Stable Management Internship

Kentucky Equine Research, Versailles, KY

Summary

Kentucky Equine Research (KER) is expanding its longstanding equine research internship program to include an equine business management position ideal for an aspiring trainer. This year-long position includes hands-on work with sport horses, as well as business and marketing functions. Learn about all aspects of running an equine business while gaining experience with an established corporation. Over the past 20 years, more than 60 KER interns have gone on to excel in equine nutrition, veterinary, research, and other equine industry careers. Get your start as a professional trainer and stable manager with KER.

Position details

This is a year-long position that will have an end date established at the beginning of employment. Intern will work and reside onsite at KER’s facilities in Versailles, KY, and Ocala, FL, with domestic travel to competitions and other events. Duties include, but are not limited to:

Training horses:

Ground work (longeing, ground driving), saddle-breaking, and training horses to be ridden at all gaits. Depending on aptitude of each horse, continue training with exercises over ground poles and jumps and/or dressage. Drive truck with horse trailer. Ride in horse shows and prepare horses to be sold as prospects for dressage, hunter/jumper, or eventing. Maintaining health, training and billing records. Assist in marketing sales horses.

Farm management:

Daily care of horses to include grooming, cleaning stalls, feeding, care of minor injuries, and other daily management. Scheduling and maintaining records of routine health care such as vaccinations, dental work, and farrier care for horses. Coordinating maintenance of barns, fences, waterers, and other equipment with maintenance crew. Maintaining and scheduling necessary repair of tack and horse equipment. Maintenance of riding arenas, trails, jumps, and cross-country obstacles.

Requirements for employment:

• Must be 18 years of age or older.
• Must hold a B.S. degree in equine science or a related field.
• Must have experience in handling, breaking, training, riding, and showing horses. Experience with Thoroughbreds preferred.
• Must have current driver’s license with clean driving record.
• Must pass a background security check.
• Must not have a record of abusing alcohol or illegal drugs. No smoking.
• Good working knowledge of computers, including Word and Excel.
• Intern must speak, read, and write English fluently.
• Ability to safely perform physical activities associated with the training and management of horses, including lifting weights of more than 50 lb.
• Travel will be required, potentially including seasonal relocation to KER’s Ocala facility.
• Hours are variable, ranging from 40 to 60 hours per week, depending on the schedule and season. The normal work week will be 6 days. However, during busy times, it may be required that the intern work at least a few hours of a seventh day. Days off are not necessarily weekend days. Due to the nature of horse care and farm management, set working hours are not always possible and some after-hours work must be expected. Applicants must be willing to be flexible with their work schedule.

Compensation and benefits:

• Monthly stipend.
• Free housing accommodations provided on the KER research farm, including Internet, satellite TV, local telephone service, etc.
• Tack and riding equipment provided.
• Weekly lessons.
• Continuing education on equine nutrition and exercise research.

Please apply with resume, references, and riding/show record to [email protected].
The above statements are intended to describe the general nature and level of work to be performed by the Stable Management Intern. They are not to be construed as an exhaustive list of all responsibilities, duties, and skills required. The Stable Management Intern may be required to perform duties outside of normal responsibilities from time to time, as needed.