If you love horses, western riding, and general ranch work, this is the perfect place for you.
This blog is written by Stine
Length of stay:
Minimum 1 month - as long as you wish.
Number of volunteers:
1 volunteer.
Exceptions can be made for couples if either one or both have experience with horses or if the other can help out with general maintenance.
When:
All year around
5 days work - 2 days off. Days can be adjusted, and you can take additional time off.
Work days are Friday to Tuesday.
Other requirements:
No previous volunteer experience needed.
Experience in handling horses is required.
All riding levels are welcome - beginners can get lessons and experienced riders will have the opportunity to ride/train horses depending on their experience.
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Pete and Elena are looking for help around their ranch. They have 28 horses, 8 dogs, 4 donkeys, 2 cows, 2 tortoises, 5 sheep, a “small” pig and cats. They need help with feeding in the morning and evening, general stable work and wherever else a hand is needed. In addition to breeding and training horses they also rescue dogs from shelters and re-home them when possible. While I was there, they had rescued four puppies, which we then brought to the vet clinic where Elena works, and found them new homes. Their two cows are also bottle-fed calves they rescued when the farmers didn’t want them because of the extra work. My first meeting with their black steer, “Hamburger,” was when I was running around in his field chasing sheep. As I turned around the corner, I came face to face with him, unsure whether he was friendly or like the cows I knew from South America. I turned around and ran toward the fence where I could see Elena. I yelled and asked if the black steer was tame, and she said yes. Then he came trotting after me and stopped right behind me, waiting to be petted. Their “small” pig was also a rescue, a slightly obese Vietnamese potbelly pig that roams around the ranch. Their four donkeys also came from different farms that they rescued from various situations.
Pete and Elena don’t require volunteers with any previous volunteering experience, but general horse handling experience is necessary. If you do not have strong riding skills but want to learn, they will be happy to teach you and give you lessons in western riding. Elena can also help you with English riding. It’s a plus if you have previous feeding experience, and if you are an experienced rider, you can take out the horses for training in the arena or trail riding in the area.
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Pete works in construction and enjoys trail riding on his days off. He had never ridden horses before meeting Elena, but on their first date, he rode Elena's first horse and thought it was pretty damn cool. He went to Wyoming to work for the summer as a trail riding guide and came back with lots of new skills. In the summer, he participates in rodeos as a bronc rider. Pete has worked at dude ranches and has a lot of experience in guiding, trail riding, and training horses. Elena works part-time at a vet clinic in the neighbouring town, and on her days off, she trains the horses they have at the ranch. She rides both English and Western style and can teach both. Elena has competed in several barrel racing competitions.
Their horses are handled from when they are foals. All of them are easy to manage and very well-behaved and trained. Their horses are quarter horses, except for Pete’s mustang and boarders. The horses they have for boarding only need to be fed and do not require moving around or riding.
There are no limits for what you can get out of this volunteer experience.
Both Pete and Elena enjoy training horses and trail riding on their days off. There are no limits for what you can get out of this volunteer experience. They have horses in all age groups and you can work the foals, petting and desensitising them, riding and training the youngsters and moving the broodmares around the arena. It all depends on your level of experience.
A typical day as a volunteer will start at 8 AM. You will feed the horses, which takes approximately 1.5 hours, including time to pet all the horses and dogs. Then you will have free time. As mentioned earlier, if you’re an experienced rider, you can take out the horses and work with them in the arena. In the evening, you will need to feed the horses and dogs again and prepare feed for the next morning, which takes about an hour.
You will work around 4-5 hours a day, depending on your workflow. After the morning feeding, you’ll need to take in a few of the horses or just go into the field with a brush to check on the horses and provide some general care. If you're a rider, you will have time to work with two horses in the arena. They have both a small arena for basic training and a large arena used for barrel racing.
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As you finish up for the day, it is expected that you clean up after yourself and keep the barn clean. They have a few stables that will need to be mucked out after feeding, but the horses don’t stay inside overnight.
This volunteer position is also a great opportunity for someone working freelance or remotely, as they have fast and stable internet, and you only have the feeding chores in the morning and evening. From midday to afternoon, you have time to work online.
You will receive food and accommodation while volunteering with Pete and Elena. They are currently building a small studio apartment on the property, but for now, you will be staying in the house with them. You will have your own room in the house and share amenities. There is also a car available if you want to explore the area.
On your days off, there are plenty of hiking trails around Virginia, tubing and fishing in summer, as well as many festivals and rodeos. There are lots of outdoor activities.
Pete and Elena prefer just one volunteer but exceptions can be made for couples if one (or both) is into horses and the other helpful working with general maintenance.
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If you are interested in volunteering with Pete and Elena, send me a message on Instagram. Tell me a little about yourself, your level of experience with horses, and when you would like to volunteer.
Check out my blog about horse riding in the Western USA with Pete and Elena to get to know them and their horses better.
Also feel free to message me on Instagram if you are looking for day rides and multi-day rides in Virginia, as Pete and Elena also offer horseback rides starting May 2025.
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