Anyone with a love for horses and a desire to help is welcome to volunteer. Volunteers come from all walks of life and can be of any age, shape, or size. Retirees, students, and working professionals are all encouraged to apply.

The first step is to fill out a Volunteer Application and submit it to our office. For your convenience, you can download and print a PDF copy of the Volunteer Application & Rules, along with the Photo Release Form (both available above).

Please read the Volunteer Guidelines, fill out pages 7 – 9, sign, and return them to Ryerss in any of the following ways:

(1) Copy filled out form and attach to an email to ryerssfarm@Verizon.net.

(2) Return it in person or by postal mail to: Ryerss Farm for Aged Equines, 1710 Ridge Road, Pottstown, PA 19465-8806, Attention: Office Manager

(3) Fax it to us at 610-469-0537.

*Please note that you must be at least 18 years of age at the time of application.*

Once your application is reviewed by our office, you will get a call from Ryerss to set up an appointment for an interview. If you are accepted as a volunteer, you will be contacted about when to begin.

There are a few volunteers who come and help several times a week, faithfully, all year long. There are several volunteers who are able to give us one or two days a week, and many who can offer to be here at least twice a month. All are valuable and appreciated for the time they are willing to give!

Ryerss Farm uses its volunteers for many different tasks. Some volunteer in the administrative office and gift shop doing work on the mailing lists, selling items in the shop, making some of the hand-crafted items we sell, answering phones and doing general office duties.

Other volunteers work in the barn and outdoor areas doing things such as: cleaning and mucking stalls, spreading straw, lime, shavings and hay in stalls, cleaning and filling water pails and troughs, cleaning feed buckets, cob-webbing, re-placing salt licks, painting stall numbers, painting gates and other barn areas, cleaning and sweeping, filling feed buckets, grooming horses, bringing horses in and turning out of the barn, gardening, giving tours, decorating the barn for holiday events and helping with those events (i.e., Open House in December, Yard Sale and Blessing of the Animals).

This may be an incomplete list, but know that everything at Ryerss is done with the welfare of the horses in mind. After all, our mission statement is “The care and shelter of aged and abused horses,” and that is our ultimate goal.

Yes, a background check is required for all volunteers. The $22 fee is waived for Ryerss Farm volunteers.

You have two options:

• Complete the background check online (recommended for faster processing, taking just a few minutes).

• Download and fill out the form by hand, then mail it to the Pennsylvania State Police in Harrisburg. This option takes 4–6 weeks.

Attach the completed background check document to your volunteer application before submitting it.

There are no costs to volunteer. The $22 background check fee is waived for Ryerss Farm volunteers.

Yes! Families are encouraged to volunteer together. It’s a great way to bond while supporting a worthy cause.

Yes, groups are welcome to volunteer. Please contact Ryerss Farm in advance to coordinate group activities.

Yes, all volunteers will receive training to ensure they are comfortable and confident in their roles.

It is not necessary to have experience with horses, only to love them! There are many chores to be done around Ryerss Farm that do not involve direct contact with the horses (see list above). If you eventually would like to do more hands-on work with our horses, this is possible as you gain experience and training from our helpful and capable staff and fellow volunteers.

Some tasks, such as cleaning stalls or lifting supplies, may require physical activity. If you have any limitations, let the staff know, and they will assign you to tasks that suit your abilities.

While volunteers of all ages are welcome, those under 18 may need a parent or guardian to accompany them or provide consent. Please check with Ryerss Farm for specific guidelines.

Wear comfortable, weather-appropriate clothing and sturdy shoes or boots suitable for working around horses.

Yes, short-term opportunities are available for specific events or projects. Contact the office to learn more.

Contact Ryerss Farm at (610) 469-0533 for more information.