Meet Sarah – Mounted Section Volunteer

After completing a days assessment I started volunteering when I retired as a police officer. I work alongside the grooms who are responsible for the care, well-being and management of the horses.

Tasks include mucking out, cleaning hay cubes, feed bowls and water troughs. Refilling hay cubes and preparing hay nets for the day before sweeping the yard and entrance points.  Then its onto field maintenance, mainly poo picking (and believe me the horses produce a lot) as well as scrubbing the water troughs and digging out any toxic plants.  This is so important as the horses could become unwell if bacteria or toxins are ingested.  Then more poo picking in the outside school and the mechanical exercise walker.

I assist with bathing the horses, grooming and tacking up, as well as making sure they are snug in their rugs before heading out to the fields.

I help host visitors to the yard, most recently the High Sherriff of Buckinghamshire. Attending TVP family days, open days and operations.

To volunteer with mounted you need equine and yard experience and not be afraid of getting dirty, being hot, cold, wet and muddy.

Visit our vacancies portal to explore volunteering opportunities with Thames Valley Police