Volunteer With New Spring Vista
Looking for Something Meaningful? Reconnect with Yourself, Nature and Community.
Volunteering at New Spring Vista is an opportunity to step away from the rush of everyday life, spend meaningful time outdoors and become part of a growing community with horses and nature at its heart.
Our volunteers play a valued role in helping us care for our ponies, land and learning environment. Whether you can join us regularly or lend a hand occasionally, your time can make a genuine difference.
You do not need previous experience with horses—what matters most is that you are kind, dependable, willing to learn and happy to get stuck in.
Volunteering at New Spring Vista is an opportunity to step away from the rush of everyday life, spend meaningful time outdoors and become part of a growing community with horses and nature at its heart.
Our volunteers play a valued role in helping us care for our ponies, land and learning environment. Whether you can join us regularly or lend a hand occasionally, your time can make a genuine difference.
You do not need previous experience with horses—what matters most is that you are kind, dependable, willing to learn and happy to get stuck in.
More Than Helping Out
Volunteering at New Spring Vista is about more than completing a list of yard jobs.
It is about becoming part of something meaningful—helping us care for the environment in which our ponies live, supporting the continued growth of New Spring Vista and contributing to a calm and welcoming place for children, young people and adults.
There is something grounding about working outdoors alongside the herd. Practical jobs can provide a welcome change of pace, a sense of purpose and valuable time to reconnect with yourself, other people and the natural world.
New Spring Vista volunteer Rhiannon spending calm time with one of the horses in the arena.
A Volunteer’s Experience
Testimonial
“My volunteering day has genuinely become one of my favourite days of the week. I first saw Miranda’s post on Facebook and was curious about working with horses and their incredible capacity for connection and healing. As soon as I met Miranda and visited the land, I knew it was something I wanted to be part of.
I love being around the horses, but I also really value the simple physical work—bagging hay, poo picking and getting stuck in outdoors. It’s such a welcome contrast to the amount of time I spend working on screens, and I always come away feeling better for it.
There’s also such a lovely group of volunteers, and I’m really excited to see how everything grows and develops in the future.”
Rhiannon Sully-Newman
New Spring Vista Volunteer
How You Could Help
No two volunteering days at New Spring Vista are exactly the same.
The seasons, the weather and the needs of our herd all shape what needs doing.
Some volunteers particularly enjoy spending time with the ponies, while others find satisfaction in practical outdoor work, gardening or helping the site continue to grow. We will help you find meaningful ways to contribute that suit your interests, abilities and experience.
Activities
Caring for Our Ponies
Depending upon your experience and following appropriate guidance, activities may include:
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Grooming and spending calm, purposeful time with the ponies
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Preparing feeds, forage and hay nets
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Filling and cleaning water containers
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Changing rugs when required
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Cleaning grooming equipment and organising pony supplies
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Helping to prepare ponies for appropriate activities
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Leading or supporting ground-based exercise and enrichment
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Observing the herd and reporting anything unusual
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Helping create simple enrichment activities for the ponies
Caring for Our Land
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Poo picking and helping to maintain healthy grazing
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Tidying paddocks, shelters and yard areas
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Gardening and caring for our planted areas
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Maintaining paths and welcoming outdoor spaces
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Helping with seasonal jobs around the land
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Supporting practical site projects as New Spring Vista develops
Supporting New Spring Vista
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Preparing materials or equipment for events and activities
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Helping us organise and care for resources
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Supporting community days and fundraising activities
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Sharing useful practical, gardening, creative or organisational skills
You do not need previous horse experience to volunteer with us. We will explain the activities you undertake and provide appropriate support.
Activities involving handling, rugging, leading or exercising the ponies will only be offered where suitable and will reflect each volunteer’s experience, confidence and training.
All equine activities at New Spring Vista are ground-based—our volunteers do not ride or exercise the ponies under saddle.
What You Can Expect From Us
Volunteering is a shared relationship. While our volunteers give valuable time, energy and care to New Spring Vista, we want their experience with us to feel equally worthwhile.
We want every volunteer to feel welcomed, valued and supported. You will not be expected to arrive already knowing what to do—we will help you build confidence and learn safely at an appropriate pace.
