Rider / Trainer — Hunter/Jumper Program

Eighteen Acres Farm is a professional hunter/jumper training and equine care facility located in Jenks, Oklahoma, just outside Tulsa. Our facility offers indoor and outdoor arenas, extensive turnout, rehabilitation and conditioning amenities, and the infrastructure to develop horses and riders from the fundamentals through high-level sport.

We are looking for an accomplished horse-person to join the next phase of our program as a Rider / Trainer.

We are intentionally leaving some flexibility in this position because the right person may be strongest as a rider and horse developer, as a teacher and coach, or as a combination of both. What matters most is excellent horsemanship, thoughtful training, strong communication and the ability to become a trusted part of a collaborative professional team.

The role will work closely with the owner/head trainer and can grow substantially for the right person.

Potential Responsibilities

Depending on the candidate's strengths and interests, responsibilities may include:

1. Ride and develop hunter/jumper horses at varying stages of training, from young or green horses through experienced competition horses.
2. Develop thoughtful individualized training plans emphasizing correct flatwork, soundness, confidence and long-term development.
3. School horses over fences and assist with preparation for competition.
4. Teaching lessons, building out and coaching towards appropriate goals for individual horse/rider combinations as appropriate to experience and skill.
5. Accompany horses and clients to shows, including potentially assumimg independent coaching/show responsibility over time.
6. Communicate clearly with the owner/head trainer, clients and barn staff regarding horse progress, concerns and training plans.
7. Participate in the development and evaluation of sales horses, including trials, videos, prospective-buyer communication and related logistics as appropriate.
8. Work collaboratively with veterinarians, farriers and the rehabilitation/conditioning team on soundness, fitness and return-to-work plans.
9. Contribute to the broader program beyond simply riding a list of horses and leaving at the end of the day.
10. Assume additional training, client or operational leadership if that is where the candidate's strengths naturally lead.

This is not a groom position, and routine barn chores is not the reason we are hiring this person. It is, however, an integrated horse operation. We want someone who sees the whole horse, the whole team, and whole operation, and who is willing to step in as part of the team when the welfare of a horse or the needs of the operation genuinely require it.

The ideal candidate:

Technical talent matters enormously. Character and people skills matter just as much.

We value thoughtful horsemanship over shortcuts, honesty about what a horse needs, calmness under pressure, direct and respectful communication, and confidence without unnecessary ego. The right candidate should be able to communicate well with clients, work productively with grooms and managers, receive feedback from another professional and contribute their own ideas without turning differing opinions into conflict.

Required:

1. Significant professional riding and/or coaching experience with strong fundamentals and excellent horse sense.
2. Ability to ride and/or coach appropriate riders on fit sport horses safely, correctly and confidently.
3. Experience developing unfinished horses.
4. Strong observational skills and an understanding of soundness, fitness and appropriate workload.
5. Professional communication and reliability.
6. Valid driver's license and legal authorization to work in the United States.

Particularly Valuable:

1. Hunter/jumper competition experience.
2. Experience showing/coaching at A show level, and developing young horses.
3. Ability to teach and coach effectively.
4. Experience independently managing horses or clients at competitions.
5. Sales-horse, import or horse-shopping experience.
6. Experience at the upper levels of the sport.
7. Interest or competence in conditioning and rehabilitation.
8. A desire to grow into broader leadership responsibility.

We are open to someone whose résumé is stronger in one area than another. A superb rider who is still developing as a coach may work well; so may an exceptional teacher/horse developer who is not currently campaigning at the highest levels or who is less interested in an active riding role.

Housing is available and may be incorporated into the compensation package.

We are currently building several complementary positions as we develop the next phase of our program. We care more about exceptional people and the right combination of strengths than forcing every candidate into a predetermined box, and there may be flexibility in the scope of this role for an unusually strong fit.

To apply, please submit a resume, current riding video (if applicable), professional references and a brief introduction describing your riding/training background and what you hope your next professional role will include.