The first Equine & Barn Mngt Intern

I wanted to share the amazing experience I had at Ride for Joy. I was a barn and equine management intern. I had signed up to do this to develop more experience both with horses and with students. I am currently a student at Boise State University and am studying psychology with the intention of someday practicing equine assisted trauma therapy. What I was able to learn as an intern was invaluable to that. Not to mention that everyone who works at Ride for Joy was so willing to teach me even more. For instance, I was able to learn about how students are evaluated and matched to the horses, for riding, because the instructors were willing to work with me and show me some of their methodology. Also, I was able to learn about grant writing, fundraising, and ways to build relationships with the donors to the program. All this while being able to work with the horses, by grooming and tacking them for students. Sometimes even being able to ride or warm them up before lessons. In the end, I received more knowledge in eight weeks than I could have ever hoped when I started my internship. I am so thankful to everyone I got to know there. Everyone is so invested and purposeful and it was an inspiration for me on how I would like to build my own practice. Being able to work with the staff, horses and students this last summer was a lifesaver after the isolation of the winter of 2020. I would truly recommend this to anyone who is looking for an internship and has an interest, and some experience, in horses or people. Or, if you would like to just volunteer for a couple hours a week then being a sidewalker or horse leader for the horses and students is another wonderful way to be involved.