As a New Spring Vista volunteer, you can expect:
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A warm welcome into our growing volunteer community
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An introduction to our site, herd and the way we work
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A varied volunteering experience shaped by the seasons, the land and the needs of our herd
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Clear guidance for the activities you undertake
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Opportunities to develop practical horse-care and land-management skills
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Support suited to your existing experience and confidence
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Meaningful time outdoors and away from everyday pressures
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Opportunities to build calm, respectful connections with the ponies
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Flexible conversations about when and how often you can help
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The chance to contribute your own ideas, interests and skills
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Genuine appreciation for the time and energy you give
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The option to take part in our Volunteer Vista Milestone Course and have your developing equine skills recognised and recorded
Whether you come with years of equine experience or have never filled a hay net before, you will be treated as a valued individual and supported to contribute in ways that are safe, realistic and meaningful.
Volunteer Vista Milestone Course
Grow Your Skills as You Volunteer
Volunteers who would like to develop their knowledge and practical equine skills may choose to take part in our Volunteer Vista Milestone Course.
This flexible internal learning pathway contains 15 units covering areas such as:
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Safe handling and leading
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Grooming and hoof care
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Stable-yard and grassland management
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Watering, feeding and equine nutrition
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Rugs, boots and bandages
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Breeds, identification, conformation and anatomy
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Recognising health concerns and knowing when to seek veterinary support
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Equine body language and communication
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Ground-based exercise, including lunging, long-reining and liberty work
The course is designed to respond to the volunteer’s existing experience, interests and role at New Spring Vista. Units do not usually need to be completed chronologically, allowing learning to develop naturally through practical opportunities and guided teaching. Some advanced activities have prerequisite units and can only be undertaken once the necessary foundations have been safely demonstrated.
Recognising Progress
Individual skills can be recorded at four stages:
Taught — the skill has been introduced and demonstrated.
Practised — the skill is being developed through guided practice and continued instruction.
Proficient — the skill has been demonstrated safely and consistently.
Immersed — the skill has become securely embedded in everyday practice across different situations and over time.
Each unit provides space for reflection, recognising strengths and identifying skills to continue developing. Progress and proficiency can be recorded and signed off by New Spring Vista.
An Internal Development Pathway
The Volunteer Vista Milestone Course is an internal New Spring Vista learning and development pathway. It is not an externally accredited qualification and does not replace professional veterinary advice or qualifications issued by recognised awarding organisations.
All activities, progression and sign-off remain subject to appropriate supervision, individual suitability, risk assessment and the physical and emotional needs of our horses.
Stay Connected
Community Beyond the Volunteering Day
Volunteering at New Spring Vista is also about the relationships and sense of community that grow around the practical work.
Volunteers may choose to join our invitation-only WhatsApp group—a friendly space where members can share updates, photographs and moments from life at New Spring Vista, celebrate progress and stay connected with the wider volunteer community.
Joining the group is entirely optional and will not affect anyone’s volunteering opportunities.
A Note About Privacy
WhatsApp group members should be aware that their name, profile photograph and telephone number may be visible to other members. Photographs and information shared within the group must be treated respectfully, and confidential information about New Spring Vista participants must never be posted or discussed.
ready to Join Us?
You do not need previous horse experience or specialist qualifications to volunteer with New Spring Vista. What matters most is that you are kind, dependable, willing to learn and happy to get involved in practical outdoor activities.
We welcome adults who can offer regular, occasional or flexible help. Even a small amount of time can make a valuable difference.
Before You Begin
All New Spring Vista volunteers must:
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Be aged 18 or over
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Treat our ponies, participants and one another with kindness and respect
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Follow our safety guidance, policies and agreed ways of working
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Maintain appropriate confidentiality and professional boundaries
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Communicate openly about their availability and any activities they do not feel confident undertaking
Because New Spring Vista works with children, young people and adults who may have additional needs or vulnerabilities, safeguarding is central to everything we do.
Volunteers are not automatically involved in participant sessions. Depending upon the nature of the role, references, identity checks or an appropriate DBS check may be required.
If volunteering with New Spring Vista sounds right for you, complete our short Volunteer Interest Form. We will then contact you for an informal conversation and explore whether the opportunity feels like a suitable fit for everyone.