Therapeutic Riding Centers: these places usually run on 99% volunteers so they’re always looking for new volunteers. You can even bring along your non-horsey friends since most of the volunteer work involves working with riders. Try the Community Association for Riding for the Disabled in Toronto, or King’s Ransom Stables in Schomberg.

Horse Shows: student volunteers are usually needed for help setting up, and running horse-shows doing everything from registrations to handing out ribbons. Contact prominent horse show stables/facilities to see if they take volunteers. Some suggestions are Halton Place in Georgetown, the Pickering Horse Center in Pickering or the Royal Canadian Riding Academy in Aurora. You could also try the Royal Agricultural Winter Fair when it comes to Toronto for two weeks in November.

Horse Rescue Charities: if you’re looking for a much more hands on equine volunteer experience, this is definitely a good one. You can help with training, riding or even take home a project horse for fostering. Some equine rescues are Heaven Can Wait in Cameron, Long Run Thoroughbred Retirement based in Mississauga, or the Ontario Standardbred Adoption Society based in Campbellville.

Summer Camps: many summer camps are happy to take volunteers for the summer. Some of them will even let you stay overnight and feed you. Try Ravencrest Camp outside London, or Teen Ranch in Caledon.