Employment - Alaska Horse Ranch

Employment at the Alaska Horse Ranch

The Alaska Horse Ranch currently has open employment options for the following positions:

Riding Instructor–

The main duties of a horse riding instructor involve helping students learn and master specialized riding skills, with an emphasis on assisting students in developing proper technique and form. Instructors also help promote safety for horse and rider.

Conduct riding lessons for individuals and groups
Assess and customize training plans based on student’s skill levels
Instruct students on horse care and stable management
Ensure the safety and well-being of both students and horses during lessons
Prepare horses for lessons, including tacking and grooming
Provide feedback and progress reports to students
Organize and participate in horse shows and competitions
Stay up-to-date with the latest riding techniques and safety regulations
Perform routine checks on riding equipment and ensure its maintenance
Ability to manage and train horses effectively
High energy, positive attitude, flexibility, and attention to detail; high degree of initiative and problem-solving skills.
Must be able to demonstrate proficiency of horse care and behavior.
Strong verbal and written communication skills.

Horse Trainer–

Duties and Responsibilities:
The duties and responsibilities of a horse trainer can vary depending on the specific discipline and the needs of the horses they work with. However, here are some general duties and responsibilities associated with the role of a horse trainer:

Training Plan Development: Horse trainers are responsible for designing and implementing training plans tailored to each horse’s individual needs. They assess the horse’s temperament, physical condition, and skill level to create a structured program that focuses on obedience, performance enhancement, and skill development.
Basic Obedience Training: Horse trainers teach horses fundamental commands and behaviors, such as haltering, leading, standing still, picking up their feet, desensitizing and responding to cues. They establish a foundation of trust and respect between horse and trainer, ensuring that the horse understands and obeys basic commands.
Groundwork and Lunging: Horse trainers engage in ground work exercises, which involve teaching horses to respond to cues from the trainer while on the ground. This includes activities like lunging, longeing, and desensitization exercises to develop balance, suppleness, and responsiveness.
Riding Training: Trainers are responsible for riding horses and refining their performance under saddle. They focus on developing the horse’s balance, collection, and responsiveness to rider cues. This may include training in various gaits, lead changes, transitions, and specific movements depending on the discipline.
Behavioral Evaluation and Modification: Horse trainers assess the horse’s behavior, identifying any problematic patterns or issues. They work on addressing behavioral problems, such as resistance, fear, or aggression, through appropriate training techniques and behavioral modification strategies.
Fitness and Conditioning: Trainers develop fitness and conditioning programs to enhance the horse’s physical abilities and stamina. This involves planning and implementing exercise routines, including riding, lunging, and other forms of physical training, to improve the horse’s strength, endurance, and overall fitness.
Monitoring Health and Well-being: Horse trainers keep a close eye on the horse’s health and well-being. They observe for signs of discomfort, illness, or injury and coordinate with veterinarians and other equine professionals to ensure the horse’s medical needs are met. They also oversee the horse’s nutrition and provide recommendations for proper feeding and care.
Communication with Owners and Riders: Trainers often work closely with horse owners and riders, providing guidance, feedback, and instruction. They communicate the progress of the horse’s training, offer advice on handling and riding techniques, and collaborate with owners and riders to achieve specific performance goals.
Continued Professional Development: Horse trainers stay up to date with the latest training methods, research, and industry trends. They attend workshops, seminars, and clinics to enhance their skills and knowledge, ensuring they provide the best possible training experience for the horses in their care.

Horse Groom–

A Horse groom is responsible for cleaning, bathing, brushing, braiding, clipping, tacking, untacking, leg wrapping, lunging & cooling horses after a ride. In addition to these duties they are also responsible for catching horses in pasture and bringing them down for lessons, farrier visits and photos, loading and unloading, preparing for and traveling to horse shows. A horse groom must have experience maneuvering around horses in various ways and locations, including horse shows.

Duties and Responsibilities:

Ensuring the trailer is at all times kept well stocked with its own equipment e.g. first aid kits, grooming kit, show rugs/blankets. discipline-specific competition boots and bandages, lunging kit, bit box etc.
Packing fresh supplies for competitions e.g. tack, hay, water etc.
Preparing the horses for events ensuring they are clipped, bathed, pulled, trimmed and then dressed and loaded, in the correct order, ready to leave on time on the day.
During travel, it will be your duty to ensure the horses travel safely, comfortably and are well settled on arrival. For multi-day shows, this would include setting up base and ensuring the horses are comfortable and happy in their temporary stabling.
Ensuring your horses are presented clean and tidy for any exercise riding or lunging you/the rider may do. You are in the public eye here a good standard must be kept at all times when on show.
Turning your horses out immaculately for the competition.
Washing off and ensuring the horses are kept comfortable and is well checked over for injuries after the event to ensure maximum rate of recovery.
Fetching, carrying and thinking of EVERYTHING whilst the rider is preparing and warming up.
A calm disposition, with the ability to remain calm and quiet in manic and stressful situations, so as to maintain as calm an environment as possible for the horses, preventing unnecessary stress and disruption for them.
Keeping track of the running order/start times, time remaining before call-time, final preparations in the minutes before the horse enters the competition arena.

Ranch Hand–

A ranch hand is a person who takes care of livestock animals at the ranch. Ranch hands are responsible for keeping horses and other ranch animals healthy, feeding them, and making sure they have water. The primary duty is to assist in the day-to-day operations of the ranch. They should have experience handling horses and/or animal husbandry. They should also be adaptable, enthusiastic, and know how to run ranch equipment.

Duties and Responsibilities include:

● Feed animals hay and grain

● Put on fly masks, sheets, etc. depending on weather

● Turn horses out/Bring horses in

● Muck stalls/Dump manure

● Sweep aisle and clean drains

● Check waterers inside and outside

● Clean out horse sheds in pastures

● Thorough cleaning of office area

● Thorough cleaning/ dusting of equine barns

● Thorough cleaning of office area

● Thorough cleaning/ dusting of equine barns