Job Description

Do you have a passion for working with children and horses? Dr. Angela Fountain & Associates is excited to invite you to be a part of our equine assisted therapy team as an Equine Specialist, responsible for handling and caring for our horses. We are looking for someone with experience and training in handling horses, who is mature, reliable, demonstrates good judgement and critical thinking skills, and is comfortable working with children of different ages and needs. In this role, you will work both weekdays and weekends, handling horses during therapy sessions, potentially instructing riding lessons if certified, assisting with our volunteer program, caring for our horses and small animals, and collaborating with the barn manager and team to ensure the maintenance and upkeep of the horses and animals on the farm.

Dr. Angela Fountain & Associates is situated on a beautiful 60-acre therapeutic farm, home to 13 therapy equines, 2 therapy dogs, a bunny, and potentially other small animals. We provide equine therapy to children, adolescents, adults, and families with various mental health needs, and our barn staff play a crucial role in supporting these clients. You'll receive comprehensive training and support to enhance your skills in equine therapy techniques and collaborate effectively with individual mental health therapists. Our farm also offers carriage driving instruction, riding instruction, animal care programs, camp and experiential leaning activities, where you will be involved in handling our horses and small animals. We look forward to interviewing candidates and hearing how they feel they can contribute to our team and work together to make a positive impact as an Equine Specialist.

Your responsibilities will include managing equine-assisted therapy and experiential learning sessions, providing instruction or support for riding, carriage driving, and horse groundwork lessons, performing daily farm tasks, caring for, exercising, and training horses, and overseeing volunteers. Additionally, you will be required to administer minor first aid treatments and participate in the health care of animals on the farm.

Requirements for job:

-Must have recent horse experience, including experience such as teaching beginner riders and/or driving carriage, working, and interacting with horses on the ground and/or training horses

-Have a valid G license
-Have a Criminal Reference Check with vulnerable sector (or be willing to acquire)
-Have valid CPR and First Aid (or be willing to acquire)
-Have a valid OEF membership (or be willing to acquire)
-Having one or more of the following is considered an asset: OEF rider levels or coach certification, CanTRA certifications and/or other certificates in equine assisted therapy or equine assisted experiential learning such as EAGALA or PATH or other equivalent training programs.
-Experience with farm equipment such as a tractor is also not mandatory but considered an asset

Dr. Angela Fountain & Associates is offering competitive wages. Hours will be weekdays and weekend day shifts between the hours of 8am to 8pm depending on seasonal scheduling as we provide afterwork and after school services to our clients. We are located in North Oshawa.

Job Types: Permanent, Full-time

Job Type: Full-time

Pay: $20.00-$22.00 per hour

Benefits:

On-site parking
Ability to commute/relocate:

Oshawa, ON: reliably commute or plan to relocate before starting work (required)
Experience:

horse: 5 years (required) beginner riding instruction: 3 years (required)
Work Location: In person