Would you love an in-depth, hands-on education in animal husbandry and positive-reinforcement training—guided by a veterinarian and certified professional animal trainer?

Welcome to the ResqRanch!

We currently have one volunteer opening on our team of trainers, and we are interviewing now.

​No previous horse experience is required. In fact, we especially welcome beginners who are ready to learn our approach from the ground up.

People invest thousands of dollars in animal-care courses, training programs, and college studies to develop their knowledge of animals.

At ResqRanch, you can receive ongoing, hands-on education with no tuition fee, guided by Dr. Jena Questen (“DrQ”), a veterinarian and certified professional animal trainer.

Your investment is time, reliability, and a willingness to learn. In return, you develop practical skills in animal care, behavior, safety, and positive-reinforcement training that you can carry into your life, work, and relationships with animals.

​This is not a degree-granting program. It is an opportunity to put science-based principles into practice with real animals, real responsibilities, and direct coaching.

People often tell us, “I’d love to volunteer! I can scoop manure or clean buckets—I just want to be near the horses.”

We appreciate that enthusiasm. But at a professional animal-care facility, even ordinary chores require education.

Whenever you are near a horse, your actions can influence what that horse learns.

That includes:

- Opening and closing gates while maintaining safe boundaries.
- Moving wheelbarrows around horses without creating unsafe situations.
- Responding when a young horse paws nearby or tries to chew on your pitchfork.
- Moving through a paddock, cleaning buckets, and handling equipment while horses are present.

You will learn exactly what to do, when to pause and ask for help, and how to respond using our positive-reinforcement-only approach. We teach you to support appropriate behavior, protect everyone’s safety, and avoid unintentionally reinforcing behavior that could become dangerous.

​Cleaning a paddock and training a horse are not always separate activities. Here, we teach you how to do both thoughtfully.

Our program combines veterinary knowledge, animal husbandry, and science-based training. You will learn to:

- Read body language and recognize comfort, uncertainty, and engagement.
- Build trust and teach skills through positive reinforcement.
- Support horses’ daily care, comfort, and well-being.
- Follow consistent safety and handling procedures.
- Ask useful questions, receive coaching, and apply feedback.

​Animal welfare comes first in everything we do.

If you appreciate clear expectations, structured routines, and purposeful teamwork, this may be an excellent fit.

We are looking for someone who will:

 - Commit to two four-hour volunteer blocks each week—eight hours total.
 - Learn and consistently follow our positive-reinforcement methods.
 - Contribute to cleaning and daily care alongside training education.
 - Ask questions rather than guess.
 - Welcome feedback and put it into practice.
 - ​Arrive reliably and work cooperatively with the team.

You do not need previous horse experience. We often prefer someone starting fresh, with curiosity and an open mind, who is ready to learn our methods without relying on previously learned handling habits.