POST: YARD AND PROFESSIONAL TRAINING MANAGER PAY RATE: up to £35k per annum

HOURS: 8–5 Monday – Friday

PLEASE EMAIL FOR THE FULL JOB SPEC AND TO EXPRESS INTEREST IN APPLYING FOR THIS ROLE: hr@strengthandlearningthroughhorses.org

We currently empower 500 young people per year to make positive changes in their lives via therapy and alternative education programmes. There has been growing demand from young people to access professional training in order to gain equestrian industry qualifications and be supported into volunteering and work in the equestrian industry. We’re seeking a Yard & Professional Training Manager to: 1 - Take ownership of the management of our yard and horses, leading our yard team to ensure our horses are cared for to the highest possible standard 2 – Deliver and develop our vocational educational offer to young people in collaboration with our Education Service Lead. This includes delivering the BHS Changing Lives Through Horses Programme; BHS Stages and potentially Pony Club badges since we have recently become a Pony Club Centre.

Qualifications and Experience. Essential : Demonstrable knowledge and experience of caring for a variety of horses in different settings, including those living out full time. A high level of practical competence and theoretical knowledge, in all areas of horse care and yard management, to at least BHS Level Three Groom/Level Three Horse Care Demonstrable interest and experience in training horses from a psychologically informed perspective; including groundwork techniques. Experience or ability to train apprentices. Confidence, tact and experience managing staff. Excellent communication skills. Experience and competence liaising with professionals such as veterinary surgeons and farriers. Physically fit and able to undertake all physical horse care and stable management tasks. A commitment to continued learning about horse psychology

Staff Management:

The Professional Training & Horse Care Manager will work as a member of the management team and will be responsible for developing maintaining and supervising yard staff, apprentices and volunteers in regard to all aspects of stable management and the efficient running of the yard, the health and well-being of the horses and the safety of all, including young people attending SLTH.

They will Line Manage 2 – 4 staff members comprising of an Assistant Yard Manager, Groom as well as weekend and evening stable staff, apprentices and volunteers.

There are 16 horses at SLTH, many of whom are Working Retirement Liveries so managing the livery clients is also required.

The Professional Training & Horse Care Manager will be responsible for developing the skills of staff and volunteers as well as sharers of SLTH horses and delivering vocational training to our older students via:

• Apprenticeships
• British Horse Society Changing Lives Through Horses Programme
• British Horse Society Stages
• Additional vocational qualifications in horse care and management where appropriate

They will sit as part of a team of 14 contracted staff members and a further 12 freelance staff members and will be required to work collaboratively with all staff to ensure the horse management and yard management also meets the needs of the programme delivery teams.

As a member of the staff management team, they will thrive working as part of a team, and be able to:

Show excellent communication to staff at all levels and to instil confidence in horse training/knowledge.

Have good level of self-reflection to understand their own approaches to horse training and the limits to their experience which will be supported via a strong CPD program.

None

Comprehensive training in delivering equine assisted education and therapy sessions Generous CPD allowance Pension Generous holiday allowance