Mission Statement...
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It is the mission of Main Stay Therapeutic Riding Program to provide individualized equine related therapeutic activities to people with physical, developmental, social, and emotional disabilities, in McHenry and surrounding counties.

Main Stay Therapeutic Riding Program enriches the lives of our clients in a caring, safe, and challenging environment that will enable them to reach their highest potential.

Main Stay is a volunteer based organization.  Although we operate with a very small staff, without the many wonderful volunteers who choose to make a difference, our program would not exist.  For most areas of the program you will not need a special skill or horse experience.  You just need the desire to give your time... we can almost guarantee you will receive more than you give!

Ring Volunteers
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Ring volunteers work in the arena with students on a weekly or "substitute" basis from April through Thanksgiving.  Additional ring volunteers are needed during the daytime hours during February and March as Main Stay works with winter session students. Non-horse experienced people can easily be trained to aid riders as a side-walker.  Side-walkers walk alongside the students (where appropriate) and help add physical and emotional support to riders when necessary.    People with qualified horse experience are needed as horse handlers/leaders.   All ring volunteers must all be physically capable of walking on uneven terrain, and be able to walk for a minimum of 1 hour.  There is a minimum age requirement of 13 for ring volunteers and everyone interested in becoming a ring volunteer must attend a training session prior to beginning work with students.   Main Stay is also looking for speech, physical, and occupational therapists who want to become involved on a regular or consultant basis.

Project Volunteers
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Project volunteers can assist in many areas.  Building projects, barn maintenance, property maintenance, gardening, office, and administrative activities are some of the areas we can use volunteer help.   There is almost always something that needs attention or repair.

Horse Volunteers
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Occasionally Main Stay is in need of skilled, professional horsemen to assist with training and exercising horses. This is not an opportunity for people to ride for recreational purposes... riders need a high degree of skill and will be tested before they are allowed to ride.

Fundraising Volunteers
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Throughout the year, Main Stay hosts several fundraisers where good volunteer participation means the difference between success & failure.  Please check the calendar for the next event.  If you have any ideas for fundraising events or would like to host an event, please don't hesitate to contact us or call the farm.

Board & Committee Members
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Board members are an integral part of the Main Stay team and generally meet on a monthly basis.   The Board of Directors is responsible for the financial stability and policy making areas of the program.   Board members are people with a strong commitment to help move the program forward who are also good team players.   Committee members meetings are dependent on the committee’s special cause or event. If you are interested in any of the above areas or think you have a skill we can use – please contact us for more information on how you can join the Main Stay team!