Equine Assistant Jobs (NOW HIRING)

Summary of Purpose:

Oversees and provides daily care, treatment, and technical training while ensuring equine taken into program have adoptable outcomes where possible.

Duties (Essential Functions):

Provide daily care, treatment, and training to animals in care.

• Administer medications and treatments to ill/injured animals under direction from a veterinarian or Equine Operations Lead.
• Train equine care team to administer medications and treatments as appropriate.
• Ensure feeding and medicating information is up to date and posted, that all animals are fed accordingly, and all animals have access to water at all times.
• Assist with the training and handling of horses in relation to current skill level (foal weaning/handling, home herd, green and yellow color-coded horses).
• Provide physical exercise and/or social interactions for equine in care as assigned.
• Handle equines humanely and effectively under stressful situations.
• Schedule and assist with Veterinarian and Farrier service appointments.
• Assist with euthanasia procedures.
• Monitor the health of animals through daily welfare checks to rapidly identify any health issues/injuries and report to a manager.
• Follow and maintain excellent knowledge of organization, cleaning, sanitation, and safety practices to provide a healthy and safe environment for animals and people.
• Maintain inventory of medical supplies and communicate with manager to order when supplies are needed.
• Ensure protocols are followed for equine intake, data collection, medical procedures, training assessments, and adoptions and assist Willow Hope Farm Office Manager with related paperwork.
• Assume Equine Care Specialists duties where needed: provide daily care, cleanliness, comfort, and enrichment to KHS equine, ensuring excellent animal care.

Transport animals as assigned to/from rescue sites, offsite training sites, foster homes, or special events.

• Participate in rescue/field work for Equine CARE team as needed.
• Transport equines to and from Willow Hope Farm as assigned.
• Drive KHS vehicles including tractor and trucks in a safe and courteous manner.

Provide professional, compassionate, stellar customer services to all who visit, call, volunteer, donate or work for KHS.

• Assist in showing equine to potential adopters and other areas of equine program.
• Communicate with Manager on duty unusual activities, significant problems or concerns.
• Support outreach efforts by participating in and representing KHS at events.

Other duties as assigned

• Minimum 3 years experience working with equine of unknown health and behavior preferred.
• Ability to load, haul and handle horses for transport.
• Intermediate to advanced knowledge of equine health, medical needs and treatment.
• Exceptional organizational, analytical, interpersonal and conflict resolution skills.
• Self-directed with ability to work independently/meet deadlines in a fast paced work environment with little direct supervision
• Ability to communicate respectfully and effectively with people of all backgrounds and personalities.
• Humane attitude towards animals.
• Ability to manage the emotional aspect of end-of-life services and humane euthanasia, and support staff in high-emotion circumstances.
• Accept, support, and represent KHS core values, programs, policies, and procedures.
• Must possess a valid driver's license and clean driving record and be willing to drive KHS vehicles.
• Background Check required

Physical, Psychosocial, and Cognitive Demands/ Working Environment

• Frequent bending, reaching, kneeling, walking, and standing regularly while performing job functions.
• Frequently lifts, carries, or otherwise moves and positions objects weighing up to and exceeding 100 lbs.
• Includes working with equine in a barn setting (indoor/outdoor) in varying weather conditions.
• Potential for exposure to allergens (including but not limited to pet dander, dust, peanut butter), and zoonotic diseases (diseases transferred from animals to humans).
• Exposure to chemicals.
• Exposure to loud noise.
• Exposure to emotional circumstances.
• Fast-paced environment.