Part-time Barn Assistant/Riding Instructor

Saratoga Springs, NY; City of Saratoga Springs (NY); On-site; USD 10,000 - 60,000; Part time

Job summary

Skidmore College seeks a motivated Riding Assistant/Instructor for its 10-month Riding Program. Responsibilities include horse care, teaching Hunter Seat Equitation, and ensuring a safe and engaging learning environment for students. Candidates must have a solid foundation in equine care and strong organizational skills. This part-time position runs 28 hours weekly from August to May, with an anticipated start date of August 1, 2025.

Qualifications

• Minimum three years in the hunter/jumper industry.
• Strong physical ability to lift 50 pounds.
• Must possess a valid driver’s license.

Responsibilities

• Longeing horses and leading them to/from paddocks.
• Grooming and administering first aid to horses.
• Teaching beginning through novice jumping lessons.

Skills

Horse care

Communication skills

Organizational skills

Education

2 or 4 year college degree

Job description

The Dept of Athletics, Fitness and Recreation at Skidmore College invites applications for a part-time, 10-months per year Riding Assistant/Instructor in the College’s Riding Program. The Skidmore College Riding Program boasts a 9-time IHSA National Championship team. We teach Hunter Seat Equitation to college and community students at every level, from beginners to advanced jumping. Our program runs all year. We host IHSA and local competitions and we travel to USEF competitions in the summer. Our facility includes a 60-stall heated barn, a 200’ x 80’ indoor ring, a large outdoor ring, a horse walker, and 6 paddocks.

We are looking for a motivated, organized, team oriented individual to join our team on a part-time basis. The position is a 10-months per year, 28 hour per week (8:00 AM – 1:30 PM Tuesday through Saturday), from August 1 through May 31.

Responsibilities include but are not limited to the following:

• Longeing horses
• Leading horses to/from paddocks and horse walker
• Grooming horses
• Administering first aid
• Laundry
• Giving tours to prospective students
• When classes are in session, this position will drive College owned vehicle to/from campus to help facilitate students coming/going from classes.
• The ideal candidate will also be able to teach students classic hunter seat equitation from the absolute beginner through lower-level jumping. This is not a riding position, but riding opportunities may be available for the right candidate.

Qualifications: A solid, practical foundation in horse care (grooming, tacking and untacking, longeing, hand walking, turning out, assisting students with tacking, untacking, and proper colling out procedures, and basic equine first aid) is an absolute requirement as is a willing to adapt that knowledge to our way of doing things. Candidates must be ready to be in constant motion, have strong organizational and communication skills, be able to lift 50 pounds, and must have a valid driver’s license.

Preferred Qualification: The ideal candidate will be able to teach beginning through novice jumping lessons with a thorough understanding of and ability to communicate effectively the fundamentals of Hunter Seat Equitation.

Education: A college degree (2 or 4 year) with a minimum of three years of working in the hunter/jumper industry is required.

Anticipated start date: August 1, 2025.

Pay Range: $21 – 27 per hour commensurate with experience and ability to teach

Required documents needed to apply:

• On-line application
• Cover Letter
• Resume
• List of Three References

EEO STATEMENT

Skidmore College is committed to being an inclusive campus community and, as an Equal Opportunity Employer, does not discriminate in its hiring or employment practices on the basis of race, color, creed, religion, gender, age, national or ethnic origin, physical or mental disability, military or veteran status, marital status, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, genetic information, predisposition or carrier status, domestic violence victim status, familial status, dating violence, or stalking, or any other category protected by applicable federal, state or local laws.

Employment at Skidmore College is contingent upon an acceptable post-offer background check result.

CREATIVE THOUGHT MATTERS.