Volunteer Abroad USA: Florida Mustang Protec­tion

Once you have reached 21 years or more and have sufficient English skills there is nothing that could keep you away from applying to this project. As a volunteer on the ranch you should have a heart for animals and be interested in general horsemanship. You should be aware of the fact that this project is not a vacation and that the work with the animals on the ranch has priority. Furthermore you might need a visa for your volunteering work. Depending on the duration of your stay and your destination the requirements might vary. You might check out the foreign department’s website for the visa standards or ask the Natucate team directly.

Prior to your departure we will help you organise and plan your whole stay. We will help you find a good flight and arrange your visa application. In Florida you will be picked up by a shuttle service/our partner and brought to the ranch. Furthermore, your accommodation and food will be provided. Towels and bedding will be provided as well.

A journey to the USA has no specific vaccination requirements. In general you need to talk to your doctor and make sure you are vaccinated against Morbilli, Mumps and Rubella. In case of injuries it is also advised to be vaccinated against Tetanus. For current information and warnings regarding your destination you should check out the homepage of the foreign department. You definitely need travel insurance to start your volunteering work with Natucate. We can help you find something for you.

You will be spending a lot of time outside; therefore, you should consider packing light, comfortable clothing which can get dirty. Furthermore we advise you to pack a hat, sunscreen, sunglasses, water bottle and mosquito repellent. Generally you should pack a sturdy pair of boots and long sleeved shirts, as well as a pair of long pants. If you have it, riding gear would be perfect.

We will support you during your organisation and planning process. But you will have to book your flight to Orlando airport (MCO) on your own. Once you arrived at the airport, a shuttle service will pick you up and take you to a meeting point west of the airport. Here, you will meet a staff member of our partner who will pick you up and take you to the ranch. The project always starts on the first and third Monday of the month. Please make sure to arrive at Orlando International Airport between 09:00 AM and 08:00 PM as these are the operating time of the shuttle. In the end of the project a staff member will take you back to the shuttle station from where you get back to the airport via shuttle. Your return flight should depart between 11:00 AM and 08:00 PM.

After your arrival on Monday, you can get to know your team and your new surroundings. On the next day (Tuesday) you will take part in an orientation and training session to learn more about the project and your tasks before the actual project work starts on Wednesday.
Once you get to the farm you will not need further transportation since your work will take place on site. If there is any need for transportation the team on the farm will try to arrange something for you.

During your time at the farm you will work with the horses on a daily basis. Your work includes the maintenance and fostering of the animals as well as the farm and the ground itself. Depending on your experience with horses, you will help to resocialize the horses and train them. You will also be responsible for the feeding of the dogs, pigs, chickens and other animals on the ranch.

Every once in a while you will take the horses for a ride. Please keep in mind though that we can never promise a certain number of rides. It depends on your skills as well as the amount of work on the farm and condition of the horses. In general, it is not possible to pick your tasks. Everyone has to help out with everything. Tasks depend on the daily needs of the animals.

After your arrival you will be introduced to your work and soon you will execute them on your own. Working on the farm can be tough: the climate is different than at home, you may not be used to working physically 5 to 6 days a week and you have to adapt to your new surroundings. This can be physically and mentally challenging for you, especially in the first couple of days.

Please note: During activities and training, using a mobile phone/smartphone is not allowed.

The group size will be around 8 people.

During the project you will stay at the ranch on the project site. The fenced property is very spacious, with a large ranch house and a huge barn. The house has a great living room, a fully-equipped kitchen, a large dining area, three shared bathrooms as well as three shared bedrooms for up to four volunteers each. Laundry facilities are available on site as well.

It is possible to get placed with your partner or friend, but it always depends on the current room availability.

Volunteers will take turns in preparing lunch and dinner. There will be three meals daily.

It is possible to follow a vegetarian diet. Please inform us about your diet beforehand. A vegan diet is not recommended.

As a volunteer you will be working on six days per week starting at 8:30 a.m. and ending in the late afternoon or evening. There will be a break at noon to escape the heat. One day, usually Sunday or Monday, will be your off-day.

During your lunch break or after working hours you might relax on the veranda or take a swim in the pool. You can spend some time with the other volunteers or go on some day trips to areas close by. Some days you and the other participants can arrange a barbecue or game nights.

The team on site will always be at the farm and can answer your questions. They will be responsible for you and help you with any kind of problem.

Usually you will not have any other kind of spending during the project since accommodation and food is provided. But you might need money for free time activities, trips, or additional snacks you want to purchase. You can withdraw cash at the airport or the city. Still you should take enough cash with you since the closest city Orlando is a 45 minute drive away.

You will have Wifi access at the ranch which may be limited sometimes. There will also be a computer available to the volunteers. Depending on the weather the signal might be weak. To save some money you should consider purchasing a prepaid card.

Florida can be divided in two climate zones. The northwest and the central part of the country have cold winters and warm summers. The south has a more or less tropical climate with high temperature all year around. The winter in the south is still warm but not as hot as the summer.

The drinking age in the USA is 21. It is also not allowed to drink alcohol on the street in public. We ask you to follow these rules and respect the conditions