Portugal, Porto

Horse farm in Portugal

Near Porto, help with hippotherapy sessions, care for the horses and protect the forest on a Portuguese horse farm.

Where: Porto, Portugal
Length: From 2 to 12 weeks
Minimum age: 18 years old
Language: English intermediate

from €1,635 for 2 weeks

No commitment. Anaëlle, Amélie or Maëlia will reply.

The project

Go on a humanitarian mission in Europe, in close contact with horses!

In collaboration with the local staff, you will participate in hippotherapy sessions to help improve the physical and mental abilities of young people through horse riding.

You will also lend a hand in the vegetable garden, patrol the forest on horseback to prevent fires, supervise children during their educational summer camps, reforest wild areas, collect seeds, and take care of a small herd of goats and sheep!

If you love horses, this ecotourism project near Porto is perfect for you! Horses will be your companions for environmental protection and social inclusion activities. Most of your transportation will be done on horseback, helping maintain a 3-hectare wild area and supporting the equestrian center. It’s also a great opportunity to learn to ride. During this humanitarian mission in Europe, the equestrian center welcomes beginners and offers riding lessons at a discounted rate.

A project we follow
Projects chosen with care and followed through regular visits on site.

Your role

You will support the local team in delivering hippotherapy sessions, helping young people gain skills and confidence. Your tasks will include preparing the horses and ensuring safety during the sessions.

Here are the tasks you will be involved in:

Stable maintenance: Cleaning and maintaining horse stalls and living areas.
Horse care: Grooming, washing, feeding, and saddling the horses.
Support for lessons and therapies: Helping prepare the horses and equipment for riding sessions and assisting the local team during activities.
Support for summer camps (during school holidays): Planning and coordinating activities with the children.

A typical week

09:00: Travel to the project site by public transport and volunteer with the local team at the equestrian center.
13:00: Lunch at the project site.
14:00: Explore the city and surroundings and learn Portuguese during your free time.
21:00: Dinner with other international volunteers and travelers at the accommodation.

This is a sample schedule. Tasks and timings may vary depending on current needs.

You will work around 5 hours a day, giving you the chance to explore the city and its surroundings.

Accommodation and meals

Accommodation in a dormitory of up to 4 beds, female or mixed, in a hostel.

Additional information

Three meals a day every day: breakfast, lunch and dinner (local cuisine; vegetarian, gluten-free and lactose-free meals are also available upon request).

Budget

How long are you going for?

2 weeks

This programme is available all year round

Total programme budget€1,635

That is, per week€818

Each extra week

Check availability for 2 weeks

What is included

Pick-up from Porto International Airport (on Saturday or Sunday before an introduction day)
Accommodation
Orientation and training by professionals
All meals
Ongoing support throughout the project
All equipment
Donation to the project
European Youth Card included to receive discounts all across Europe

Not included

Flights
Return transfer to the airport
Transportation between the accommodation and the project

Where your money goes
Donations are reinvested in full and directly into the local associations. How the costs break down

How to fund my project

See the budget week by week

Length	Total programme budget

Getting ready to leave

Your application

An up-to-date CV and a cover letter describing your background and what brings you here.

Insurance

For any project abroad, Freepackers requires travel insurance covering accidents, illness, repatriation and third-party liability. With Chapka Cap Student, you get 5% off.