Head groom / Yard Manager

Hillview Equine is seeking an experienced and motivated equine professional to join our small, hands-on team in Scone, NSW. This is a varied full-time role working across our performance horse, breeding, foaling, spelling and agistment operation, with responsibility for the day-to-day care and management of a diverse group of horses.

The role includes feeding and general horse care, tacking up and untacking performance horses, grooming, washing, clipping, plaiting, tack and equipment maintenance, competition preparation, medications and treatments, and assisting with vets and farriers. During breeding season, duties also include broodmare management, reproductive work, foaling, newborn care and handling mares and foals.

We are looking for someone who is experienced, organised, reliable and confident working independently, with excellent horse husbandry skills and strong attention to detail. Riding ability is an advantage but is not essential.

This is a 38-hour full-time position with rostered days off, annual and personal leave, overtime/TOIL arrangements and remuneration dependent on experience. For the right applicant, the package may also include on-site accommodation, agistment for your own horse, regular coaching and opportunities to travel to and compete at competitions with the Hillview team.

Must be okay with being around our 3yo toddler who is horse mad and on the farm with us a lot! Often helps making feeds etc. WWCC as well.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

GENERAL HORSE CARE & YARD MANAGEMENT

The successful applicant will be involved in the day-to-day management of Hillview Equine and will be expected to take responsibility for maintaining a high standard of horse care and organisation across the property.

Responsibilities include:

* Daily feeding and feed preparation, including individual feeds, supplements and medications
* Checking horses and monitoring their general health, behaviour and wellbeing
* Rugging and unrugging according to individual horse requirements and weather conditions
* Catching, bringing in, turning out and moving horses between paddocks, yards and stables
* Daily management of performance horses, broodmares, foals, spelling horses and agistment horses
* Monitoring legs, feet, condition, appetite, manure, injuries and any changes in behaviour or soundness
* Recognising when something isn't quite right and communicating concerns promptly
* Administering medications and routine treatments as directed
* Bandaging, poulticing, icing and other routine horse-care treatments
* Holding and assisting horses for vets, farriers, dentists and other equine professionals
* Coordinating horses that need to be ready for veterinary, farrier or other appointments
* Maintaining clean and organised stables, yards, tack rooms, feed rooms and horse areas
* Horse laundry, including rugs, saddle pads, boots, bandages, towels and other equipment
* Maintaining grooming equipment and general horse supplies
* Keeping track of individual horses' routines and management requirements
* Assisting with basic horse records, treatments and communication regarding client horses
* Working closely with the owner to organise and prioritise the day's workload
* Being able to work independently, use initiative and recognise jobs that need doing without requiring constant direction

### PERFORMANCE HORSES & COMPETITIONS

A significant part of the position involves supporting our performance horse program. We generally have multiple horses in regular work, predominantly in **dressage and showjumping**, and the successful applicant will play an important role in keeping the riding program running efficiently.

Day-to-day performance horse responsibilities include:

* Catching and preparing horses for the daily riding schedule
* Grooming and presenting horses appropriately for work
* Tacking up and untacking horses throughout the day
* Efficiently changing horses over while multiple horses are being ridden
* Correct fitting and use of saddles, bridles, girths, boots, bandages and training equipment
* Washing and hosing horses following exercise
* Appropriate cooling down and post-exercise care
* Rugging and returning horses to their paddocks, yards or stables following work
* Monitoring horses before and after exercise for heat, swelling, soreness, rubs, lost shoes or changes in behaviour
* Icing, bandaging, poulticing and applying other post-work treatments where required
* Cleaning tack after use and ensuring it is properly maintained
* Regular deep cleaning and conditioning of saddles, bridles and other leatherwork
* Cleaning boots, girths and training equipment
* Washing saddle pads, bandages, towels and other horse laundry
* Keeping each horse's individual tack and equipment organised and ready for use
* Keeping the tack room and riding equipment clean, organised and professionally presented
* Lunging, groundwork and exercising suitable horses depending on the applicant's experience and ability

**Competition preparation and grooming** are also an important part of the role and may include:

* Preparing horses to a high standard for dressage and showjumping competitions, clinics and training days
* Washing horses prior to competition
* Mane pulling and tidying
* Competition-standard plaiting
* Tail preparation and general presentation
* Clipping, including full clips, competition clips and tidy-ups
* Trimming and presentation of horses as required
* Preparing and cleaning competition saddles, bridles, boots and equipment
* Organising clean competition saddle pads, rugs, boots and other gear
* Packing floats/trucks for competitions and ensuring all required horse, rider, feed and care equipment is included
* Preparing feeds, hay, water, supplements and horse-care supplies for travel
* Loading and unloading horses where required
* Travelling to competitions, clinics and training days with the Hillview team
* Assisting as a competition groom
* Tacking up and untacking at events
* Helping with horse changes where multiple horses are being competed
* Washing, cooling and caring for horses between and after tests/classes
* Keeping horses comfortable, settled and appropriately managed throughout competition days
* Unpacking following competitions and ensuring tack and equipment is cleaned and returned to its correct place

We are looking for someone who understands that good performance-horse management is about **attention to detail and preparation** — having the next horse ready, knowing each horse's individual tack and routine, noticing small changes and helping the riding day run smoothly.

