Bridgewater, MA, May 1 – July 12, 2027, with the Bridge Center. The Animal Caretakers program provides vocational and transferable skills for children and adults in a tranquil, inclusive setting. Participants join peers in weekly, collaborative tasks such as feeding the animals, providing wellness checks, clearing paddocks, and maintaining the farm.
* Participants will learn their roles within the ESMA Equestrian Community and how to identify and improve animal welfare.
Through immersive and weekly interactive farm visits, participants will:
- Meet and interact with others over a shared love of animals.
- Identify and participate in basic elements of animal care (feeding, cleaning, handling, and basic first aid).
- Ask and answer questions to discuss how animal health is maintained.
- Learn and share safety provisions taken when working closely around large and small animals.
- Observe herd behavior and compare it to human group behavior.
- Collaborate and cooperate with peers to problem-solve.
- Demonstrate understanding of congruence in thoughts/actions and how it affects equine behavior.
- Use basic mathematical skills to calculate daily nutritional requirements for each animal.
- Describe each animal’s unique needs and personality.
Fees apply, registration is required.
Admission into programming is accepted on a rolling basis as space allows. Late enrollment will be prorated for the remaining number of sessions.
