Full Time Position

EquiLightenment & Silver Moon Iberians

Full-time, paid, live-on-farm position for quality individual with a passion for horses and a dedication to science-based best practices for equine welfare, management and training.  

EquiLightenment and Silver Moon Iberians:  we are small breeding, training, education facility in Ocala, FL.   We have approximately 15 (plus or minus) Andalusian and Lusitano horses including well-mannered stallions, broodmares, foals, young-stock and horses in training.  Horses spend more time in pastures than in stalls.  Situated on 39 beautiful acres with towering live oaks and Spanish moss, lush pastures, and airy 14-stall barn.  Owned and operated by Sharon Madere, IAABC Certified Horse Behavior Consultant.  Our priorities are best-practices management and training focused on the latest understanding of equine ethology and behavioral science, with an emphasis on gentle handling and positive reinforcement.

This position is multi-functional, you will wear many hats – horse care and handling, barn chores, light farm maintenance, training assistance, farm management assistance, breeding and foaling assistance.  You will have opportunities to be directly coached in science-based methods for cooperative care and riding preparation, and the option to shadow or assist with occasional private equine behavior cases.  Depending on your skill level, you may have opportunities to ride.

We strive for a happy, clean, peaceful, positive, professional, well-organized environment.   We believe in open, honest, and respectful communication, and the kind treatment of horses and humans alike. 

Requirements: 

• Experience:  You must have more than just “book” and “classroom” learning.  You must have solid hands-on prior horse, barn and farm experience.  Experience with breeding, foaling, IM & IV injections a plus.
• Physical:  You must be fit for a full day of farm work, able lift/move bales of hay and bags of feed, willing to work in all weather:  summer heat/humidity, occasional rain, and chilly winter mornings.
• Character:  Honest, hard-working, positive attitude, open communication, organized, flexible, self-motivated, able to work independently yet has team-mentality, desire to learn and apply science-based training and management principles and techniques.
• No smoking, no substance abuse.
• Valid driver’s license.
• References – minimum three – at least two horse-work related.
• Willing to agree to a criminal background check.
• Willing to share housing (2 BR, 2 BA mobile home) with occasional student interns.

If you are interested, please email us at EquiLightenment@gmail.com   Please share information about your past experience, education, and anything else you’d like us to know.   Please include your phone number, and the best days/times to call.  We look forward to hearing from you!

Duties may include (but are not limited to) the following:  

Horse Keeping, Care & Training

• Bring in / turn out horses
• Prepare feed & supplements
• Feed horses (grain & hay)
• Bathe, Groom, Pick Hooves, Fly Spray
• Monitor health / behavior and report any concerns
• Leg bandaging
• Treat minor injuries
• Administer/Assist with medications, worming, vaccinations, etc. (IM, IV)
• Tack & Un-Tack
• Hold for farrier & vet
• Maintain basic records and check-lists
• Stallion collection
• Foal watch and foaling assistance

Assist in training a wide range of behaviors (foals through adults), including:

• cooperative care and husbandry
• hoof handling
• introduction to riding equipment
• trailer loading
• acclimation to novel objects and situations
• behavior modification protocols as needed

Barn Duties

• Clean stalls
• Add fresh bedding
• Spread Manure
• Dump wet shavings
• Keep barn tidy 
• Clean auto-waterers
• Monitor feed & supply inventories
• Fly control traps & strips
• End of day clean up

Farm Duties

• Drag pastures
• Pick pasture stud piles
• Clean auto-waterers
• Water potted plants
• Monitor/notify of any safety hazards
• Inspect fencing
• Drag Arena
• Trash & Fuel Runs
• Pick up feed & supplies
• Dog care when owners travel
• Chicken feed & water (farm fresh eggs – yum!)
• Haul horses locally as needed
• Occasional assistant supervision of temporary student interns