Do you like horses and kids? Become a sidewalker at hippotherapy!

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Our next volunteer training is on Friday, November 12th @4:30pm. Also please note as of October 18th 2021 all volunteers here at therapy works must be vaccinated and we will need copy of card or form. Please fill out a Volunteer Packet and email us at: volunteer@therapyworksnw.com to let us know you will be attending! Volunteer packets can be found here: https://secureservercdn.net/50.62.174.189/02x.e04.myftpupload.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/New-Volunteer-Packet-2021.pdf

TherapyWorks NW is a pediatric therapy clinic specializing in Physical Therapy, Occupational Therapy, Speech Therapy, and Hippotherapy. Hippotherapy is a treatment strategy utilized by our therapy practitioners in which our patients have 15-20 minute sessions incorporating equine movement.

Hippotherapy at our clinic is utilized in conjunction with Physical Therapy, Occupational Therapy, or Speech-Language Pathology. During a Hippotherapy session, we have the client on the horse, a horse handler, a licensed therapy professional, and a sidewalker volunteer (that could be you!) who walks along beside the horse. A sidewalker, depending on the client, may engage with the therapist and client during the session. Sidewalkers are very important to the safety of the client and must be aware of the client's and horse's movements at all times.

The sidewalker also helps with horse care and barn chores. If interested, a sidewalker may also learn about and assist the horse handlers with infrared heat treatment, microcurrent, and use of massagers.

An interested volunteer should be comfortable around horses. Prior experience being around horses is not required. The volunteer needs to be able to walk for continuous periods of time with their arm extended upwards, holding the client's leg while walking alongside the horse, and be strong enough to lift 30-50 lbs. momentarily (not repeated lifting, only for emergency dismounts).

We have found that longer term volunteers work best in our program so that our clients and the horses have some consistency. Our clients range in ages from birth to adolescence. We have many clients with developmental and/or behavioral disabilities, therefore, we need volunteers who are sensitive to those with special needs. We require sidewalkers to be at least 17 years of age.


Please contact us and come on out to see what it is all about. It is a fun volunteer job. We look forward to meeting you!

*Covid-19 precautions are in place. We require masks to be worn in the barn by all staff and visitors, excluding clients. We have surgical masks and face shields for volunteers to use as well.

Thank You!