USA: Care for and Rehabilitate Rescued Wild Horses in Florida

• You'll assist in a Centre that rescues mustangs that would have been put to death. The horses are nursed back to health and then trained with positive reinforcement and love to become adoptable.

WORK CONTENT
Work at the Centre is all focused on helping the horses. Apart from the elements in the Example Weekly Itinerary below, you could also take part in Vet visits and new rescue missions, should they arise during your project. The work schedule is structured in two work shifts. One morning and one afternoon. Each work shift is about 2 hours. Breaks can be taken any time. Other than work, here will be activities such as riding and socializing with the horses.

This is an example of your weekly itinerary:

Day 1:
This day will change and this is only a very rough guide - your schedule will depend on what time your arrive
Pick up in Orlando City or at the airport.
You'll be taken to your accommodation and settled in, then have an Induction/Orientation into the area and into the Project Centre.

1 pm – Lunch.
2 pm – You'll be taken around the place to see the Centre, sanctuary horses and the surroundings.
5 pm- Freshen up and start to make dinner.
7 pm- Go to hotel

Day 2:

6am – 8am - Breakfast and orientation for the day. Diane will tell you about the problems wild mustangs face in the US, how most of the horses come to Centre, how she works with them, that some horses will always be wild, why they do not breed the horses, etc. Diane and/or a volunteer coordinator will tell you what the schedule for today will be, i.e., what chores the morning and afternoon work shifts will include. Your daily tasks will include:

• 8.30am-10.30am – Clean, Hay, water and feed the horses and other animals at the centre as directed.
• 10.30am-12.00 – Varies daily (may include horse work, moving pens, etc)
• 12pm–1pm Lunch – Volunteers will rotate preparing lunches for the group. Break (winter 2 hours after lunch; Summer 3 hours after lunch)
• Afternoon work shift – Clean, hay, water and feed horses and other animals at centre, finish up any tasks started before lunch or go off site for activities (kayak, beach, air boating, etc!)
• 5pm: Dinner – Volunteers will rotate preparing dinner for the group. This schedule is repeated daily, and updates to activities are found on the weekly schedule on the Community Notice board in the kitchen.
• Volunteers also have opportunities to ride the horses and there are weekly trail rides for all volunteers, and experienced riders ride more frequently.

Day 7:
This day will change according to whether it's your last day and you're leaving, or not. If your project is longer than 1 week, you'll work either 5 or 6 days a week, depending on what's required at the time you're there. You can use your days off to explore the region - remember, you're only 40 minutes away from ORLANDO!!

WHAT YOU'LL GAIN FROM DOING THIS PROJECT:
- An exciting, never-to-be-forgotten adventure into the USA and its culture.
- The enormous satisfaction of helping rescue wild mustangs and helping them to be rehabilitated ... and knowing that you made a difference to them.
- New skills, more confidence, a greater understanding of a different culture, invaluable personal development.
- And best of all ... an unforgettable experience!

ACCOMODATION AND TRAVEL
- You'll stay in comfortable hostel / ROV Park about 5 minutes away from the Project Centre. It's a tranquil hotel in a rural small town
- You'll fly into Orlando Airport, where you will be met by either Diane or Mary-Alice from the Project and taken to your accommodation to settle in.

 

Start Dates

Projects start every Monday, all year round - you choose your start and finish dates.

Costs / Benefits

From £895 for 1 week, then £500 for each additional week. Price includes:

►Arranging your Programme,
►Full pre-departure support and assistance,
►Payment Protection insurance,
►Accommodation,
►Food,
►Meeting you at the nearest Airport,
►Transfer to your project, including return transfer,
►Transport to and from your project,
►Local in-country team support and backup,
►24-hr emergency support,
►Certificate of Completion

NOT INCLUDED:
Flights, Insurance, Cost of Visas (if a visa is required), Return transfer to airport.

Requirements

No qualifications needed,just lots of enthusiasm and a love of horses. Minimum age 18.