Volunteer with Bow Valley Equine Adaptive

Join our dedicated Volunteer Team at Bow Valley Equine Adaptive! You can experience the rewarding benefits our participants receive and share in their learning experiences. Training will be provided.

Bow Valley Equine Adaptive - BVEA - Horses - Prairie

Horse Lead

Responsible for the therapy horses: guiding direction, controlling speed, and stopping and starting as needed. Horse Leads also direct riders to accomplish tasks themselves.

Bow Valley Equine Adaptive - BVEA - Horses - Ryder

Side Walker

Side Walker Volunteers provide physical or focus-related support. They support the rider and are responsible for communicating to the Horse Lead when to stop and adjust.

Bow Valley Equine Adaptive - BVEA - People - Jenny C

Other Support

Other volunteer positions at BVEA may include admin support, photography, marketing, social media, writing, fundraising, and maintenance. Contact us to learn more.

"It’s a wonderful experience: 3 or 4 adults teamed up with a horse, all focused on one simple but amazing goal: helping the rider succeed. The smiles all around at the end of a ride are priceless. I’m a former horse owner so volunteering lets me get in some “horse time” grooming and tacking up."

Heather G. ~ BVEA Volunteer

Download the Volunteer Manual

Download Manual

Fill in the BVEA Volunteer Form

Volunteer Form

Volunteer FAQs

Where are the lessons held?

Lessons take place at Camp Chief Hector YMCA, located 20 km east of Canmore on Highway #1. The address is: 5 Bowfort Rd. Kananaskis. Find a Google Map on our contact page.

Do I need horse experience?

No experience is required! We provide a training day covering volunteer roles, grooming, and tacking.

What do volunteers do?

Volunteers help with:

Leaders – guiding the horse during lessons and trail rides
Side walkers – walking alongside the rider for support
Assisting with grooming and tacking before lessons

When do lessons take place?

Lessons run Friday afternoons, Sundays and Mondays (September–October). Other times may be arranged.

How long are the lessons?

Lessons last one hour, but volunteers are encouraged to arrive an hour early to help prepare the horses.

How many lessons are there?

We offer three seasonal programs (Spring, Summer, Fall), each consisting of five lessons.

Do I have to commit to every lesson?

No, but we appreciate as much notice as possible if you can’t attend a scheduled lesson.

What forms do I need to start volunteering?

Click here to view the volunteer form online or email volunteer@bvea.ca for a printable PDF version.

Is there public transit to Camp Chief Hector?

No, but if transportation is an issue, email volunteer@bvea.ca for assistance.

Are lessons canceled due to bad weather?

We aim to run in most weather conditions, however, if we need to cancel due to unfavourable weather conditions, we will notify everyone by text. If riding conditions are unsafe, lessons will include alternative activities like grooming and horse care.

What if I miss the volunteer training?

We may offer one-on-one training in some cases.

Can kids volunteer?

No, sorry. All our volunteers must be 18 years or older.