At the heart of the Seaside Therapeutic Riding Program is our devoted and tireless crew of volunteers. Our volunteers are active duty solders are from the Military Police Barracks at Fort Hamilton Army Garrison in Brooklyn, NY These men and women act as volunteers for our Disabled Veterans. Every Tuesday morning they arrive at the barrn to help the Disabled Veterans participate in the riding program. Seaside Therapeutic Riding relies on the generosity of these military volunteers to assist at many levels. The solder volunteers are the key to the program. It is only with the help of the volunteers that we keep our lessons safe and enjoyable and our horses healthy and happy. Here are a few descriptions of ways active military personal volunteer at Seaside Horses for Heroes

The Volunteer Sidewalker:

A sidewalker is a person who acts as a "spotter", assisting a rider with a disability by walking alongside him/her while mounted on the horse. Instructors may also ask for assistance from a sidewalker while in the barn, when the rider is preparing or caring for the horse before and after the mounted portion of a Therapeutic riding session. Our Solder Sidewalkers go where the lesson takes them. Lessons usually are conducted in an enclosed sand arena, but occasionally riders venture out to the open fields or wooded trails. Most importantly the role of the side walker is to be attentive, helpful, and willing to assist those around them. Seaside Therapeutic Riding staff is responsible for the students and horses; a side walker's job is to be an extra set of hands, eyes and ears to help keep every session safe and fun.

The Volunteer Horse leader:

As our solder volunteers become more experienced working around the horses they are promoted to horse leaders. This requires a more experienced volunteer who is comfortable leading and controlling our horses.

Our Seaside horses for heroes program could not exist without the help of our Solder volunteers.  We have many people that would like to work with our disabled veterans but experience has taught us that the best volunteers to work with our disabled veterans are active military personal or other disabled veterans. They trust each other and respect each other. We do need volunteers to work with our non-veteran riders.