The Dumb Friends League Harmony Equine Center, located in Franktown, CO. This is a private rehabilitation and adoption facility for abused and neglected horses, ponies, donkeys, and mules that have been removed from their owners by law enforcement authorities. The Harmony Equine Center also serves as a central hub where horses from humane societies and rescue groups can receive training and rehoming. Since Harmony opened in 2012, more than 2,774 horses have been helped.

Purpose of Position: Provide all animals at Harmony Equine Center with proper care and attention including adherence to established feeding, sanitation, and medical procedures. Provide development, training, and behavior correction of equines. Assist with managing training operations to ensure constant humane care and treatment of equines, as well as mentor assistant trainers. Provide adoption counseling and help ensure proper fit of equine and adopter.

Responsibilities

• Provide care of all equines including feeding and watering, stocking feed and supply bins, and checking and updating animal feed sheets.
• Observe animals to ensure proper feeding and report any signs of illness, symptoms requiring medical attention, and behavioral problems.
• Update animal records in database.
• Maintain a clean and safe environment for the animals and the public including stocking supplies, basic cleaning, cleaning/sanitizing and maintaining arena and training areas, stalls, barns, and turnouts.
• Maintain cleaning and care of equipment to ensure proper functioning and safety reporting any damaged equipment or repair needs.
• Support adoptions through interviewing potential walk-in adopters; providing basic medical and other information to help adopters make good choices; providing lessons/instruction to potential adopters; completing accurate adoption paperwork; receiving adoption fees and providing receipts; and recording transactions and reconciling monies for daily deposits.
• Answer and route incoming calls; answer questions about equine center, available horses, adoptions, League services, and other general information; record and relay messages to appropriate staff.
• Assist with receiving/sending home equines
• Assist in all aspects of equine training.
• Assist in the development and implement specific training for equines including general, ground, and under saddle work.
• Correct equine behavioral issues.
• Assist in overall evaluation of equines (behavioral, medical, adoptability).
• Train volunteers on Horsemanship and assist staff on general equine care.
• Support adoptions by preparing horses from intake through the adoption process, maintaining equine records, and working with potential adopters.
• Work with farrier on trimming and shoeing.
• Work with veterinarians on medical evaluations and assist with euthanasia.
• Assist and teach Horsemanship/Volunteer classes under the direction of the HEC Manager
• Assist humane agents, law enforcement officers, and patrons.
• Contribute to and support initiatives to improve processes and procedures.
• Assist in the mentorship and development of Assistant Equine Trainers

People Care

People are the key to fulfilling our mission. Making internal and external patrons and their needs a primary focus is expected in all situations. This position interacts with and collaborates with employees at all levels of the organization. Communication occurs through face to face, telephone, and electronic interactions and may also include contact with the general public and League business partners. Communication and contact must be clear, understandable, cooperative, professional and respectful in all circumstances. Employees are expected to actively support a positive team environment, directly address conflict, and appropriately express concerns.

Competencies

Competencies are work behaviors and expectations necessary for successful job performance. They encompass knowledge, skills, abilities, attitudes, and actions. Additional definitions for competencies may be obtained from Human Resources

Organizational Competencies

• Integrity and Ethics
• Adapting to Change and Ambiguity
• Customer and Community Focus
• Emotional Intelligence
• Excellence

Position Key Competencies

• Team player
• Analytical Thinking
• Community Partnerships
• Attention to detail
• Time Management

Supervisory or Managerial Responsibility

• Volunteers

Travel

• This position may require driving a company vehicle
• This position may require travel to different work sites

Schedule: Full Time 40 hours working five, 8 hour shifts. This position does require working on the weekends.

Benefits: Please visit our website for a comprehensive list of all offered benefits

• Benefits (medical, dental, and vision)
• Flexible spending accounts
• League-paid Life and Short-Term Disability Insurance
• Paid Time Off (PTO)
• Holiday Pay
• 401(k)

Compensation: $20.80 – $21.30 per hour (starting pay commensurate with market, experience, and equity)

Work Conditions and Physical Requirements

Work is performed in a horse boarding/barn and outdoor setting. Potentially subject to animal bites, scratches, kicks and unpredictable dangerous situations. Frequent lifting up to 50 lbs. with reasonable accommodations. Frequent walking, standing, bending, stooping, movement, and repetitive motion. Work outside in weather extremes, both heat and cold.

Requirements
Position Qualifications

Knowledge/Skills/Abilities

• Expertise in Horsemanship
• High level riding skills
• Excellent customer service skills
• Colt starting ability
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office programs

Required

• Education: High school diploma or GED equivalent
• Work Experience: Two years of experience training equines including experience as a trainer or related position in an equine program (boarding, training, or care facility environment)
• Special Training, Certification or Licensure: None

Desired

• Experience dealing with difficult, dangerous, or unhandled equines
• Experience with restraining equines
• If driving a company vehicle, valid driver’s license and insurable driving record