Therapeutic Equestrian Center seeks volunteers for fall session

WATERVLIET, Mich. - 

A local nonprofit is asking for people to take the reins and volunteer. Therapeutic Equestrian Center, to TEC, uses horses to help people become stronger mentally and physically.

TEC works with people with special needs and veterans through several programs every year. Fall session starts September 11, so the nonprofit wants to get volunteers trained and ready to go.

“In our classes during the group lesson we have no more than four riders, but often for those four riders to participate we need 12 volunteers, so that adds up pretty quick,” said Autumn Zick, PATH Riding Instructor at TEC.

Classes are offered every day of the week except Friday.

Volunteers can choose where to work. TEC needs volunteers for everything from working with the horses to ground maintenance and office work.

Tuesday is the first day of training for new volunteers. It will take place at the TEC barn from 6-7 p.m. Zick says this will give volunteers an overview of the nonprofit and its values, as well as go over volunteer opportunities.

Wednesday will be the second training day from 6-8 p.m. with hands-on training in the barn.

Zick says if you can’t make the training days, but are interested in volunteering, you can still do so.

“Our volunteers say they often think they get more out of it than the people they’re trying to help. Which of course isn’t necessarily true, but it is a great feeling,” said Zick. “You walk out at the end of the time you’ve helped in the barn and there have been a lot of laughs and smiles and accomplishments.”

She says they are always in need of more volunteers. For more information about volunteer opportunities, click here.