Be a part of the change! Via Nova is looking for a forward-minded, professional, young horse rider who wants to stay ahead of the curve in the sporthorse industry. You will learn and utilize cutting edge Positive Reinforcement (R+) training methods focused on both performance and horse welfare. Our current opening is for an upper level dressage and/or eventing rider who, under our supervision, will be educated in the training skills needed to participate in the R+ development of our talented young dressage horses, with the goal of achieving success in traditional competition.
Look to the future—for both yourself and for horse sport—and help revolutionize training with us! (A prior knowledge of R+ training methods is not a requirement—a willingness to learn up-to-date, evidence-based training methods and apply a horse-first mindset is.)
Through our Priority to Positive® program, we help:
- Horses become happy and eager participants on the ground and under saddle
- Riders learn how to enhance the well-being, confidence, and motivation of their horses
- Competitors achieve performance breakthroughs
We are looking for experienced dressage or eventing riders committed to:
- A professional riding and training career
- The welfare of horses
- Continual learning and improvement in horse training
This is not your typical exercise-riding job.
Join Us If…
You are a dressage or eventing rider experienced and comfortable with riding young, green horses. You believe in putting the horse first by discovering new ways to train through how a horse learns and thinks. You enjoy competition, travel, being in the barn and the classroom, learning or teaching. You love working with, testing, and adopting new approaches in training, on the ground and in the saddle. You live in or are willing to relocate to Santa Fe, New Mexico [with compensation that is calculated to address typical local housing costs].
You’ll experience incredible rewards while participating in a true revolution in equine training and welfare. And be one of the pioneers in bringing Via Nova’s Priority to Positive (PtP) to the traditional equestrian world.
You will become a part of our mission to show that R+ training methods can not only produce winning, competitive horses, but spread awareness and teach equestrians how to use practical Positive Reinforcement (R+) training with horses.
The Training Rider position is both a learning and training position that offers you a uniquely valuable education. You will work with seasoned equestrian professionals, learning to ride and train horses from a new perspective, using new approaches to traditional training methods. Our goal is to build our Via Nova team of riders and trainers by offering career advancement as our PtP program evolves.
This is a full-time hourly employee position at our 50-acre facility, Terra Nova Equestrian Training Center, Lamy, NM, located 20 minutes from downtown Santa Fe.
Because this position will require you to use training skills and techniques new to the equestrian world, you will initially focus on learning R+ (positive reinforcement) and our Priority to Positive (PtP) approach to training horses. This thorough education will advance your training expertise through classes, assignments, and training plans, as well as the application and practice of systematic R+ methods in riding, training, and care.
In your role, you will:
- Participate in foundation training under the leadership of Via Nova’s PtP Supervising Trainer
- Participate in our onboarding and classroom program to master the material to apply when working with horses
- Train Via Nova horses with Positive Reinforcement; researching, testing, and modifying new and current approaches
- Create and execute training plans while logging and documenting outcomes visually and in writing
- Work with the team to evolve ways to train toward traditional goals while incorporating Positive Reinforcement methods and equine behavior
- Assist in developing a Young Horse program
- Assist in all aspects of Via Nova presentations, workshops, clinics, competitions, and other events onsite at Via Nova and external venues
- Learn and practice becoming an engaging educator and ambassador for positive reinforcement and the Priority to Positive program, including competing, giving riding demonstrations, and networking
- Research, present, and apply training material to improve skills, knowledge, and the program
- Assist with the general welfare of Via Nova’s horses, including exercise, administering medication, participating in night check on a rotating basis, and other barn duties as needed
Qualifications
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 – riding at Fourth Level] or above
- Eventing – riding at Preliminary Level or above
- Five or more years of riding experience* preferred in at least one of the following disciplines:
- Experience and competence riding young, green or inexperienced horses
- Competition experience and record
- Ability to groom, tack, and ride six or more 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
- Fluent in speaking English
*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
- Exercise up to 6 horses per day
- Work outside for up to seven hours a day in all weather conditions
- Must be authorized to work in the United States
Compensation & Benefits
- Compensation based on experience
- Health Insurance