therapeutic equitation centers in the United States. Windrush offers equine assisted activities founded on the principle that all of us, disabled or not, are capable of more than we think.