Equine Assistant

For more than 40 years, The Donkey Sanctuary has provided donkey assisted activities for children in the UK and overseas.  Over the past four decades the programme has evolved to enable the provision of interactive, psychosocial, Donkey Facilitated and Equine Assisted Learning Programmes that utilise mutually enriching interaction sessions aimed at enhancing the wellbeing of donkeys and critical life skills of vulnerable people.

We have an excellent opportunity for an Equine Assistant to join our dedicated team based at The Donkey Assisted Therapy Centre, Belfast. You will care for the donkeys in line with current policy and practice and assist in the provision of donkey assisted activities for vulnerable children and adults both on and off The Donkey Sanctuary sites. 

Main duties and responsibilities will include feeding, grooming and caring for donkeys, maintaining a high standard of cleanliness throughout the Centre, including stables, arena and pastures. Good communication and team working skills are important as you will observe signs of ill health/potential ailments, and will liaise with internal and external equine professionals that include vets and farriers. You will assist in the training of donkeys under the guidance of the Equine Co-Ordinator and provide input into shaping plans when appropriate. You will be involved with all aspects of outreach visits, including the loading and unloading of donkeys and the supervision of donkeys as well as assisting with promotional activities both in and out of The Donkey Sanctuary, including the supervision of volunteers, donkeys and work experience students.

If you feel you have the qualities, skills and experience to fulfil this varied, rewarding and vital role, and would like to be part of the evolving program of change taking place within the charity, we would love to hear from you. This is a full-time, permanent contract starting as soon as possible.

Closing date for completed applications: Wednesday 31 July 2019.

Interviews will be held at The Donkey Sanctuary, Belfast, on Tuesday 13 August 2019.

For more information about this role and how to apply, please copy and paste the link below into your web browser:

https://jobs.thedonkeysanctuary.org.uk/jobs/vacancy/equine-assistant-0209/227/description/

The Donkey Sanctuary is a Disability Confident Employer.

The Donkey Sanctuary is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of vulnerable people (children and adults), and expects all staff and volunteers to undertake this commitment. Applicants will be subject to safer recruitment processes, including an application for an Access NI check, which is a requirement for this post.