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Woman smiling at camera outside with brown horse. In background two more people guide a brown horse

Animal Caretakers

Meet up with peers to learn how to care for the barn animals and to maintain their enclosures. Adult Caretaker programs are currently in session.

Contact
equestriancenter@eastersealsma.org

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.

Collage of people with animals

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.
Meet Our Herd

Term and Class Fees

  • Effective September 1, 2025: $36 per class if the term is prepaid. Otherwise, $46 per drop-in class.

Current and Upcoming Terms:

  • Fall 2: Tuesday, October 28 - Monday, December 22, 2025 (no sessions 11/27-28).
  • Winter: Saturday, January 3- Friday, February 13, 2026 (no sessions 2/15-2/21).
  • Spring 1: Sunday, February 22- Friday, May 1, 2026 (no sessions Sunday 4/5 or 4/19-4/25).
  • Spring 2: Saturday, May 2- Monday, June 29, 2026 (no sessions 5/23-5/25).
  • Summer: Monday, July 6- Sunday, August 30, 2026.

Admission into programming is accepted on a rolling basis as space allows. Late enrollment will be prorated for the remaining number of classes in the term.

Adult Animal Caretakers

  • Mondays 11:00 - 12:00 p.m.
  • Thursdays 12:00 - 1:00 p.m.
  • Fridays 11:00 - 12:00 p.m.

To sign up for Animal Caretakers, register on CampDoc then email equestriancenter@eastersealsma.org to confirm which day of the week.

Register on CampDoc