Equestrian Program Assistant - Intermittent

The Forest Preserve District of DuPage County provides opportunities for people to connect with nature. We offer to the public 60 forest preserves, 166 miles of trails, 47 miles of rivers and streams, and 6 nature and cultural centers. We have 6 million visitors each year.

The District's mission is, "to acquire and hold lands containing forests, prairies, wetlands and associated plant communities or lands capable of being restored to such natural conditions for the purpose of protecting and preserving the flora, fauna and scenic beauty for the education, pleasure and recreation of its citizens.

Job Summary

This position performs horse care, assists with the operation of the stable, and provides equestrian programs to the public. The role conducts programs at Danada Equestrian Center that includes, but is not limited to, group and private lessons, trail group lessons, and camp programs. This position also helps train the horses for the various programs.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities:

• Inspect horses for injury and perform first aid.
• See to the well-being of the horses including exercise, training, and conditioning.
• Assist with the production of special events and provide program information to visitors.
• Safely educate riders following the directions of official training.
• Teach and assist riders to gather horses, groom, tack and untack, put up horses properly, and supervise younger students to ensure proper handling.
• Continually develop the riding skills of students from all experience levels ranging from basic to advanced.
• Assist with keeping the general appearance, maintenance, and security of riding equipment.
• Demonstrate a genuine love of horses. Treat them with passion, respect, and instill this feeling into students.
• Foster a working environment that promotes safe work habits; Become familiar with and observes all applicable safety rules, policies, and work procedures; Follow all safety rules that pertain to the duties performed and support all aspects of District's safety and risk management program; Keep work area clean, orderly, and free of hazards; Immediately report all unsafe conditions and incidents.
• Maintains a supportive working environment and demonstrates a desire to exceed the expectations of internal and external customers.
• Perform other duties as required.

Requirements:

• Must be 18 years of age or older at the time of hire.
• High School Diploma/GED, 1 - 3 years of related experience with less than 2 years of experience as a lead worker in the daily care and handling of horses, training, and maintenance of equipment, or equivalent combination of education, training, and experience.
• Valid Driver's license in good standing.
• Must have and maintain Illinois Mandated Reporter certification or obtain upon hire (training provided).
• Must have and maintain CPR, AED, and First Aid Certification or obtain upon hire (training provided).
• Knowledge of general equine care and handling methods, including behavior, anatomy, and the ability to recognize signs and symptoms of injury and illness.
• Ability to ride with a balanced seat in Western and English tack.
• Basic understadning of learning styles.
• Understanding of occupational hazards and adherence to safe work practices.
• Proficient in documenting observations in a thorough and objective manner.
• Effective communication skills, both verbally and in writing.
• Demonstrated ability to exercise sound judgment, especially in engaging with others and responding to animal behavior problems and emergency situations.
• Capability to work in close proximity to potentially dangerous and unpredictable animals.
• Strong interpersonal skills, allowing for courteous, respectful, and productive interaction with supervisors, fellow employees, volunteers, students, visitors, and participants.

Schedule: Works on an as-needed basis during certain peak seasons or programs for a variable number of hours per week and a variable number of weeks per year.

Pay: $23.83 - 26.04/hour.

Work Environment: This position requires working indoors and outdoors in all weather conditions. There is exposure to uneven terrain, working in pastures and barns, loud noise, dust, smoke, wildlife, domestic animals, and large animals.

Location: The Danada Equestrian Center in Wheaton, IL.

The Forest Preserve District of DuPage County is committed to fostering a diverse and inclusive workplace built on a foundation of respect, integrity, teamwork, and excellence. Our organization provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment and prohibits discrimination and harassment of any type without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, disability status, genetics, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state, or local laws. This applies to all terms and conditions of employment, including recruiting, hiring, placement, promotion, termination, layoff, recall, transfer, leaves of absence, compensation, and training.