Horse Transport Driver (Rolleston)

The Blue Cross; Rolleston on Dove; On-site; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Training provided

Flexibility in scheduling

Involvement in community activities

Reimbursement for expenses

Job summary

The Blue Cross seeks a volunteer Horse Transport Driver based in Rolleston on Dove, UK. You will transport horses and ponies, ensuring their comfort and safety during journeys to new homes.

Your experience with horses and driving is vital, along with being a confident communicator. This is a rewarding volunteer role where you’ll positively impact the lives of horses in need, working with a committed team while providing the necessary support for a smooth transition.

Qualifications

• Experience with horse welfare and care.
• Ability to drive long distances comfortably.
• Possession of a roadworthy horse trailer.
• Competence in handling horses of all sizes.
• Comfort in communicating with horse carers.
• Basic computer skills for online checks.

Responsibilities

• Transport horses and ponies between sites.
• Ensure the safety and comfort of horses.
• Complete necessary transfer paperwork.
• Support team with transfer protocols.

Skills

Equine experience

Confident and competent driver

Animal transport certificate

Safe horse trailer

Handling horses

Communication

Computer literacy

Job description

Nothing beats the sight of a happy horse frolicking in a field. You could be part of the team that makes that happen. If you’re an experienced horse lover with your own horse trailer and enjoy seeing a bit of the world, we have just the role for you. Join us as a volunteer Horse Team Driver moving horses and ponies from their previous homes onto their future families. This role supports our regional horse team, transporting horses and ponies to foster homes or to their forever homes. You’ll be caring for your precious cargo, ensuring they are comfortable and have everything they need for their journey. You’ll also be caring for people too: you’ll sometimes pick up horses from their previous homes to take them to a new life which can be a sad time for their owners. As an experienced equestrian you’ll be able to meet horses and ponies of all shapes, breeds and temperaments and know you’re making a difference with every mile travelled. If this sounds like you, click apply and we’ll go from there.

More about this role

Volunteer role

Horse Transport Driver

Volunteer manager

Volunteer Coordinator

Where you will be based

Community

Why we want you

As we grow our horse service and look to help even more, we will need support in moving them, equipment and supplies from place to place. This role actively supports our Horse Team around the UK to ensure we can bring horses who need our help into our care quickly and, happily, be part of the team taking them to their new lives in their forever homes.

We would love you to join us and help us help more horses in need.

What you will be doing

• Driving your own horse trailer or using our truck and trailer
• Transporting horses and ponies between sites
• Ensuring the horses in your care are safe and comfortable on their journey
• Sometimes transporting supplies and equipment between sites
• Talking to the horse carers at either end of the journey
• Completing necessary transfer paperwork
• Supporting the team with transfer protocols e.g. transfer tags

The skills you need

• Equine experience (essential) with a solid understanding of horse welfare and care
• You’ll need to be a confident and competent driver, happy to sometimes transport horse long distances
• You’ll need to hold an animal transport certificate
• You’ll have your own or have access to a road worthy, safe horse trailer
• You’ll need to be confident handling horses of all sizes and breeds and moving them in and out of the horse trailer
• You’ll be confident talking to people as part of your role will involve meeting horse carers
• A reasonable level of computer literacy as the majority of our communication is online and your driver checks are done online, or have someone who can help you with this

What's in it for you

• You’ll be actively helping us to help horses in need
• Joining a passionate team of like-minded individuals who share your commitment to improving the lives of horses and ponies
• You’ll have direct involvement with assisting horses that come into our care
• We’re flexible and can work around your availability
• You’ll meet new people and get involved with your local community
• We’ll provide you with all the training you need to perform your role safely
• You’ll get to learn new skills and share your current ones
• We’ll pay out of pocket expenses in line with our Volunteer Expenses Policy

Disclaimer

We ask that you can commit to a few hours a week and have access to a laptop/desktop/tablet and a good internet connection. Any vehicle used for the transport of animals must be up to date with MOT, vehicle maintenance and insurance. You’ll need to agree to undergoing some simple driver checks which we do with an external provider before you can start this role. You need to be 18 or over for this role.

We believe that every pet should enjoy a healthy life in a happy home, and we always seek to involve the best people who share our values and commitment so we can continue to help and support pet owners across the UK to achieve this. At Blue Cross, we want you to feel that you belong, without the need to hide any part of who you are. Diversity and inclusion at Blue Cross means creating an organisation where all people, regardless of gender, race, sexual orientation, religion, nation or country of origin, disability, age, and socioeconomic backgrounds are welcomed, respected, supported, and have access to equal opportunities. We are working hard to reflect the world we live in and the communities we serve at every level of our organisation. As much as we have made positive advances, we consider diversity and inclusion to be a work in progress – a continual commitment that remains a priority for all of us.

If you would like to talk to us about any accessibility needs that we can support with in terms of our volunteer recruitment processes, then please do get in touch. You can email [e-mail] and we can organise for the right team member to get in touch with you for a discussion.

Hilda Archer Sanctuary, Dovecliff Road, Rolleston-on-Dove, DE13 9AU, United Kingdom