Position Description: 

The ideal candidate must have experience working with horses and individuals with special needs. This candidate must be patient, enthusiastic, assertive, and professional. This role is responsible for carrying out therapeutic riding instructions during therapy sessions. Instructors will have some flexibility to schedule Tara’s Chance clients they are serving with approved hours by the Supervisor. Instructors must be comfortable being around horses and working in a cohesive team environment. Training time will vary depending on the level of the experience. 

 

Overview of Responsibilities: 

• Lead therapeutic riding lessons while working with a client with special needs, a horse leader, side walker, and therapy horse 

• Ensure the safety of the rider, volunteers, staff members, and horses before, during, and after each session  

• Communicate enthusiastically to client during each lesson and lead communication of the lesson  

• Implement client’s goals and program plan as directed by the Assistant Program Director  

• Manage individual therapeutic riding sessions for clients with diverse mental health challenges, including but no limited anxiety disorders, depression, and trauma

• Follow all policies and procedures of Tara’s Chance 

• Write down detailed well written evaluation notes, create new goals, motivate clients, and quantify lessons after each session

• Prepare and clean up the arena (equipment, learning tools & toys) before and after program hours provided your hours are during those times.

• Always maintain respectful communication with co-workers, volunteers, riders, and their families

• Establish and maintain behavioral boundaries and restrictions with riders to accomplish therapy goals 

• Set aside program equipment for sanitization between riding sessions

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