Stable Attendant

Job description

Crops/Commodities:
horses.
The employer is a large standardbred (harness) horse racing/breeding farm where employment is dependent on the horse breeding through yearling sales seasons. The seasonal employment period in standardbred racehorse breeding is February through mid-July, followed by a four month period of preparing young horses for yearling sales which conclude in November.

Instructions and general supervision will be provided by a designated lead worker or company supervisor. Exceptionally complex or non-routine activities will be closely supervised. Workers will be expected to perform basic horse management and handling duties in a timely and proficient manner without close supervision.

Workers perform a variety of semi-skilled tasks associated with horse breeding/sales farm activities. Tasks include but are not limited to the following activities required in the breeding, handling and preparation for sale of standard bred equine stock: identify and catch horses in fields, affix halters and lead ropes, lead into barn and tie securely. Competence in basic grooming practices including bathing, brushing, hoof care, clipping. Clean stalls by removing soiled bedding and manure, replace with fresh bedding. Strip stalls and disinfect floors, walls and surrounding areas for broodmares. Sweep barn aisles, stall areas, ceilings to remove dirt, hay, cobwebs and other detritus. Maintain/clean and fill water troughs and buckets. Handle basic feeding activities including apportioning grain, hay and feed supplements according to instruction. Help maintain equipment, assist with mowing and weeding, work in fields, clean around barns. Hold horses for farriers and vets and administer routine intra-muscular injections. Assist in handling young horses in preparation for sales. Workers must demonstrate commonsense and awareness of safe equine handling procedures, i.e., no running in barns, shouting, abusing horses, leaving gates/stall doors/feed rooms open or smoking in and around barns, sheds and hay storage.

Workers will hold horses for farriers and veterinarians and administer routine intra-muscular injections. Assist veterinarians with treatment of sick/injured horses and pregnancy checks of mares. Administer first aid and medications to sick/injured horses. Take temperatures of horses. Wrap legs of injured horses or for transporting horses. Administer worming and vaccination schedule for yearlings. Administer worming and vaccination schedule, pre- and post-natal, for mares for foals.

Workers will load trucks with bales of hay and sacks of grain and feed weighing up to and including 60 pounds and lifting to a height of 5 feet. Workers are expected to begin work early in the morning when fields may be wet with dew. Temperatures may range from 10 to 100 F. Work requires repetitive movements and extensive walking. Allergies to ragweed, goldenrod, animal dandruff, insect spray, related chemicals, etc. may affect workers' ability to perform the job. Workers should be physically able to do the work required with or without reasonable accommodations. Saturday work required. Must be able to lift/carry 60 lbs. Employer-paid post-hire drug testing is required upon reasonable suspicion of use and after a worker has an accident at work.

In addition to the work outlined above, workers may be required to perform variable tasks such as the following: operation of tractors, painting, repairing, and maintenance of farm buildings, build/repair fences, and other similar tasks of a general nature common to a horse breeding operation. Other tasks include: mow, cut, and weed fields. Perform ditching, shoveling, hoeing, hauling, ground preparation, and other manual tasks. Bending, stooping and kneeling required. Use hand tools including but not limited to hoes, shovels, shears, clippers, loppers, and saws. Lift, carry, and load/unload products or supplies.

Special Requirements

Safe handling concerns require that, to be qualified for this position, workers must have no less than three months of prior experience as stable assistant in a horse breeding operation. Workers will be subject to a trial period of up to five days during which their performance of required tasks will be evaluated. Employer will hire any worker with the requisite experience who demonstrates he/she can safely and competently perform the job of handling brood mares and young horses. Persons seeking employment should be available for the entire period requested by employer. Saturday work required. Must be able to lift/carry 60 lbs. Employer-paid post-hire drug testing is required upon reasonable suspicion of use and after a worker has an accident at work.