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• Job Description

Private Show Hunter facility in Middletown, NY has a full-time Groom position available.  Groom will assist the Trainer and another staff membere with the care of up to 8 show hunters and prospects.  Daily responsibilities include, but are not limited to, assisting with feeding, turnout, grooming, tacking up, cooling out, treadmilling horses, wrapping, and keeping the barn, arenas, paddocks and facilities neat and organized.  The position also requires knowledge of (or the willingness to learn about) routine health maintenance to include, icing, cold hosing, polticing, wrapping, worming, administering IM shots, administering medications and administering minor injury care.  Groom will be asked to groom at "A" shows and "local" shows.  Most shows are within a 75 minute drive (one way) and will not require an overnight stay. 
While at shows, Candidate will be asked to groom and tack up horses, take them to the ring, wait with the horse until they show, video their classes and put the horse away when they are finished with their classes.

 

Groom may on occassion be asked to attend appointments with the vet, farrier, chiropractor and assist as needed. Groom should be willing to learn to ship horses in a 2-horse head to head and/or a 2+1 gooseneck.

 

Other farm and horse responsibilities may include ancilary tasks such as ordering feed.

 

The opportunity to ride might be available for the right person, but riding is not required. 

 

 

• Experience Required

This position does entail handling, grooming and proving complete care for show hunters and young hunter prospects that generally range in age from 4 to 9 years.  Experience working with horses is required.  Experience as a show groom, assistant barn manager or the willingness to learn to groom at shows is required. 

 

The ability to recognize and address early signs of lameness or muscle soreness is indispensable and the ability to identify early signs of equine distress, such as colic, dehydration, etc., and take appropriate action is invaluable.  Experience body clipping, trailering horses and operating a tractor (raking arenas and emptying manure spreader) or the willingness to learn, is required. Candidates that are detail-oriented, autonomous individuals who take pride in their work and the horses that are under their care are highly desirable.  Groom will be asked to maintain daily communication with other members of the staff, the Trainer and the Barn Owner.

 

• Facility


P
rivate facility situated on 36 acres includes an eight-stall center aisle barn with auto waterers, an 84’ x 214’ indoor arena, a 140’ x 250’ outdoor arena, 16 grass turnout paddocks with automatic waterers, eight sacrifice paddocks with automatic waterers and one hospital paddock with auto waterer.  You can view pictures of our facility by clicking on the following link:  Facility

 
• Hours


During non-show days, the hours are 7:00AM to 4:00PM (with a one half hour lunch) Monday through Fri.  A six day work week may be possible if desired.  Candidate may be asked to accommodate important appointments such as veterinary calls, farrier visits and other necessary appointments if they fall outside the hours outlined above, although this is uncommon.  Groom may be asked to care for a sick horse outside the hours cited above, although this is also uncommon.  Candidate may be asked to share night check duties with other members of the staff.

The schedule for show days will vary depending on the show, but the candidate should expect some 12+ hour show days.

 

• Salary and Benefits

 

We are a private facility and all the horses are owned by the farm.  Quality, reliable staff is a priority and we are prepared to offer a fair, competitive hourly rate of compensation commensurate with experience in order to attract and retain high quality team members. The Candidate will be compensated on an hourly basis; including all hours spent at a show or traveling to/from a show. A compensation review will be conducted six months after hire.  "On the job" training may be available for a Candidate that has sufficient experience with horses but may lack some of the other skills that are required. Vehicles are available for farm business.  However, we will reimburse the candidate for any farm-related mileage put on his/her personal vehicle at the IRS standard mileage rate.  A modest meal stipend is offered on show days (days horse compete).

 

• Frequently Asked Questions

 

Q: What is the hourly rate for this job?

A: It is difficult to make a firm offer to a candidate without the benefit of a live interview as each individual candidate's skill set and experience set is different.  We believe we have a good sense for what the better show barns pay their employees for similar positions and we intend to be competitive. 

 

Q: When are you looking to fill this position?

A: This position is available immediately.

 

Q: Does this position come with housing?

A: This position does not include housing. 

 

Q: How do I apply for this position?

A: Please send us a resume and references via e-mail.  After we receive a resume and references, promising candidates will be offered a telephone interview followed by a "live interview" at the farm.

 

• Contact Us 

 

We would be delighted to answer any additional questions you may have to help you determine if our opening and your employment goals might be a good fit.  Please feel free to contact us via e-mail


Thank you for your time,

 

Sheffield Farms
130
Shaw Road

Middletown, NY 10941
845-361-4171