Youth & Animal Care Helper

Written By Sally Ann Cheyne

📋 Job Description = "What is this job?"

What You'll Do Here: Help students of all abilities learn and grow through fun programs with horses & animals while taking great care of our animals!

Your Main Jobs:

🐴 Take Care of Our Animals & Barn & Property

  • Lots of cleaning! Stalls, water buckets, sweeping, organizing - keeping everything tidy

  • Feed animals & make sure they have fresh water

  • Put tools away where they belong

  • Make sure everything looks good for visitors

👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 Help with Fun Programs

  • Adaptive riding lessons - Assist the instructor as students of all abilities learn to ride horses safely, including mounting / dismounting assistance

  • Nature Club / Camps - Assist with teaching animal care & connection, and games and other fun activities

  • PALS program - Help instructor as students learn important life skills

  • Birthday parties - Make special days extra fun!

  • Family visits - Show families around and help them feel welcome

  • Field trips - Help groups learn about horses and ranch life

🛡️ Keep Everyone Safe (This is SUPER Important!)

  • Follow all safety rules - even when no one is watching

  • Think ahead to prevent problems before they happen

  • Know when to handle something yourself vs. when to ask for help

  • Stay calm when unexpected things happen (because they will!)

📱 Use Our Systems

  • Read and follow task list on the computer

  • Mark off tasks when you finish them

  • Use the time clock correctly

🌟 What Makes Someone Great at This Job:

  • You show up when you're supposed to

  • You finish what you start

  • You're kind to everyone - kids, families, horses, animals, and teammates

  • You can think on your feet when things don't go as planned

  • You follow safety rules automatically because you've practiced them until they're habits

  • You ask questions when you're not sure about something

✅ What You Need:

  • Volunteer here for 50-100 hours (so you know how we do things!)

  • You can lift heavy things (like water buckets, feed bags, hay bales)

  • You're okay working outside in all kinds of weather

  • You have a way to get here reliably

  • You like working with kids of all abilities and animals

💖 Why This Matters: 

Everything you do helps our students learn new skills, build confidence, and have amazing experiences with horses. Your work really makes a difference in their lives!

❓Questions? 

Ask Sally, a Cheyne kid, or any experienced team member. We're all here to help you succeed!

📚 Competency List = "What specific skills do you need?"

Master these skills to work independently and assist with programs safely!

🐴 Horse Basics

  • Read horse body language and respond with awareness.

  • Move confidently and calmly around horses, even in busy spaces.

🎯 Safe Handling

  • Confidently halter, lead, and tie horses using safe techniques.

  • Navigate gates, doorways, and shared spaces with control.

👷‍♀️ Safety Gear & Equipment

  • Wear and help others use proper safety gear (shoes, helmets).

  • Keep tack and equipment clean, organized, and safe to use.

🧠 Communication & Problem-Solving

  • Use good judgment to know when to act and when to seek help.

  • Communicate clearly and calmly, using ranch systems (digital task list, Google Chat, email).

  • Stay steady and supportive under pressure.

🧽 Grooming & Hoof Care

  • Groom horses safely and thoroughly, including hooves.

  • Notice and report health or comfort concerns.

🏇 Lesson Support & Tack

  • Handle tack correctly and notice when adjustments are needed.

  • Assist with mounting and dismounting under instructor supervision.

  • Clean and store tack properly after use.

  • Support lessons by leading horses, assisting riders, and setting up/putting away activities.

🦄 Arena & Program Activities

  • Set up and support program activities accurately and safely.

  • Adapt quickly to changes and help instructors stay focused on teaching.

🧹 Independent Barn Work

  • Complete barn chores thoroughly and independently.

  • Document work on the digital task list as tasks are finished.
    Finish what you start — never leave a job half done.

🥕 Feeding & Nutrition

  • Follow the feed chart consistently and accurately.
    Maintain food safety and prevent mix-ups.


✨ “See It, Do It” Leadership Mindset

  • Take ownership of shared spaces and keep them visitor-ready.

  • Show initiative, pride, and consistency in your work.

🌟 Bottom Line

Mastering these competencies means you can be trusted to work independently and handle both routine and unexpected challenges. You become a reliable part of the team that transforms lives through horses.

🎯 KRA (Key Responsibility Areas) = "How do we measure success?"

Role Purpose: Deliver youth programs and animal care that transform lives while ensuring student growth, animal well-being, and mission alignment.

Key Responsibility Areas:

1. Animal Care Excellence

  • Maintain healthy, safe, comfortable environments for all animals

  • Complete daily care tasks consistently and independently

  • Success metric: Animals are thriving, facilities are visitor-ready

2. Program Support Impact

  • Enhance student experiences in adaptive riding, PALS, Nature Club

  • Support instructors to deliver quality educational programming

  • Success metric: Programs run smoothly, students show progress

3. Team Culture & Mission Alignment

  • Model core values and create welcoming atmosphere for all

  • Communicate mission effectively to families and community

  • Success metric: Positive feedback, strong team collaboration

4. Reliability & Professional Growth

  • Demonstrate consistent attendance and task completion

  • Take initiative and seek additional responsibilities

  • Uses digital task list and time clock consistently to document work and attendance.

  • Success metric: Trusted for independent work, ready for advancement

Sally Ann Cheyne
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