Job Summary/Objective: This job provides skilled tasks needed to care for the horses housed at the Harriet Howell Rogers Riding Center with additional work to maintain the facilities under the guidelines of the Equine Studies Program. Works with student workers engaged in similar activities involving the care of the horses and maintenance of the facility as needed.

Position Type/Expected Work Hours: Full-Time, 12-month position, flexible schedule to include weekends. Any arrangement of 5 consecutive days.  Shifts may vary during the year due to the time of year and horse care needs.  They may vary between 6 am to 3 pm or 12:30 pm to 9:30PM with a one-hour break for lunch/dinner. Program activities may require changes to a schedule.

Competency: Excellent horsemanship/livestock skills with some facility and fence maintenance/repair skills.  Applicants must be able to listen and follow directions and communicate effectively with co-workers and supervisors.

Supervisory Responsibilities: Assists with supervising student workers.

Essential Responsibilities (Other duties may be assigned):  • Care for horses to protect their health and improve their appearance • Feeding and watering horses, managing supplements, basic equine first aid • Bring in and turnout horses • Cleans and beds stalls as needed/typically during the summer • Keep facility neat and clean at all times • Maintains records and charts • Proper and safely uses facility equipment and vehicles • Perform landscaping duties such as weed eating, planting, mowing, shoveling walks and driveways, and some light carpentry and facility repairs • Uses tractor with attachments to perform various field, arena and grounds maintenance

Required Qualifications: To perform this job successfully, an individual must have previous experience with horses and be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily with training.

Virginia Driver’s license(or another state); ability to get and maintain Decision Driving Certificate through Sweet Briar College. Must demonstrate competency in verbal and written English skills Must be competent in general math. Must possess a strong work ethic, be reliable and take pride in the quality of the work they produce; knowledge of safety practices, precautions and occupational hazards associated with farm work.
Must possess excellent attention to details; must be a team player and interact collegially with co-workers and other constituencies. Must be a self-starter who can meet deadlines with limited supervision, handle multiple tasks effectively and remain flexible in a fast-moving setting. Reliable transportation

Physical Demands: Must be able to spend prolonged periods of time working in a dusty environment; able to reach, lift and carry at least 80 pounds on a regular basis; must be able to hear and make self-heard by co-workers and other constituencies; must be able to see to process work that the position is responsible for completing; must be able to work under deadlines and with constant interruptions. Must be able to reach and retrieve objects 5’6” high. Fitness and coordination must allow the applicant to walk, bend, lift and stand for several hours daily as well as safely control horses of all sizes, ages, and behavior types.

Apartments are available for rent on the property.

Benefits include: Medical insurance, Dental insurance, Vision insurance, Life insurance Sick leave Vacation time, Paid Holiday time(as essential employees holidays are not always on the exact holiday date) https://www.sbc.edu/human-resources/benefits/