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Volunteer with us

by | Jan 20, 2026 | Irish culture and horsemanship

Volunteer with Bespoke Equestrian Ireland

Volunteering Opportunities with Bespoke Equestrian Ireland

We have had an overwhelming global response to our new volunteer programme, so what’s it all about?

Entering 2026, the Year of the Horse, we welcomed our first group of volunteers, who spent two unforgettable weeks helping to school our young horses. Their time with us was such a success that we’re thrilled to open the gates even wider. We’re now inviting riders of various levels of experience to join us here on the Emerald Isle, where you’ll work hands-on with our “rising stars” team of newer horses, grow your skills, or perhaps get involved in other ways, all whilst immersing yourself in the magic of Irish equestrian life. 

dun connemara type horse on snow in the Antrim hills

About Us

Bespoke Equestrian Ireland and Sheans Horse Farm

We are a family farm on Ireland’s North Coast and offer Ireland’s best equestrian travel itineraries along the renowned Causeway Coastal Route. We are also a riding school and trekking centre (Sheans Horse Farm) where we run lessons 6 days a week and trekking through our farm all year round.

We have a 500 acre farm with 185 horses;  this ranges from riding school horses to foals, Irish Sports Horses, Traditional Irish Cobs, Irish Draughts and Connemara types.

We have a constant supply of work all year round including, trekking, lessons, equestrian holidays, guiding, farm work, handling and producing young horses and breaking them. We are a farm full of hustle and bustle and that is the way we love it.

With an adventure around every corner you can be sure to have a fantastic time on our farm. We are 8 miles from the quaint seaside town of Ballycastle which offers a taste of real Irish country life with cosy pubs, restaurants and friendly locals.

Drone image of Sheans Horse Farm framed by the green Antrim hills

Opportunities Available

Due to the success of our current Winter Schooling Programme, which focuses on putting mileage on young horses, and the overwhelming global response to our latest advert, we are considering creating a range of volunteer programmes to cover other aspects of our business. These may include helping at our trekking centre, handling our foals and young stock, riding out with our guides to support them on our Equestrian Holidays, or a combination of all. Less experienced riders would be suitable for these roles.
As our programmes run from 8:00am to 2:00pm, Monday to Friday, for two weeks, there is ample opportunity to go sightseeing, take part in other activities, and explore Ireland during your stay.
The availability in our free on‑farm accommodation is limited to 4 spaces, although we are able to accommodate additional participants for the horse riding, and other, experiences. If you are happy to provide your own accommodation you may be able to take part in these experiences, even when our free lodgings are filled. Transport to our farm would not be a problem.
For those who wish to explore Ireland more deeply whilst taking part in a volunteering program, or who would like to get involved during a period when the free accommodation is fully subscribed, we recommend staying in the beautiful seaside town of Ballycastle, where we base our Equestrian Holiday clients, as it offers a great social scene with restaurants, pubs, a recreational centre, and a lovely seafront with beach and coastal path walks. Again, transport to our farm will not be an issue. We are happy to help people source any type of accommodation, including Airbnb, B&Bs, and hotels, and we will also look at putting together a few low‑cost budget options.
Although all of our programmes require participants to have adequate experience, the mileage/schooling programme is specifically for experienced riders. We will respond to all applicants we feel are suitable to join our programmes within 30 days or less of receiving your application, CV, and videos. Please indicate which of the programmes listed you would like to take part in, along with any preferred time periods.
Although we do not wish to disappoint anyone, the massive global response means that the fairest approach is to run a draw to select participants. We hope that, going forward, we will eventually be able to accommodate everyone who has applied.

About the Schooling Volunteer Role

As mentioned above, our farm is always a hive of activity, with plenty happening throughout the year as each season brings its own kind of busyness. We continually invest time and effort into producing safe, well‑used, and well‑rounded family horses for our business. This work is essential in building a skilled and diverse riding team for our busy holiday season, which runs from April to October.

We are now looking for volunteer riders to help exercise our rising‑stars team of Irish Cobs and Irish Draughts over the coming months. Our riding programme is carefully curated by Danny, our farm owner, alongside our in‑house horse trainer, both of whom have successfully broken and developed hundreds of horses into safe, quiet, and trustworthy mounts.

The programme runs five days per week, starting at 8:00am and finishing at 2:00pm. Volunteers will ride in the arenas, on trails across our 500‑acre farm, on local roads, and on nearby beaches – all with the aim of adding valuable mileage to our wonderful young horses.

We are welcoming advanced riders who can commit to a minimum stay of two weeks, with the exception of the Christmas break (22nd December – 3rd January). We provide free accommodation in static mobile homes (shared with one other person), each with two bedrooms and shared living/kitchen space, or in a nearby rural Irish cottage. Meals are the responsibility of the volunteer.

Again, if this role doesn’t suit you, we have a range of other options that may be of interest, so don’t hesitate to tell us about yourself and see what might be possible.

 

Schooling Role Requirements

 

– An advanced rider (please provide a video and CV detailing your relevant experience)

– Available for a two week minimum stay

– Able to follow directions accurately

– A team player

– Over 18 years old

How To Apply

Fill out the form below.

Due to the massive interest in our programme, we have had to streamline our application process. Even if you have already sent a CV and video by email previously, please complete the form below so that we can easily track your application. Thank you for understanding.

If you are successful, our team will be in touch within 30 days.

If we cannot accommodate you in 2026 we will reach out to you at the end of the year to see which dates may suit you in 2027.

 

Find your dream itinerary

We have hand-crafted a selection of exceptional equestrian itineraries on the Emerld Isle.

Find your ideal package here
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