Equine Specialist

Your Calling as an Equine Specialist

When an individual chooses to serve as an Equine Specialist at Cookson Hills, they join a mission-driven, Christ-centered team devoted to healing and transforming the lives of children. As an Equine Specialist, you play a vital role in our equine-assisted programs, using horses as a therapeutic and educational tool to support the emotional, behavioral, and spiritual growth of students and program staff.

This role is more than a job—it’s a calling. The ideal candidate feels led by God to serve children through equine care and equine-assisted activities, blending professional skill with compassion, patience, and a heart for ministry. Your work directly contributes to creating safe, structured experiences that foster trust, confidence, responsibility, and healing.

You will collaborate closely with counselors, case managers, teachers, and program staff in a deeply supportive, trauma-informed, Christ-honoring environment, ensuring equine services align with the ministry goals of Cookson Hills in bringing healing and maturity to each child.

‍A Flourishing Place to Live and Work

We are committed to providing a thriving work/life culture for our staff. Since 2019, Cookson Hills has been recognized by Best Christian Workplaces for our commitment to a healthy, Christ-honoring organizational culture.

Equine Specialists benefit from:

• A mission-driven workplace where faith, professionalism, and care for children are central


• Lunch is provided on weekdays in the Dining Hall and is shared with students and fellow staff members.


• Comprehensive benefits, including health insurance and a retirement plan


• Time-off and support programs, including paid time off, sick leave, sabbatical opportunities, Employee Assistance Program (EAP) with counseling, and ongoing trauma-informed training


• A supportive community where staff are valued, encouraged, and equipped to grow personally and professionally
  
  

What You’ll Do

As an Equine Specialist, you will oversee the upkeep and direction of the Equine Program under the direction of the Director of Children and Family Services and lead equine-assisted activities that support the therapeutic and developmental goals of the Children and Family Services department and Cookson Hills as a whole. This role works collaboratively with program staff and operates in alignment with Cookson Hills’ trauma-informed practices and established safety standards and policies.

Key responsibilities include:

• Caring for and managing horses, including feeding, grooming, health monitoring, and facility upkeep


• Facilitating equine-assisted learning and therapeutic activities in collaboration with counselors or program staff


• Creating a safe, structured, and encouraging environment for students during equine sessions


• Teaching students responsibility, emotional regulation, confidence, and respect through hands-on interaction with horses


• Maintaining documentation and records related to sessions, horse care, and safety protocols


• Partnering with the multidisciplinary team to support student progress and program goals


• Modeling Christ-centered character, patience, and consistency in all interactions
  
  

This role is well-suited for individuals who have knowledge and experience working with horses and are dependable, safety-minded, emotionally perceptive, physically capable, and passionate about using equine work to support healing and growth.

Begin Writing a Better Story

If God is calling you to serve children through equine-assisted ministry in a meaningful and transformative way, we encourage you to apply today.
Visit cooksonhills.org/employment.

Let’s write a better story—together.