Equine Care and Trainer

Description

Purpose of Position: This position is a hybrid equine care and trainer role with shifting responsibilities dependent on needs. Specifically, this role will provide all animals at Harmony Equine Center with proper care and attention including adherence to established feeding, sanitation and medical procedures as well as provide development, training, and behavior correction of equines. Additionally, this position provides adoption counseling and help ensure proper fit of equine and adopter. 

Responsibilities

• Provide care for all equines including feeding and watering, stocking feed and supply bins, and checking and updating animal feed sheets.
• Observe animals to ensure proper feeding and report any signs of illness, symptoms requiring medical attention, and behavioral problems. 
• Provide care and handling of all animals including feeding and watering, stocking feed and supply bins, and checking and updating animal feed sheets. 
• Accurately and timely update animal records in database.   
• Maintain a clean and safe environment for the animals, personnel and the public including maintaining fencing, stocking cleaning supplies, washing laundry, and cleaning and sanitizing stalls, equipment/vehicles, barns, and turnouts.  
• Keep and maintain the property including but not limited to: 
• General landscaping, mowing, trimming, weed control
• Snow removal
• Maintaining roads, pens, and pastures
• Maintain cleaning and care of facility equipment and vehicles to ensure proper functioning and safety, reporting any damaged equipment or repair needs. 
• Support adoptions through interviewing potential walk-in adopters; providing basic medical and other information to help adopters make good choices; completing accurate adoption paperwork; receiving adoption fees and providing receipts; and recording transactions and reconciling monies for daily deposits. 
• Answer and route incoming calls; answer questions about the equine center, adoptions, Humane Colorado services, and other general information; record and relay messages to appropriate staff. 
• Assist with receipt of equines and entering animals into the database.  
• Assist humane agents, law enforcement officers, and patrons.
• Work with farrier on trimming and shoeing. 
• Work with veterinarians on medical evaluations, treatments, and assist with euthanasia if needed. 
• Develop, implement and provide specific training for equines including general, ground, and under saddle work. 
• Perform behavior and health evaluations to determine the path of an equine
• Support adoptions by preparing horses from intake through the adoption process, maintaining equine records, and working with potential adopters. 
• Train volunteers on Horsemanship and assist staff on general equine care. 
• Contribute to and support initiatives to improve processes and procedures. 
• Act as a resource for volunteers by answering questions, addressing concerns, and providing training and direction. 

People Care

People are the key to fulfilling our mission. Making internal and external patrons and their needs a primary focus is expected in all situations. This position interacts with and collaborates with employees at all levels of the organization. Communication occurs through face to face, telephone, and electronic interactions and may also include contact with the general public and business partners. Communication and contact must be clear, understandable, cooperative, professional, and respectful in all circumstances. Employees are expected to actively support a positive team environment, directly address conflict, and appropriately express concerns.

Competencies

Competencies are work behaviors and expectations necessary for successful job performance. They encompass knowledge, skills, abilities, attitudes, and actions. Additional definitions for competencies may be obtained from Human Resources

Organizational Key Competencies

• Integrity and Ethics
• Adapting to Change and Ambiguity
• Customer and Community Focus
• Emotional Intelligence
• Excellence

Position Core Competencies

• Attention to detail
• Analytical thinking
• Initiative
• Time Management 
• Team Player 

Supervisory or Managerial Responsibility

• Volunteers

Travel

• This position may require driving a company vehicle
• This position may require travel to different work sites

Compensation: Starts at $20.80 - $21.30 per hour (starting pay commensurate with market, experience, and equity)

Full Time Benefits – Please visit our website for a comprehensive list of all offered benefits.

• Benefits (medical, dental, and vision)
• Flexible spending accounts
• Life and Short-Term Disability Insurance
• Paid Time Off (PTO)
• Paid Sick Time
• Employee Discounts
• Holiday Pay
• 401(k) with matching
• Sabbatical program
• And more!

Work Conditions and Physical Requirements

Work is performed in a horse boarding/barn and outdoor setting. Potentially subject to animal bites, scratches, kicks, and unpredictable dangerous situations. Frequent lifting, pushing, and dragging up to 50 lbs. with reasonable accommodation. Frequent walking, standing, bending, stooping, movement, and repetitive motion. Working outside in weather extremes, both heat and cold. 

We will begin reviewing applications as they are received and anticipate closing the application period on November 20, 2025. 

Requirements

 Position Qualifications Knowledge/Skills/Abilities

• Expertise in Horsemanship
• High level riding skills
• Excellent customer service skills
• Colt starting ability

Required

• Education: High school diploma or GED equivalent 
• Work Experience: Two years of experience training equines including experience as a trainer or related position in an equine program (boarding, training, or care facility) 
• Special Training, Certification or Licensure: None

Desired

• Experience dealing with difficult, dangerous, or unhandled equines 
• Experience with restraining equines
• Valid driver’s license and insurable driving record  

Salary : $20 - $21