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Description
Here at the our small, intimate farm, it is our sincere desire to share the healing power of horses with everyone and most importantly with anyone in need of healing. As a 501 (c)(3) non-profit organization, operating in Buena Vista, Colorado, we provide equine guided interactions and equine assisted learning. With a herd of seven miniature horses and two standard horses (Rio 16 hands and Lady Bug 14 hands, senior), we are always willing and eager to help the healing begin!
This work away is open to EVERYONE, adults of all ages, sexual orientations, colors, nationalities, religions, genders, etc. The volunteer support system is amazing and here for you, you should never feel without community and friends here. Our non-profit is not associated with or funded by religious institutions or political affiliations.
Types of help and learning opportunities
Charity Work
Art Projects
Language practice
Elderly Companionship
Teaching
Gardening
DIY and building projects
Animal Care
Farmstay help
General Maintenance
Help with Computers/ Internet
UN sustainability goals this host is trying to achieve
Cultural exchange and learning opportunities
If you are interested in learning about equine assisted healing practices and forms of "therapy", this is the place for you. There is also a lot of western horse riding in these parts and rodeos! Trail rides are an option in many areas here and our horses are equipped. If you haven't experienced something like this, it's a good time. Bring your cowboy hats and boots, or buy some at the local thrift store :)
You can learn about mini equine care, feeding, exercise, and natural horsemanship training techniques, if you don't already. You can receive beneficial experience as a equine farm hand, and enjoy our little historical town of Buena Vista, CO. No horse experience required, but applicants with this will be prioritized. Our visiting programs are normally with kids groups, homeschooled to "at-risk" and learning how to work with these kids and the minis is pretty awesome and can be a really rewarding experience. We'd love someone who wants to volunteer their time with the kids, but this is not a requirement.
Projects involving children
This project could involve children. For more information see our guidelines and tips here.
Help
For this position you are required to complete morning and evening feedings 5 days a week, 7am and 6pm. Feeding normally takes 15-30 minutes. You will also be required to work one volunteer shift a week, time of day is up to you. This may include: mucking, making hay bags, general cleanup, exercising and grooming the horses, and feeding them lunch, normally takes 2ish hours to complete, quicker in the summer. This puts you close to 5-7ish hours of work a week. Besides this you have opportunities to help out with little projects, like mending fences, generally keeping an eye on the property, watering the garden in the summers, or working as much as you'd like with the horses. We are also working on offering hippotherapy to the community so training and desensitizing the horses is a plus!
Languages spoken
English: Fluent
Accommodation
26 foot camper, full kitchen, black/grey water with dump on property. You will have to use a portable waste tank (one is provided) to move black and grey water to sewage line. Queen bed, central AC and heater. Water, electricity, decent wifi is included, but propane is bought by the workawayer. Easy fill up at the local ACE hardware.
What else ...
Morning feeding begins anytime between 6:30am-7am (taking about 15-20 minutes), and evening feeding can begin anytime between 5:30pm-6pm (also about 15-20mins). These are the summer hours, winter/fall is closer to 6am and 5pm. This enables our workawayers to have a full or part time job in town! Ideally we'd love someone to commit to a min. 2 month, and there is always the potential for a long term opportunity if both parties agree.
There will be vehicles available for use, as well as full access to the facility! There is a beautiful meadow on property with a bridge across a creek, a round pen, and a smaller arena. We are a 5 minute drive to downtown Buena Vista, were there are shops, restaurants, and very nice cafes. This little mountain town has some great restaurants, accessible outdoor rec spaces, and beautiful nature everywhere you turn. The farm is also an 8 min. drive to two different Hot Springs (Cottonwood and Merrifield's) and 20 min drive to Mt Princeton Hot Springs Resort. Skiing, snow boarding, white water rafting, ATVing, fly fishing, trail riding, alpine lake kayaking, hiking along the river or up twelve 14ers in the area, and mountain biking, this town has all of the best outdoor activities you can find!!
A little more information
Internet access
Limited internet access
We have pets
We are smokers
Can host families
Can host digital nomads
We love remote workers! We think it is a great opportunity for digital nomads. We have reliable internet and can easily buy a wifi booster if needed. The camper is spacious for a camper, the greenspace has benches and tables, there is a small office in the main barn, tons of cute cafes in town (5 min drive down the road), and the owner of the house on property (co-founder Crissey) has an extra bedroom that can be used as office space.
Space for parking camper vans
This could work! We would just need to discuss first.
Can possibly accept pets
Pets are okay, just no misbehaved dogs! Has to behave with small kids, horses, other dogs, and we are by a busy-ish road with a lot of deer activity.
How many Workawayers can stay?
Two
