Recovery & Rehabilitation Centre Management Assistant

Cart Horse Protection Association has a vacancy for a Management Assistant at the Recovery & Rehabilitation Centre (R&R) situated near Gordon’s Bay. The R&R provides a place of safety for abused and neglected working cart horses, accommodation for sick and injured horses and runs an Adoption Programme.

We seek a candidate who has a strong desire to work in equine welfare and experience in managing a large stable yard with sound equine knowledge and experience.

The primary role for this position will involve the general care, rehabilitation and treatment of equines, stable management, administration such as the ordering of feed and shavings. Secondarily, they will be expected to work closely with the person running the Adoptions Programme and host volunteers and visitors at the R&R from time to time.

Candidates must meet the following entry requirements:

Unendorsed Code EB drivers licence with experience in trucking horses
Sound equine knowledge & experience in handling a broad range of equines
Experience in handling, training, ground work, backing, join up etc.
Organisational skills
Good time management skills
Good level of physical fitness
Proven experience of work both as part of a team and independently
Proven interpersonal skills
Love for equines
Good administrative skills and computer literacy
Grade 12 level of education
No criminal record
Good communication skills – fluency in English and Afrikaans essential and conversational isiXhosa an advantage
Ability to think logically and have good judgement
Accurate report writing ability
Ability to problem solve

Experience working with young and problem horses would be an advantage. Salary package offers benefits and remuneration commensurate with experience. To start immediately.

Application deadline 15 June 2024

Note: If you have not received any response within 21 days, kindly assume your application to be unsuccessful.

Job title: R&R Management Assistant (This is not a job, it is a lifestyle)

Reporting: Reports to General Manager

Work base station: Recovery and Rehabilitation Centre, Gordon’s Bay

Working hours:
08h00 – 17h00, Monday to Friday with an hour lunch break before 12h00 or after 14h00 (Working hours subject to change in accordance with the needs at the R&R)
Alternate weekends, working Saturday and Sunday from 09h00 – 13h00
Every 3 weeks, Emergency after hour’s duty from 5pm to 8am every day from Friday to Friday (7 days) – overnight in the cottage at the R&R during these hours of duty

Job purpose: To support the General Manager at the R&R to ensure that the health and welfare of the horses residing at the R&R is taken care of.

The primary role of the R&R Management Assistant includes, but is not limited to:

Operational:

