Position Overview:
We are seeking a thoughtful, organized, and adaptable horse person to join our team as a Farm Hand. As the Farm Hand, you will be responsible for executing the daily chores related to the care of our herd of ~23 ponies for our horsemanship academy in Saint-Lazare, QC.
We are looking for someone who has a keen work ethic, a love of horses, and who is deeply satisfied by a tidy barn, and seeing everything in its rightful place!
We are ideally looking for someone to start by October 1, 2024, but can be flexible with other start dates if necessary.
About Neverland:
Neverland Farm is a horsemanship academy (hunter/jumper) approximately 20 minutes from the island of Montreal in the town of Saint-Lazare.
We are home to 23 ponies, on just under 20 acres of mostly forested land.
Our ponies live in herds and the majority of them spend most of their days and nights living outdoors amongst the trees, with sandy, variable terrain under their hooves.
A handful of the ponies will come in every night, while the others may join them in our small barn on the harshest of winter nights.
This makes the daily chores of running our barn a little different than you might be used to. Mucking out in the morning is usually a lot easier, but we’ll spend some additional time each week mucking the paddocks and shelters instead.
Turnout is less about getting each horse out one at a time and more about fetching a pony when it’s their turn to have their hooves trimmed!
We are strictly a riding school, which means the days on the farm are typically very quiet, which makes a typical day of chores a very peaceful experience. We don’t have any boarders, and only care for ponies we don’t own when their owner is in one of our lesson programs. This means less variable schedules, and people coming and going all day.
That said, your hours will often overlap with the start of lessons each afternoon, and so a level of comfort with young riders, parents (who are required to stay outside the barn so their child can learn proper prep and care of their ponies), and a willingness to help out getting everyone tacked up and ready when needed is definitely an asset.
Our lesson programs are exclusively for children aged 3-18. We put a strong emphasis on developing the next generation of lifelong horse people through teaching traditional horsemanship and pony care in addition to the riding component. Our goal with most athletes is to give them the opportunity to eventually grow into competing in the local circuits, however we create space for those who will only ever wish to ride recreationally.
Responsibilities:
- Horse & Facility Care:
- Feeding (including the organization and preparation of morning feed the night before)
- Morning/Afternoon muck out and cleaning and tidying of barn
- Support service providers like veterinarians, farriers, etc. when they are at the farm
- Muck paddocks and shelters on a regular schedule
- Check and clean water troughs and buckets as-needed
- Drag outdoor ring and arena daily
- Monitor and notify manager of any low supply levels
- Keep the clubhouse and bathroom tidy and clean
- Periodically tackle projects like painting jumps and rails or re-organizing rooms or equipment
- Keep off season equipment and supplies organized, labeled, and properly stored
- [BONUS] Clip ponies and pull manes
- Client Relations and Communication:
- Maintain positive demeanour with clients and riding students
- Communicate effectively with manager regarding horse care, emergencies, and other relevant information
- Work in support of the summer camp counsellors and coaches during the times where the campers are performing their barn chores or organizing their ponies for a ride
- Competition Prep
- Support the organization and packing all of the required supplies and equipment for each competition we travel to
- Unpack, clean, and organize everything upon return so it is ready for the next event
- [BONUS] Experience and comfort with driving a truck and trailer to shows
Qualifications:
- Proven experience in horse care and barn chores.
- Strong knowledge of equine health, nutrition, and general care practices.
- Strong organizational and multitasking abilities, with exceptional attention to detail.
- Ability to work independently, make sound decisions, and solve problems.
- Good communication skills, both verbal and written.
- Basic computer proficiency for record keeping and communication purposes.
- Physical fitness and stamina to handle the demands of barn chorse, including lifting heavy objects and working outdoors in various weather conditions.
- A passion for horses and a commitment to their well-being.
- Please Note: A recent criminal record check will be required for this role
Hours:
This is a full time position, with an expectation of 40 hours per week. Our ideal days of work would be Monday-Friday, but are willing to accommodate other weekly schedules if necessary.
The seasonality of our business typically leads to much lighter overall work in the coldest winter months, and then because of our day camps and competition schedule in the summer, can then lead to increased demands in the summer months.
Pay/Salary:
We offer above market wages as part of our efforts to ensure we are able to attract the very best people to our team. We have standard pay structures for our coaches and our operations team, however for this role, we are expecting a wider range of applicants, and are seeking a more experienced and driven person who is looking to help us continue building Neverland into a model for athlete development.
Interested in the position?
Please send your resume and cover letter to info@neverlandponies.com. In the subject line, please include the name of the role you’re applying for.