We’re on a mission to spread awareness about the benefits of applying positive reinforcement training with horses.

Anticipated start date January 2025

Join us if…

You are a team player committed to a professional career in the horse industry. You believe in putting the horse first and discovering ways to connect with how a horse thinks. You love working with and testing new approaches in training.

The Assistant Trainer Level I Position is a hands-on learning, research, and training position that offers a valuable education. You will work with horses from a new perspective and teach others the concepts and skills of our Priority to Positive® (PtP)program. Our goal is to build our team by offering career advancement as our program evolves.

This job focuses on learning positive reinforcement and our PtP approach to train horses as well as to help educate others and teach PtP.

You will:

• Participate in foundation training
• Participate in our onboarding and classroom program to master the material to instruct others
• Train horses with positive reinforcement; research, test, and modify new and current approaches
• Create and execute training plans while documenting outcomes
• Assist in all aspects of Via Nova presentations, workshops, clinics, competitions, and other events
• Learn to become an engaging educator and ambassador for positive reinforcement and the PtP® program, including teaching, giving public presentations, writing, and networking
• Research, present, and apply training material
• Assist with the general welfare of the horses, including exercise, administering medication, participating in night check on a rotating basis, and other barn duties as needed

You are an equestrian committed to, or already pursuing, a professional riding career with the following:

• Five or more years of riding experience* preferred in at least one of the following disciplines:
  • Dressage - ability to ride at Third Level or above
  • Eventing - ability to ride at Training Level or above
  • H/J - ability to ride 1m or 3’ course and the desire to change focus to dressage or eventing
• Experience with green and/or inexperienced horses
• Competition experience and record a plus
• Ability to groom, tack, and ride at least three horses for up to an hour each day
• At least three years of experience training or working at a professional barn is preferred
• Previous horse ownership, including direct supervision care, maintenance, and training, is a plus
• Certification by a formal equestrian training program (USDF, USEA, USHJA, CHA, BHS, etc.) or equivalent is a plus but not required

*Note: Video and in-person assessment of riding skills will be part of the full hiring process.

And you are also:

• Innovative, open, and a team player
• Attentive, collaborative, supportive
• Self-motivated and a self-starter
• Excited to participate and would thrive in a start-up atmosphere outside your typical barn experience.
• Comfortable with a research and development environment with shifting priorities and unknowns
• Inspired to research, problem-solve, and test new approaches
• Open to learning and discussing new training concepts on the ground and in the saddle
• Composed in stressful situations
• And you love being at the barn and outdoors!

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS

• Ability to fill a physically active, athletic position.
• Lift up to 40 lbs
• Walk up to 8 miles per day
• Work outside for up to seven hours a day in all weather conditions
• Must be authorized to work in the United States

On-site housing may be available

• Compensation based on experience
• Health Insurance
• Time permitting, weekly dressage or jumping lessons and coaching
• Potential to compete in shows and events
• Expenses paid for development opportunities, including educational seminars, workshops, events, and conferences related to Via Nova’s vision