• Volunteer Application

  • THE HORSES COME FIRST

    Understanding and Respecting Our Sanctuary Mission

  • Sixteen Hands Horse Sanctuary is a lifetime sanctuary. Our horses are here to live out their lives in peace, comfort, and safety. They are not here to be used for riding lessons, to serve as practice horses, or to provide hands-on experiences for every person who volunteers. Our responsibility is to put their needs first, including their need for rest, personal space, and freedom from constant human interaction.

    Being around the horses is a privilege, not a reward for volunteering.

    Our horses are not required to interact with people simply because someone wants to pet, groom, or spend time with them, especially while they are locked in a stall. Even the friendliest horses need time when they are left alone to eat, rest, socialize with their herd, or simply do nothing. When every person who visits or volunteers feels entitled to touch or groom a horse, the horses never get a true break from human attention.

    We ask our volunteers to understand and respect the following:

    The horses' needs come first. Their comfort, safety, and well-being take priority over our desire to interact with them.


    Not every horse needs or wants to be touched. Petting, grooming, and other hands-on interactions are permitted only when appropriate and authorized by sanctuary leadership.


    Volunteer work does not earn horse time. Completing chores or other volunteer responsibilities does not entitle anyone to pet, groom, handle, or otherwise interact with the horses.


    Peace and quiet are part of their care. We must respect when horses are eating, resting, interacting with their herd, or simply choosing not to engage with people.


    We are not here to practice on the horses. Their lives and well-being are not opportunities for volunteers to develop horse-handling skills or experiment with techniques.


    Respect means following direction. Volunteers are expected to follow sanctuary protocols regarding when, how, and whether they may interact with individual horses.


    We know that being close to horses is one of the reasons people volunteer, and we value the compassion and enjoyment that come from those relationships.

    However, our mission is not to provide people with unlimited access to horses. It is to provide the horses with the best possible quality of life.

    We ask every volunteer to find satisfaction in knowing they are making a difference, even when that means giving a horse the space to be left alone. Sometimes, the kindest thing we can do for a horse is simply let it be a horse.

    By applying to volunteer at Sixteen Hands Horse Sanctuary, you acknowledge that the horses' well-being comes before your desire for personal interaction with them.

    We have an opportunity for volunteers to learn how to provide horse care, medictions, grooming, etc. and it is directly related to how much time you want to spend learning, we follow the individual horse's timeline, not ours.

  • Do you have current health insurance?*
  • Do you need volunteer hours for school?*
  • Have you ever been convicted of a crime?*
  • Do you need court-ordered volunteer hours?*
  • Is riding a horse important to you as a volunteer? Please note: We do not ride the horses here at the sanctuary.*
  • Do you work with any other rescue organizations?
  • Do you have any animal experience? (check all that apply)

  • Horse Experience, Special Skills, Strengths, Talents: (check all that apply)*

  • Other Experience, Special Skills, Strengths, Talents: (check all that apply)
  • Volunteer Work Preferences: (check all that apply)*

  • What day(s) are you available to volunteer? We encourage our volunteers to commit to a weekly schedule.*
  • We hold a new volunteer orientation the first Tuesday each month at 11am, the orientation lasts approximately one hour. Please choose the date you'd like to attend. You must attend an orientation to volunteer. 2026 and 2027 Orientations*
  • What times are you available to volunteer? CHECK ONLY ONE*

  • We have two shifts AM and PM, choose one that fits with your schedule.
  • Can you lift 50 lbs?
  • Are you willing to pick up small deliveries (occasional feed/medication)?
  • Would you like to receive our newsletter via email, if not we will only send volunteer related information?
  •  -

  • By signing below you give Sixteen Hands Horse Sanctuary permission to use any and all photo/videos of you while in service to Sixteen Hands Horse Sanctuary. Photos and videos will be used to promote the mission of Sixteen Hands Horse Sanctuary in any media, in perpetuity.

  • Equine Liability Waiver and Hold Harmless Agreement

    I acknowledge the inherent risks involved in working around and riding horses, which include but are not limited to, bodily injury from using, riding, or being in close proximity to horses, among other risks, and further, that both horse and rider can be injured on the ground or while mounted or in competition and schooling.

  • IN CONSIDERATION, therefore, for the privilege of being in proximity and / or working around horses at Sixteen Hands Horse Sanctuary, Inc., I do hereby agree to hold harmless and indemnify Sixteen Hands Horse Sanctuary and further release them from any liability or responsibility for accident, damage, injury or illness to me, to any family member or spectator accompanying me while on the premises of Sixteen Hands Horse Sanctuary, Inc. and that except in the event of the sanctuary's gross and willful negligence, I shall bring no claims, demands, actions and cause of action, and/or litigation, against this sanctuary for any economic and non-economic losses due to bodily injury, death and/or property damage sustained by me and/or my minor child or legal ward in relation to the premises and operation of this sanctuary, including while riding, handling or otherwise being near horses owned or in the care, custody and control of this stable.

  • Warning

    UNDER FLORIDA LAW, AN EQUINE ACTIVITY SPONSOR OR EQUINE PROFESSIONAL IN NOT LIABLE FOR AN INJURY TO, OR THE DEATH OF, A PARTICIPANT IN EQUINE ACTIVITIES RESULTING FROM THE INHERENT RISKS OF EQUINE ACTIVITIES.

  • By signing below, you are stating that you are the parent/guardian of the above applicant and you grant your permission for him/her to volunteer with Sixteen Hands Horse Sanctuary.

  • Should be Empty: