Wembley College: Groom (Equestrian Centre)

Plennegy (Pty) Ltd.; South Africa; On-site; ZAR 120,000 - 180,000; Full time

Job summary

Wembley College in Greytown, KwaZulu Natal Midlands, seeks a Groom for its Equestrian Center to support daily yard operations and care of WEA Equines, riders and grounds.

The role involves handling horses, grooming, water provisioning, safety, tack care, and assisting with riding lessons; weekend show duties may apply. Experience with horsemanship and horse care is essential.

Responsibilities

• Daily handling of horses and ponies on Academy premises – following the academy's methods to complete tasks assigned by the Academy Manager.
• Handling of horses as required by the Academy, according to the academy’s methods, standards and horsemanship.
• Grooming of horses including brushing, hoof care, manes/tails, washing and turnout as required.
• Monitor wellbeing of horses and report injuries, cuts, swellings or discharge to the Academy Manager immediately.
• Report loose or lost shoes and damages to hooves of shod or unshod horses.
• Ensure horses have access to ample clean water at all times.
• Observe safety precautions for horses, handlers, riders and bystanders at all times on academy grounds.
• Care for tack and equipment: packing away tack and maintenance of saddles, bridles and related gear.
• Maintain and safeguard equipment and tools; report damages to the Academy Manager.
• Inspect paddock fences and surrounding areas, report concerns or damages to the Academy Manager.
• Keep stable yard and surroundings clean and presentable (paddocks, lawns, flowerbeds).
• Feed concentrates and roughage daily as determined by the Academy.
• Lead horses to and from stables and paddocks daily.
• Lunging of horses as required by WEA’s requirements.
• Assist with riding lessons during lead-rein activities when needed.
• Weekend duties or show attendance as determined by the Academy Manager.

Job description

Wembley College is a leading, English Medium, co-educational, independent school situated on a beautiful campus amongst the rolling hills of Greytown in the KwaZulu Natal Midlands. An hour from Pietermaritzburg and an hour from Ballito makes for an ideal ‘country school’ within easy striking distance of a Central Business District and the warm KwaZulu Natal coast. Founded in 1997, the school enters candidates for the Cambridge Examinations that are set externally and recognised world-wide. The following position has become available for a Groom for our Equestrian Center, based in Greytown. The purpose of this role will be to assist the equestrian manger with the daily running of the yard and with hands on care to the WEA Equines, WEA riders and WEA grounds.

RESPONSIBILITIES

Handling Horses and Ponies at Wembley Equestrian Academy:

• Daily handling of horses and ponies on Academy premises – making use of the academy's desired/prescribed methods to execute and complete tasks allocated by the Academy Manager to the employee.
• Handling of all horses as required by The Academy, according to the academy’s methods, standards and principles of horsemanship.
• Grooming of all horses falling under The Academy’s jurisdiction as requested and required by the Academy including, but not limited to brushing of body, neck and face, picking up- and cleaning of all four hooves (front and hind feet) maintenance of manes and tails (as required, and meeting Academy standards), cooling down and hosing of horses after their work sessions, meeting Academy standards. Washing/bathing, show turn-out including pulling, plaiting and trimming horses as the need arises on occasion.
• Regularly monitoring The Academy horses’ general- and overall wellbeing including, but not limited to any injuries, cuts, swellings, growths, lameness or discharge noticed/observed whilst handling/working- or coming into contact with whilst on company grounds, and reporting it to the academy manager immediately.
• Reporting on any loose or lost shoes of shod horses, and any chips, cracks or damages to unshod horses’ feet whilst handling/working- or coming into contact with whilst on Academy grounds.
• Ensure that any horses you are handling/working- or coming into contact with whilst on Academy grounds has access to ample clean water to drink.
• Ensure every safety precaution is taken to facilitate the safety of any horse, handler, rider, bystanders and any other horses in the immediate surrounding vicinity at all times, whilst handling/working- or coming into contact with, whilst on Academy grounds.

Tack and Equipment:

• Responsibly handling, using & packing away of ANY & All horse tack belonging to or being utilized by WEA.
• Maintenance (cleaning and oiling as and when required) of saddles, girths, surcingle, bridles, brushing boots, lunging equipment, numnahs, grooming kits etc..
• Maintenance (cleaning and safeguarding of implements i.e. Brush cutters, wheelbarrows, forks, spades, hoes and brooms).
• Report any damages and/or problems on above mentioned to the Academy Manager immediately.

Stable yard and Surrounds:

• Checking on paddock fences (electrical and wooden) situated at and around your section division, of horses whilst handling/working- or coming into contact with them, on Academy grounds and reporting any concerns, damages or potential problems regarding such immediately to the Academy Manager.
• Report any damages to stables, deterioration or damages to surrounding structures i.e. lungering, as well as water crib- hosepipe-, waterpipe and tap leaks to the Academy Manager immediately.
• Keeping stable yard and surrounding areas clean, tidy and presentable at all times. This includes, but is not limited to paddocks, lawns and flowerbeds situated in proximity to your section division.

Duties:

• Feeding of concentrates and roughage to horses on Academy premises, as determined by The Academy, on a daily basis.
• Leading horses to- and from stables and paddocks respectively, as required by The Academy on a daily basis.
• Lunging of horses as per WEA’s requirements where applicable.
• Assisting with riding lessons in terms of handling lead-rein riders during lessons where required & applicable.
• Weekend duties/Show Attendance as per protocol, and/or determined by the Academy Manager.