Volunteer Process & Opportunities
Thank you for your interest in volunteering at Smokey!
It is important that we share our purpose and our volunteer process so that you can have as much information as possible to help determine if volunteering here is a good fit for both you and the herd.
Our Purpose
Smokey Chestnut is a place of refuge for the animals that live here. The animals are owned by Heidi and Bob Medas and they provide the volunteers with guidance on the management of the herd. The animals here are “retired”. They are not ridden or expected to provide recreation in any form to anyone. Many of the animals have been rescued from kill pens and have experienced trauma. They are brought to SCFR for refuge and are allowed to eat, rest and play as they wish. The only interaction that is required of them is for medical care and upkeep of their condition.
Our Volunteer Process
The volunteers at SCFR provide support for Heidi and Bob. That support can be given in many forms. We have volunteers who provide direct support for cleaning the animals’ living quarters, stalls and paddocks. We have volunteers who assist with direct animal care. We also have volunteers who provide support in other ways by assisting during events and helping with facility maintenance and improvements.
Commonly Asked Questions & Our Answers
Q: Are you able to ride the horses in exchange for volunteering?
A: All the horses at SCFR are here as a rescue, many of them medical in nature and they are retired. As a result, none of the horses are ridden at SCFR.
Q: Will I be able to touch, pet, groom, or work with the horses?
A: Some of the horses are open to human interaction, some are not. None of them are expected to allow human contact, it is entirely on their terms. As a result, contact with the horses may be limited and in some cases, not allowed at all.
Q: Can I touch the other animals on the farm?
A: Some of the animals are open to human interaction, some are not. None of them are expected to allow human contact, it is entirely on their terms. As a result, contact with the animals may be limited and in some cases, not allowed at all.
Q: If I am not comfortable around animals, how else can I help?
A: There are times through the year where additional hands make for easy tasks. There is seasonal cleanup, event staffing and other ways to help. It is a great way to help occasionally.
Q: How do I sign up to volunteer?
A: We would welcome you to schedule an appointment to meet the herd and learn about the farm. SCFR is a smaller rescue and to preserve the peaceful environment on the farm, the number of volunteers at any given time is limited. We do utilize additional support for events and occasional tasks like seasonal cleanup and keep a list of interested volunteers for when we have openings in the roster.
Q: How can I visit the farm?
A: We welcome visitors to the farm!
Please call or email Heidi to schedule a visit, or reach out via Instagram or Facebook Messenger.
(508) 962-7027
Thank you!!!