SPORTUNION Pferdesportzentrum Volders

The Pferdesportzentrum Volders is a holistic riding school for children and young people, located in Volders, Inntal, Tyrol. Our main activities include a riding school that supports and encourages children with and without special needs, as well as those from socially disadvantaged backgrounds. We offer a wide range of programs, including riding courses, workshops, holiday camps, exams, and collaborations with schools, kindergartens, and special education institutions. Every week, 250-350 children visit us year-round, seven days a week. A core aspect of our work is the relationship with the horse as a partner. Our focus is not on high-performance or competitive sports but on teaching children how to handle horses responsibly. They learn to care for and understand a horse’s needs, including grooming, feeding, and stable work. Cleaning stalls and maintaining the horses’ environment also teach them that horse care involves effort. That’s why each session lasts at least two hours, allowing children enough time to bond with their horse and truly understand its nature. At least one hour per session is dedicated to this bonding experience. Additionally, we incorporate fitness, movement, and warm-up exercises for both children and horses, ensuring a multi-sport, playful approach. Another key focus is youth development. We train young instructors and invest in their future to ensure high-quality riding education. Special emphasis is placed on educational support and strengthening employability. Most of our staff—whether volunteers, full-time employees, apprentices, or part-time workers alongside school or university—are under 30. Inclusion is also a priority within our team: some members have special needs themselves and contribute valuable perspectives and experiences. Among them is a young man once considered uneducable, who has been creatively and innovatively involved with us for years. We also support a non-verbal girl with severe disabilities who attends weekly with an assistant. Additionally, we collaborate with organizations such as the Rehaprojekt Lama, which supports homeless and alcohol-dependent individuals, and the W.I.R. association, which provides social-inclusive services and recreational activities. We also work with institutions like St. Josef and the Hilfswerk/Aufbauwerk der Jugend, helping young adults with special needs or difficult life situations gain new perspectives. Beyond Tyrol, we run a second branch, “Hofkinder – Nature Up Close,” in St. Pölten, Lower Austria. Our goal is to make equestrian sports accessible to as many children as possible and to foster their love for horses and nature in a welcoming, family-like atmosphere. We strive to provide a safe space where children can learn, grow, and feel truly at home.