### BREEDING, REPRODUCTION & FOALING

Breeding and reproductive work is another significant component of Hillview Equine, particularly throughout spring and summer. Previous breeding experience is highly regarded, although we are happy to teach our specific systems to an experienced and sensible horse person.

Responsibilities may include:

* Daily care and management of broodmares
* Monitoring pregnant mares and their individual requirements
* Monitoring mares approaching foaling
* Recognising behavioural and physical changes associated with impending foaling
* Bringing mares in and preparing them for reproductive veterinary appointments
* Handling and holding mares for scanning and reproductive procedures
* Assisting veterinarians with reproductive work
* Assisting with mare management associated with AI and breeding cycles
* Administering reproductive medications and treatments as directed
* Maintaining breeding and treatment records
* Preparing and maintaining foaling stables and foaling yards
* Maintaining foaling equipment and ensuring supplies are clean, organised and ready
* Assisting with foal watch during breeding season
* Assisting with foaling when required
* Immediate post-foaling care of mares and newborn foals
* Monitoring mares and foals following birth
* Recognising signs that a mare or foal may require veterinary attention
* Administering medications and treatments to mares and foals as directed
* Handling mares and foals for veterinary procedures
* Daily mare and foal management
* Handling and early education of foals
* Teaching foals to lead, be caught and handled appropriately
* Preparing mares and foals for farrier and veterinary appointments
* Monitoring foal growth, condition and general wellbeing
* Assisting with vaccination, worming and routine preventative health programs
* Maintaining accurate foaling, treatment and youngstock records
* Keeping foaling stables, yards and breeding areas exceptionally clean and organised

Some **after-hours work may occasionally be required during foaling season**, as naturally horses don't always operate within normal working hours. Any additional hours are managed within our overtime/TOIL and roster arrangements.

Overall, this is a **genuinely varied equine position**, rather than a traditional stable-hand role. The successful applicant will become an important part of the day-to-day operation of Hillview and work across everything from preparing dressage horses for competition to assisting with reproductive veterinary work and caring for newborn foals.

## REQUIREMENTS OF THE POSITION

We are looking for an **experienced, capable and genuinely confident horse person** who can become an important part of the day-to-day running of Hillview Equine. This is not an entry-level position; applicants should have strong practical horse experience and be comfortable working independently with a variety of horses.

### Essential

* Strong practical horse-handling and husbandry experience
* Confident handling fit performance horses, Thoroughbreds, broodmares and young horses
* Excellent understanding of day-to-day horse care and management
* Ability to recognise changes in a horse's health, soundness, behaviour or general wellbeing
* Confident administering routine medications and treatments under direction
* Competent with basic horse first aid, bandaging and poulticing
* Experience correctly tacking up and untacking horses
* Good understanding of tack, horse equipment and its correct fit and care
* Ability to groom, wash and present horses to a high standard
* Excellent attention to detail and high standards of cleanliness and organisation
* Reliable, punctual and able to manage time effectively
* Ability to prioritise tasks and work efficiently during busy periods
* Capable of working independently and using initiative without requiring constant supervision
* Calm, sensible and confident around horses
* Good communication skills and willingness to work closely as part of a small team
* Physically capable of performing the duties associated with a hands-on equine role
* Willingness to work some weekends as part of a roster and flexibility around occasional competitions, foaling, veterinary requirements and emergencies
* Current driver's licence
* Must have the right to work in Australia

### Highly Regarded

* Previous employment in a professional equestrian, competition, breeding or stud environment
* Experience with dressage and/or showjumping horses
* Competition grooming experience
* Confident plaiting to competition standard
* Clipping experience
* Experience preparing and travelling horses for competitions
* Broodmare and reproductive experience
* Foaling and newborn foal experience
* Experience handling and educating foals and youngstock
* Experience assisting veterinarians with reproductive procedures
* Competent rider with experience riding or exercising performance horses
* Lunging and groundwork experience
* Formal equine qualifications or other relevant industry training
* Horse transport experience

### The Person

More than anything, we are looking for someone who **takes genuine pride in their work and in the horses under their care**. You should be observant, organised and proactive — the type of person who notices a swollen leg, loose shoe, dirty piece of tack or job that needs doing and deals with it rather than waiting to be asked.

We value **good communication, reliability, common sense and a positive attitude**. Hillview is a small, hands-on team, so we want someone who enjoys being involved, communicates well and is happy to take responsibility for their role while also working closely with the rest of the team.

Applicants do not need to arrive knowing every aspect of our breeding, performance and management systems. **We are very happy to teach the right person**, provided they already have a strong foundation of horse experience, are willing to learn and can be trusted to handle horses safely and professionally.