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Equestrian Volunteer Programs Abroad

Participating in an equestrian volunteer program abroad offers a unique opportunity to combine your passion for horses with meaningful volunteer work. These programs allow you to gain hands-on experience in horse care, support equine therapy initiatives, and immerse yourself in different cultures. These programs include horse riding, training, and community outreach.
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40 Equestrian Volunteer Programs

AHS
102 reviews

African Horse Safaris

African Horse Safaris logo
Natural Horsemanship in Namibia

Immerse yourself in the beauty of Namibia, surrounded by stunning...

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GoEco - Top Volunteer Organization
9.7777 reviews

GoEco - Top Volunteer Organization

Top Animal Welfare Volunteer Programs & Internships Abroad

GoEco offers more than 60 wildlife and animal conservation volunt...

Kaya Responsible Travel
00 reviews

Kaya Responsible Travel

Veterinarian Volunteering in South Africa

Volunteer at a premier game reserve that is home to the Big 5 and...

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Volunteer International Adventures
101 reviews

Volunteer International Adventures

Horse Rescue and Rehabilitation at an Equine Sanctuary

If you love equines, both horses and ponies, then the Horse Rescu...

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Jakera: Learn Spanish, Volunteer and Adventure
00 reviews

Jakera: Learn Spanish, Volunteer and Adventure

Costa Rica, Cuba & Guatemala – 12 Weeks Latin American Trip

Join us on a 12-week adventure through Costa Rica, Cuba, and Guat...

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Love Volunteers
9.58201 reviews

Love Volunteers

Volunteer Abroad & Make a REAL Difference - From US$175!

Find out why more and more people are choosing to become a Love V...

Volunteer World
8.8513 reviews

Volunteer World

Volunteer World: Best Volunteer Abroad Programs Worldwide

Looking to apply your talent and expertise to a good cause? Find ...

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ALIORE, Worldwide Workshops
92 reviews

ALIORE, Worldwide Workshops

Volunteer in a Green Tourism Project in South of France

Take part in the development of a green tourism project in the So...

World Unite!
00 reviews

World Unite!

Volunteer at a Horse Ranch on the Beach in South Africa

Do you love horses? Then, volunteering at a Horse Ranch on the be...

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GoBeyond Student Travel
00 reviews

GoBeyond Student Travel

GoBeyond - Galapagos/Ecuador - Service & Adventure Programs

Travel to Ecuador and explore the Galapagos Island with GoBeyond....

Globalteer
00 reviews

Globalteer

Volunteer with Rescued Horses

Volunteer with horses and experience the rich Peruvian culture wh...

Projects Abroad
00 reviews

Projects Abroad

Equine Therapy in Argentina with Projects Abroad

The Equine Therapy volunteer project in Argentina is an opportuni...

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Top Rated Program Volunteer Abroad in Zimbabwe 2025
Volunteer Encounter
9.17157 reviews

Volunteer Encounter

Volunteer with Horses, Antelope Park

Our Horse Volunteering project is dedicated to the sustainable de...

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Wild Bhiza
101 reviews

Wild Bhiza

A Unique Horse & Local Community Experience in Zimbabwe

Wild Bhiza offers more than just horseback riding. We provide the...

Our Generation Voluntary Organisation
81 reviews

Our Generation Voluntary Organisation

Awesome Volunteering Opportunities in Ghana with OGVO

Volunteer abroad in Ghana with Our Generation Voluntary Organisat...

Let's Go Africa
71 reviews

Let's Go Africa

Let's Go Ghana Program

Let’s Go Africa is designed to connect people across the globe to...

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Eatl Tour Company
00 reviews

Eatl Tour Company

Volunteer in Tanzania

Eatl Tour offers a Volunteer package to all people around the wor...

Bambelela Horse Safaris
00 reviews

Bambelela Horse Safaris

Horses, Wildlife, and Community

Join us for a unique volunteer experience where you'll work with ...

ImpacTrip
00 reviews

ImpacTrip

Wildlife Conservation in Portugal

Experience a unique opportunity to help rehabilitate wild animals...

Natucate
00 reviews

Natucate

Volunteering in Canada – Taking Care of Horses in Need

Travel to Canada, where you'll become part of a dedicated team of...

A Guide to Equestrian Volunteer Work Abroad

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Frequently Asked Questions

Equestrian Volunteering involves caring for horses and engaging with people. This includes care and rehabilitation for abused or neglected horses, offering equine-assisted therapy to individuals facing physical, emotional, or developmental challenges, and participating in educational programs to raise awareness on horse care and welfare. Each role contributes to the well-being of horses and humans, fostering trust, health, and understanding.

Yes! Volunteers gain valuable experience in horse care, handling, and behavior. Interacting with horses can be therapeutic and promote personal growth. Additionally, volunteering with horses allows you to meet like-minded individuals and build a supportive community. While challenging at times, the rewards of witnessing the positive impact of your efforts on horses and people make the experience truly worthwhile.

