Equine Specialist

Position Type: Full-time, Non-Exempt (hourly)

Location: Park City, Utah (on-site)

Compensation: Starting at $20.00/hour (depending on experience)

Application Deadline: Friday, September 5, 2025

At the National Ability Center, we believe horses have the power to inspire independence, build confidence, and create unforgettable connections. As an Equine Specialist, you will combine your passion for horsemanship with the opportunity to empower individuals with disabilities. From providing daily horse care to teaching adaptive riding lessons and facilitating equine-assisted learning experiences, you will play a key role in transforming lives while working in the heart of Park City’s breathtaking mountains. If you thrive in a dynamic, hands-on environment and are eager to use your equestrian skills to create impact, this is the role for you!

Job Summary:

Equine Specialist is a versatile position and will work in all areas of equestrian program support and delivery. The Equine Specialist will primarily support the equestrian program providing daily care for horses, including feeding, grooming, exercising, and administering medical care when needed. This position will also teach private and group adaptive riding lessons, facilitating equine assisted learning and equine assisted psychotherapy sessions. 

Essential Duties:

• Provides daily care of horses as assigned, including but not limited to: feeding, stall and barn cleaning.
• Assesses horse health, lameness, and safety: recognizes and treats skin/body conditions such as thrush, scratches, hives, etc.
• Provides medical care to horses, utilizing techniques such as IV, IM and Sub-Q injections, wrapping legs, administering medications, etc.
• Conditions program horses in alignment with the equine’s specific outlined schedule and goals which can include riding, ground work, lungeing, ground driving, etc.
• Supports with veterinary and farrier appointments, maintains accurate documentation of records in horse charts
• Assists with screening and trial process of potential program horses.
• Provides equestrian programming to participants, including private and group adaptive horseback riding lessons, unmounted lessons, equine-assisted learning, and equine-assisted psychotherapy sessions.
• Creates and delivers training sessions to National Ability Center staff in area(s) of expertise.
• Trains and supports COACH interns, therapeutic recreation interns, volunteers, and supported volunteers in the equestrian program.
• Maintains clean and safe program and facility areas for participants and horses. 
• Follows safety/risk management protocols in a caring and fun environment for participants, volunteers, and staff.
• Documents and reports all accidents, incidents, and disciplinary concerns to supervisor.
• Assists with key fundraising events and other special events as needed to help advance program goals and support; serves as an ambassador and representative for the National Ability Center.

Minimum Qualifications:

• 3 years of experience working in the equine industry.
• Strong knowledge and understanding of people with disabilities.
• Ability to ride and school a wide variety of horses. Riding skill proficiency demonstrating at a minimum: walk, trot & canter on a variety of horses and disciplines (English, Western, bareback).
• Demonstrated skill in handling horses from the ground, including grooming, tacking, lunging, turn out/bring in, handling gates, identifying colic and lameness, etc.
• Ability to drive a truck and horse trailer.
• Current First Aid and CPR (or the ability to attain within three months).
• Valid driver’s license.
• Be able to maintain a Utah Department of Transportation (UDOT) physical.
• Successful completion of a background check.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Experience teaching beginner, intermediate, and advanced riding lessons.
• Experience teaching adaptive riding lessons.
• Working knowledge of PATH Standards.
• Relevant equestrian-specific certifications preferred.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:

• Comfortable working in all conditions including outdoors and inclement weather, year-round.
• Self-motivated with a strong work ethic and an entrepreneurial spirit to accommodate multiple responsibilities and shifting priorities in a quick-paced environment.
• Possesses a joy of adaptive recreation and comfortable working with both youth and adults with developmental disabilities. 
• Passion for encouraging independence and growth in all populations and abilities.
• Exhibits strong behavior management techniques and skills.
• Exceptional communication skills to communicate clearly, honestly, and respectfully with all staff, participants, parents, and volunteers.
• Demonstrates ability to write specific, measurable goals and objectives, documentation of progression for all participants.
• Commitment to continuing education utilizing internal and external resources to ensure our programs sustain continual responsiveness and improvement.
• Demonstrates responsibility, dependability, and maturity.
• Demonstrated ability to work productively and collaboratively within a team.
• Commitment to a positive, fun and team-oriented working environment.
• Outstanding communication and problem-solving skills.

Working Conditions:

• Able to lift adaptive equipment up to 50 lbs.
• Expectation to work during busy seasons, weekends, and holidays.
• Ability to work indoors and outdoors while running programming activities in various weather conditions, including extreme weather conditions for long periods of time.

Benefits:

• Health Insurance with Health Savings Account 
• Employer Contribution to HSA 
• Dental Insurance 
• Vision Insurance 
• Long-term Disability 
• Life Insurance 
• Voluntary Accident and Hospital Plans
• Paid Time Off (PTO) annually 
• 11 Paid Holidays + 2 Paid Personal Days Annually (including a paid day off on your birthday)
• 403(b) Plan with Employer Match 
• Parental Leave 
• Pet Insurance
• Pro Deals with gear companies