On a Saturday morning at River Heights Ranch, the first volunteers pull in before the riders do. A horse leader brushes down her horse and checks the saddle pad. Two sidewalkers walk the arena with the instructor, talking through the lesson plan. Someone else is already sweeping the aisle. By the time the first family parks, the horse is ready, the team knows its job, and the rider’s 45-minute lesson can start on time.
That morning doesn’t happen without volunteers. Rhythms of Grace is a volunteer-driven nonprofit in Dallas Center, Iowa, just west of Des Moines, offering equine-assisted services to children and adults with disabilities and special needs. We have no paid employees, and you don’t need horse experience to join us. If you’ve been searching for a way to volunteer with horses near Des Moines, here is what the work looks like and how to get trained for our spring 2027 session.
What do volunteers do at Rhythms of Grace?
Most volunteers help in lessons and therapy sessions, which run on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays. Across those four days, there are about 140 volunteer hours to fill each week.
A horse leader is responsible for the horse: grooming, tacking up, and leading at a walk or trot during the lesson, so the instructor or therapist can keep their attention on the rider. Sidewalkers walk beside the rider, offering steady support and encouragement as the instructor or therapist directs. Barn buddies keep everything around the session running, from grooming to chores to getting the barn ready for the next rider.
Not every role is in the arena. Some volunteers help plan our annual FUNdraising Gala, selling sponsorships and tickets, gathering auction items, and putting together mailings. Others care for the arenas, flower beds, facilities, and tack. Photographers, marketers, groups, and one-time construction projects all have a place here too.
Do I need horse experience to volunteer with horses?
No. Horse experience is not required. Every volunteer completes training for their specific role before working with riders, and our instructors and therapists lead every session. What matters most is that you show up ready to learn, follow our procedures, and pitch in with barn chores.
Who can volunteer?
Lesson volunteers need to be at least 14 years old, able to lift up to 40 pounds, and able to walk and briskly jog on uneven ground for a full 45-minute lesson. You’ll attend an orientation, pass training for your role, and come back for refresher training.
We also ask lesson volunteers to try to commit to the same day and time each week. A consistent team helps sessions run smoothly for riders and horses alike. Volunteers arrive 30 minutes before class, and morning horse leaders come 60 minutes early to prepare the horses.
How do I become a volunteer?
Our 2026 volunteer trainings have wrapped up, and the next orientation and training will be in March 2027, ahead of the spring session. You can start now:
Submit a volunteer application, and we’ll let you know when orientation is scheduled.
Attend a volunteer tour and orientation. RSVP by emailing Volunteer@RhythmsOfGraceEquine.org.
Complete a background check if you are 18 or older.
Read the volunteer handbook and watch the volunteer training video.
Attend in-person training for your role: barn buddy, horse grooming, sidewalker, or horse leader, plus mandatory emergency preparedness training.
Links to every step are on our Volunteer page.
Why do volunteers matter so much in equine-assisted services?
One adaptive riding lesson can take several people: an instructor, a horse leader, and one or two sidewalkers, depending on the rider. Utah State University Extension lists volunteer training and staffing among the questions families should ask when choosing a program (USU Extension). When we have enough trained volunteers, we can offer more session times. When we don’t, riders wait.
Volunteer hours also keep our costs down. Because so much of the work is donated, we can keep riding lessons and therapy sessions highly subsidized for families who need them.
Can my volunteer hours turn into a donation?
Often, yes. Some employers give money to the nonprofits where their employees volunteer, and others match employees’ personal gifts. It’s worth a quick question to your HR or community giving team. If your company has a program like this, we’re glad to help with the paperwork.
And if your schedule won’t allow a weekly shift right now, you can still be part of that Saturday morning. A gift to Rhythms of Grace helps fund rider scholarships, horse care, and the training that keeps every session safe. Rhythms of Grace is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, and gifts are tax-deductible as allowed by law.
Frequently asked questions
Where is Rhythms of Grace located?
We’re at River Heights Ranch, 23625 River Heights Drive, Dallas Center, Iowa 50063, along the Raccoon River west of Des Moines.
Can teenagers volunteer with horses?
Yes. Volunteers 14 and older can help in lessons after orientation and training. Background checks apply to volunteers 18 and older.
Can a group volunteer together?
Yes. Groups are welcome, especially for grounds work and one-time projects. Email Volunteer@RhythmsOfGraceEquine.org to plan a date.
When is the next volunteer training?
The next orientation and training will be in March 2027, before the spring session. Submit an application now to be notified of dates.