Challenges may include physically demanding tasks, exposure to unpredictable animal behavior, and working in varying weather conditions. However, the rewards are immense, including witnessing the transformation of rescued horses and the positive impact of equine-assisted therapy on individuals. Building relationships with horses and learning about their care are invaluable experiences, leading to a sense of accomplishment and personal growth.

Equine volunteer tasks vary depending on the organization and specific program. Common responsibilities include feeding and watering horses, cleaning stalls and paddocks, grooming and tacking up horses, leading horses for riding or therapy sessions, and providing basic veterinary care. Volunteers may also assist with record-keeping, fundraising, and educational programs.

Top destinations for equestrian volunteering include South Africa, which focuses on horse rescue and rehabilitation, as well as equine-assisted therapy. Israel offers similar programs catering to both children and adults with disabilities. Argentina provides an opportunity to work with horses in a traditional gaucho setting and engage in equine therapy. These countries offer diverse experiences for horse lovers looking to volunteer abroad.

Latest Program Reviews

A Life-Changing Horseback Adventure

June 17, 2025by: Jenna smythe - United KingdomProgram: A Unique Horse & Local Community Experience in Zimbabwe
10

My stay at Wild Bhiza. I had spent hours researching how to volunteer with horses in Africa, until I came across Wild Bhiza. I was drawn to their ethos around the care for their animals, but also their commitment to serve and protect the natural environment and the people within the community of Victoria Falls. Africa had already begun to captivate are imaginations, the sunset that evening glowed colours of pink, gold and red as it descended over the African Bush. It was an early start the next morning as we were up at 5 am to help Vianyi with the horses. Zimbabwe has large temperature fluctuations and in the morning it can be incredibly cold, but as we set about on the morning tasks of poo picking, brushing and feeding the horses the temperatures soon started to rise. The Sun came back out and once again illuminated the bush and everything living in it. It hit me as soon as I arrived out there, the incredible peace that is found in the natural African environment. At around 6:30 am we started to tack the horses up for the first ride of the day. The tack is different to what we ride out in the UK, however, despite being a bit less, the amount of respect the horses have is incredible. We rode around the property that morning, taking in the spectacular and vast views that the landscape has to offer. The forest seems to always be alive with something, whether that is the sound of the birds up in the branches above or the sight of the impala watching you from a watering hole, evaluating you with care so as to decide their next move. After we got back from the morning ride, we washed down the horses, gave them plenty of treats and had some lunch. That afternoon Lisa showed us some of the basic skills needed for natural horsemanship on a young horse called Nero. The horses were very gentle and responsive to this type of work and learning how to build a relationship based on mutual respect with them through this practice was very rewarding. Some of the skills that Lisa taught us included doing a join-up and teaching the horses to move their quarters into different places, such as next to the mountain blocks. The principles of Natural horsemanship are based on a mutual respect between horse and rider, and seemed to have a profound effect on how the horses at Wild Bhiza behaved and how at ease they were. Lisa was very knowledgeable in this area, and she provided me and Matilda with many lessons on natural horsemanship It is something that I now try and incorporate with my horse at home. In the evenings, we would have dinner and sit around the campfire telling stories from our antics that day, maybe with a Zambezi in hand (a local beer brewed in Victoria Falls). Over the course of our three-week stay, we rode out almost every day, exploring the beautiful natural environment of the surrounding forest but also into the local communities. Riding into the communities around Vic Falls is something which I felt very privileged to be able to do, it was amazing to explore a different culture, especially one which was based on strong community values. Riding out in these communities really gave me an opportunity to understand and learn more about the different cultural values and helped me understand my immense privilege having grown up not having to worry about illness or access to clean water. Me and Matilda were also lucky enough to have three days of safari in the Zambezi national park (located just outside Vic falls) and two days and one night camping in Chobe National Park. The experience we had exploring the parks was spectacular. An absolute highlight was sighting a leopard in a tree in the Zambezi. It had been rather a quiet day of sightings when someone in the back of the vehicle thought they had seen a tail hanging down from a tree. The ranger (in quite disbelief much like the rest of us) put the four by four into reverse and drove back towards the tree. Once we had stopped, we looked up and saw above us resting on the branches, was a female leopard. She had obviously been observing us driving right past her and then reversing back again (they always say a leopard will see you before you see them). We sat there for around 15 minutes and carefully observed each other (the people in the vehicle and the leopard), in till of course, something more interesting came along and caught her attention, so she carefully jumped down from her perch and retreated back into the bush. Over the course of the three weeks, I created amazing bonds with Lisa's horses and learnt so much about Natural horsemanship. I came away feeling so lucky to have explored the African forests and communities on horseback and have learnt so much about the natural environment. Victoria Falls itself was a wonderful place to be near as well, with plenty of great places to eat and fun activities (white water rafting was my personal favourite). The trip was amazing, and I would recommend it to anyone. The only downside is that you will keep wanting to go back!

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