Equine Specialist II

Description

The Equine Specialist II is responsible for the care, condition, safety, and overall well-being of their assigned horses. This role serves as the main steward of their horses’ daily wellness, including monitoring health, behavior, soundness, grooming needs, exercise and conditioning, feeding support, and readiness to produce high quality, medical-grade movement. The Equine Specialist II is expected to know each assigned horse well, recognize changes in condition or behavior, respond appropriately to minor care needs, and communicate concerns promptly to support the highest standard of equine welfare. In addition to direct horse care, this position supports safe ranch operations, session preparation, and collaboration with staff and volunteers to ensure each horse is healthy, prepared, and properly managed.

Compensation: $21.00 - $25.00 an hour

Schedule:

Monday & Friday, as needed.

Tuedsay - Thursday 8am-7pm.

Responsibilities

Horse Handling & Session Support:

• Serve as the primary handler and daily steward for assigned horses, ensuring they are physically prepared, properly equipped, and appropriate for scheduled sessions and activities, and ready to produce high quality, medical grade movement.
• Prepare horses for sessions by grooming, tacking, warming up, performing recommended stretches and readiness activities, and ensuring horses are ready on time.
• Monitor assigned horses before, during, and after sessions to assess soundness, behavior, responsiveness, and overall readiness.
• Communicate effectively with Barn Operations Manager, therapists, and other team members throughout sessions regarding horse performance, behavior, and safety concerns.
• Prepare horses for sessions through grooming, warming up, tacking, and other pre-session routines, in accordance with Company procedure.
• Remains current on techniques and standards on feeding and physical conditioning of horses.
• Cool down, untack, and groom horses after sessions, ensuring horses are properly cared for following work.
• Provides oversight of volunteer activities during sessions.

Assigned Horse Care & Fitness for Work:

• Maintain primary responsibility for the daily care, condition, and well-being of assigned horses.
• Responsible for reviewing daily animal reports.
• Develop and maintain a strong working knowledge of each assigned horse’s normal behavior, physical condition, temperament, and care needs to identify changes promptly.
• Monitor horse behavior and responses during sessions, lessons, exercise, and daily routines, and communicate concerns in accordance with Company policy.
• Promptly report safety, soundness, health, or behavioral concerns immediately to the Barn Operations Manager and the horse owner by using the appropriate Company reporting process and through verbal communication.
• Provide routine care for designated horses, including addressing minor cuts, bruises, scrapes, summer sores, and coat-related issues within the scope of Company policy and training.
• Administer proper first aid and take appropriate action to maintain horse safety and fitness for work.
• Blanket and un-blanket horses during winter months as needed.
• Measure and administer supplements accurately during designated feedings.
• Lunge, exercise ride, and condition horses as directed by the Barn Operations Manager.
• Support additional equine conditioning tasks assigned by Barn Operations Manager.
• Complete accurate equine documentation and reports related to sessions, lessons, training activities, and horse care observations.

Stable & Equipment Maintenance:

• Maintain a clean, safe, and organized barn, tacking area, and tack room.
• Ensure all tack and horse equipment are cleaned, stored properly, and maintained in safe working conditions.
• Inspect tack and equipment regularly and report needed repairs or replacements to the Barn Operations Manager

Facility & Operational Support:

• Follow all opening and closing procedures, including securing gates and doors, putting equipment away, and ensuring lights and ranch areas are properly shut down.
• Help maintain a safe ranch environment by ensuring visitors, volunteers, and staff follow established ranch and horse safety rules.
• Assist with training volunteers in safe horse handling and basic safety procedures.