Horse Handler

National Center For Equine Fac; Woodside (CA); On-site; USD 36,000 - 48,000; Full time

Job summary

National Center For Equine Fac is seeking a dedicated Horse Handler to join its team. You will exercise and care for horses across our programs including hippotherapy and adaptive riding, with some evenings and weekends required.

Responsibilities include conditioning, handling, leading horses, inspecting tack, and maintaining a clean barn. The role emphasizes safety, teamwork, and excellent communication with therapists and staff.

Qualifications

• 3+ years of experience working with equines.
• Experience handling, lunging, and riding multiple horses.
• Ability to lift up to 35 pounds.
• Good communication and teamwork.
• Flexible for evenings/weekends.
• Spanish language skills are a plus.

Responsibilities

• Exercise and care for horses across programs.
• Warm up and conditioning of horses including hand walking, lunging, and riding under supervision.
• Monitor horse performance and report concerns to Barn Manager.
• Lead horses during sessions as needed.
• Inspect tack and equipment, and report repairs.
• Maintain clean, organized barn and participate in demos/events.
• Maintain CPR and First Aid status.

Skills

Horsemanship

Equine behavior

Teamwork

Time management

Safety protocols

Lift 35 lbs

Uneven terrain

Agility

Communication

Bilingual Spanish

Job description

NCEFT is looking for a Horse Handler to join its enthusiastic and dedicated team! Horse Handlers are responsible for exercising and caring for horses and handling horses in our nationally-renowned programs including mental health workshops, hippotherapy, and adaptive riding sessions. This position may be responsible for working in all programs. This position is full-time, includes benefits and does include some evenings and/or weekend work.

Direct Responsibilities:

• Act as an equine specialist supporting all three of NCEFT therapy programs.
• Help with the daily conditioning/warm up of all horses, including hand walking, hot walker, turn out, lunging, and riding under the supervision of the Barn Manager.
• During exercise and handling, closely monitor each horse's performance and report immediately any soundness or behavior problems to the Barn Manager.
• Long line or lead horses during sessions as needed.
• Closely monitor the horse's behavior during all sessions and immediately communicate any concerns to the treating therapist or instructor and the Barn Manager.
• Check all tack and fittings prior to each therapy session.
• Clean, condition and inspect all tack and equipment on a weekly basis. Report any repairs needed to the Barn Manager.
• Maintain a clean, orderly, and organized barn/arena work area at all times.
• Participate in demonstrations and events as needed throughout the year, including NCEFT sponsored events.
• Use NCEFT staff communication tools as defined by the management team and Barn Manager.
• Maintain current CPR and First Aid status.
• Other duties as needed.

Position Requirements:

• Possess strong horsemanship skills, ideally 3+ years working with equines, having experience handling, lunging, and riding a variety of horses at the walk/trot/canter.
• Demonstrated knowledge of equine behavior.
• Work well in a team environment with the ability to work with staff from a variety of disciplines.
• Work independently and possess good time management skills.
• Follow established safety and horsemanship protocols.
• Able to lift up to 35 pounds from the ground to waist height frequently during a normal workday (hay, grain, feed, tack boxes, saddles, feed buckets, etc.).
• Able to walk and stand in/on uneven surfaces for up to 7 hours per day (i.e., warming up horses, tacking horses for sessions, leading horses for therapy sessions, bringing horses to and from their stalls over a 12 acre "farm/ranch" facility).
• Possess the agility and dexterity to rapidly move toward or away from full-sized horses to protect the safety of the disabled rider and/or sidewalkers / horse handlers / therapists.
• Must be able to jog, without stopping, approximately 150 yards on an uneven surface, while driving or leading a therapy horse.
• Good communication and people skills.
• Bilingual Spanish proficiency is a strong asset for this role but not required.