Familiarise yourself with all the horses residing at the R&R, their temperaments, adoption suitability etc.
Overseeing the general care of the horses, in conjunction with the grooms including general stable duties and horse care as needed.
Place regular orders of feed and shavings, ensuring an adequate future supply between deliveries.
Assist with grooming, mucking out of stables and moving horses in and out each day, as and when required.
Briefing the grooms of any changes in the routine and care of a horse at the R&R with regards to feeding, veterinary or other changes relating to a horse in our care.
Co-ordinate the farrier visits to the R&R on a regular 6 weekly basis, or as needed.
Conduct daily inspections of the horses residing at the R&R and report any concerns to your General Manager.
Provide pre and post natal care to all foaling down mares.
Arrange for the gelding and micro-chipping needed for all the horses at the R&R.
Co-ordinate the leave requests from the grooms, after approval from the General Manager and ensure sufficient staffing by arranging overtime or casual grooms to be in.
Co-ordinate and oversee casual labourers at the R&R.
Facilitate the monthly shopping transportation of the grooms.
Maintain the health and safety levels for both staff and horses on the farm.
Conduct and oversee any veterinary treatments necessary for the horses on the farm, in conjunction with the Senior Inspector, an EWP and/or a vet, including the deworming, faecal egg count and tetanus regime as will be co-ordinated by Diana.
Take vitals of the sick horse to be able to report to the vet for telephonic consultation
Arrange a veterinary consultation on site if necessary. If hospitalisation is required, truck the horse to Blue Cross in consultation with the Senior Inspector and vet at Blue Cross.
Keep a supply of emergency medication for horses at the R&R and replenish, via request of the Senior Inspector, stock.
Coordinate regular de-worming in conjunction with a vet.
Book and coordinate with a vet (for possible sedation) the annual dentist visit for all R&R horses.
Work on a rehabilitation program in conjunction with the current rehabilitation contractor (Alan Lockwood) for the horses at the R&R, including handling, ground work and backing. All the horses are to be worked with on a regular basis with a report done after every session. Assessments for adoption suitability to be done and shared with the Adoptions co-ordinator and General Manager.
Source other rehabilitation sources when necessary e.g. physiotherapist, acupuncturist, body stress release specialist, communicator etc., in conjunction with our budget and in consultation with the vet involved in the case, your General Manager and the EWP/Diana if applicable.
Build a good working relationship with the Adoptions and Rehabilitation co-ordinators for effective team work.
Work closely with the Adoptions co-ordinator to successfully home the horses to a suitable environment.
Assist the Adoptions co-ordinator with the transport of the horses to their new homes, as required.
Assist the Adoptions co-ordinator with gaining knowledge in order to market the horses for adoption, in conjunction with their abilities as per the rehabilitative work you have done with them.
Assist the Adoptions co-ordinator with any gelding, farriery, micro-chipping and anything else required for the fostered and adopted horses.
Assist with the duties of the Adoptions and rehabilitation co-ordinators as well as the grooms, during periods of annual leave, as required.
Co-ordinate feed and supplies as necessary for horses in the foster program.
Assist the General Manager and Adoptions co-ordinator with locating ‘missing’ horses from the home checks program, including possibly reporting it to the Stock Theft Unit.
Build a good relationship with our Adopters.
Host volunteers and visitors at the R&R.
Provide stories, photos and video to Fundraising on the rehabilitation process for each horse and other happenings at the R&R for the promotion of the R&R on all our platforms.
Assist the Fundraiser with events at the R&R and capital fundraising projects.
Receipt all cash donations made and return receipt book with cash donation to Epping for collation.
Receipt of goods donated to have the correct form completed with donors details and details of goods donated, and then all sent to the Fundraiser in Epping.
Co-ordinate the delivery and collection of donations on behalf of the organisation, in the Helderberg area.
Contribute to public awareness and fundraising activities of the organisation as required.
Implement a paddock rotation system to maximise the grass growth and to maximise the benefit to the horses and the environment.
Maintain general maintenance at the R&R, including the groom’s quarters and the main house. If required, call in suppliers to conduct repairs as needed, after obtaining an order number from our office Administrator.
Conduct regular safety checks of the paddock fences and gates and ensure that the stallion paddock fencing is adequate.
Conduct regular checks on the water supply to the horses, in the paddocks and stables.
Co-ordinate the weekly disposal of domestic and stable refuse.
Implement an evacuation program for emergencies.
Build and maintain relationships with neighbours, neighbourhood watch and emergency groups.
Networking all the stable and livery yards in the Helderberg area initially, and spreading further afield, to increase awareness of our adoption program and horses available for adoption.
Attend and contribute to regular staff meetings.
Build and maintain effective and proactive liaison with the other departments within the organisation as necessary.

Administrative:

Maintain good records of all the work done with each horse to ensure accurate and up to date paperwork at all times.
Admission and release paperwork to be kept current.
General administration with regards to record keeping.
Set up and maintain records on each horse at the R&R, starting with their history prior to their being at the R&R and all work, treatments etc. done since, including notes from the farrier visits etc., in conjunction with the Rehabilitation person.
Ensure that the admittance and release procedures are completed, along with the necessary paperwork for the horses file at the R&R.
Take before and after photographs of all horses admitted to the R&R and save them to the lap top.
Complete a weekly and monthly stock take and report and account for any shortfalls to the General Manager.
Be responsible for payment of casual wages as required and submit the relevant signed paperwork to the General Manager.
Complete the monthly vehicle check-list and submit to the General Manager.
Effective and accurate administration relating to the running of the stable yard.
Report writing (monthly).
Provide information and photos of horses going into the Adoption Programme to your General Manager to keep the web site updated.
Assist the Adoptions co-ordinator with making appointments, post or pre home checks and any follow ups required etc.
Conduct monthly checks and the relevant checklists pertaining to the paddocks, fencing, office/cottage, grooms quarters, gardens, stables, security and general infrastructure and submit to the General Manager.

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