About Peppers Ranch:

Peppers Ranch Foster Care Community is dedicated to breaking the cycle of child abuse and neglect by providing safe, loving homes and a supportive environment where children and families can heal and thrive. Our 240-acre campus includes 20 residential homes, 2 community buildings, recreational spaces, and equine facilities all of which require thoughtful care and maintenance.

Equine Program Director Position Type:

Part-Time and/or

Possible Full-Time Organization:

Peppers Ranch Foster Care Community Reports To:

Executive Director Position Summary The Equine Program Director oversees Peppers Ranch's equine program, providing safe, relationship-centered horsemanship instruction for children and youth while managing the care of our small horse herd and equine facilities. This position uses horses and horsemanship activities to help youth develop confidence, responsibility, communication, emotional regulation, and healthy relationships. Many of the children served by Peppers Ranch have experienced foster care, abuse, neglect, or trauma. The ideal candidate will approach each child with patience, consistency, compassion, and appropriate boundaries. The Equine Program Director is also responsible for maintaining the health and well-being of the horses and ensuring that the barn, arena, pastures, tack, and related equipment remain safe, clean, and organized. Equine Programming Responsibilities Develop and lead safe, age-appropriate horsemanship lessons for children and youth with varying experience levels. Provide individual and small-group instruction in horse safety, grooming, handling, groundwork, riding, and general horse care. Use horses and horsemanship activities to encourage confidence, responsibility, emotional regulation, communication, and relationship-building. Adapt lessons to meet the individual needs, abilities, and comfort levels of participating youth. Build dependable, encouraging relationships with youth while maintaining appropriate professional boundaries. Maintain a consistent program schedule and communicate clearly with parents, caregivers, and Peppers Ranch staff. Establish and enforce safety procedures for all equine activities. Evaluate each horse's temperament and suitability for individual riders and program activities. Maintain accurate attendance, participation, incident, and program records. Coordinate special equine activities, demonstrations, volunteer projects, and community partnerships. Recruit, train, schedule, and supervise qualified volunteers or additional instructors as needed. Ensure all programming remains within the employee's professional qualifications and scope of practice. Horse Care Responsibilities Oversee the daily care and well-being of Peppers Ranch's small horse herd. Manage feeding, watering, turnout, grooming, exercise, and general herd routines. Monitor horses for illness, injury, behavioral changes, or other concerns. Coordinate veterinary, farrier, dental, vaccination, and other routine care. Administer medications or treatments as directed by a veterinarian. Maintain accurate health, care, scheduling, and expense records for each horse. Monitor each horse's condition, workload, and ongoing suitability for youth programming. Create written feeding, care, and emergency procedures to ensure consistency when other staff or volunteers assist with the herd. Monitor and maintain appropriate levels of feed, hay, bedding, medications, and other supplies. Barn and Facility Responsibilities Maintain the cleanliness, safety, and organization of the barn, arena, stalls, tack areas, pastures, and storage spaces. Conduct routine inspections of fencing, gates, stalls, riding areas, tack, and equipment. Promptly report maintenance concerns and help coordinate needed repairs. Oversee pasture rotation, manure management, pest control, and other routine facility needs. Maintain clean and properly fitted tack and riding equipment. Ensure emergency supplies, first-aid materials, and safety equipment are available and current. Coordinate volunteer service projects related to the barn and equine facilities when appropriate. Help develop and manage the equine program budget in partnership with organizational leadership. General Responsibilities Model patience, professionalism, respect, dependability, and strong personal boundaries. Work collaboratively with Peppers Ranch staff, parents, volunteers, and community partners. Participate in relevant staff meetings, training, Ranch events, and occasional evening or weekend activities. Follow all Peppers Ranch policies related to safety, confidentiality, mandated reporting, and interactions with minors. Maintain organized calendars, records, program plans, and communication. Assist with other equine-related responsibilities as needed. Required Qualifications Experience handling, caring for, and working safely with horses. Experience teaching horseback riding, horsemanship, equine-assisted learning, or a similar equine program. Experience working with children or teenagers. Strong knowledge of horse behavior, health, nutrition, safety, and routine care. Ability to teach youth with patience, encouragement, consistency, and clear boundaries. Strong organizational, communication, and relationship-building skills. Ability to independently manage daily responsibilities and respond appropriately to equine emergencies. Valid driver's license and reliable transportation. Ability to successfully complete required background checks and child-safety training. Preferred Qualifications Degree or formal training in equine studies, animal science, youth development, education, or a related field. Certification through PATH International or another recognized equine instruction or equine-assisted services organization. Experience working with children and families involved in foster care. Training in trauma-informed care, TBRI, behavioral support, or social-emotional learning. CPR and First Aid certification. Experience managing an equine program, supervising volunteers, or coordinating youth activities. Physical and Scheduling Requirements Ability to lift and carry feed, hay, tack, supplies, and other items associated with horse care. Ability to work outdoors in varying weather conditions and safely navigate uneven terrain. Ability to stand, walk, bend, lift, and remain physically active for extended periods. Availability for occasional evenings, weekends, special events, and equine emergencies. Ability to maintain a dependable schedule that supports the consistent care of the horses and programming for youth.

Pay:

$40,000.00 - $50,000.00 per year

Benefits:

401(k) 401(k) matching Dental insurance Flexible schedule Health insurance Paid time off Professional development assistance Vision insurance

Work Location:

In person