Live-in Equine Farm Caretaker

Looking for a Live-in Equine Farm Caretaker / Property Maintenance/ Pasture maintenance/ Horse Husbandry – Numinbah, Queensland, Australia.

Full time live-in position. The position involves maintaining a 50-acre horse property, caring for the owner's small herd of horses and pet cows together with caring for potential agistees' horses. This includes daily property, pasture and infrastructure maintenance.

The job will also require travel to the second property, 20 mins away, involving caring for the owner's horses and dogs, as well as some property maintenance. Rent free, furnished granny flat accommodation is provided for the caretaker (not including bills). In the case of a couple – it is an option to divide full time hours e.g. horse duties could be split with pasture management and maintenance. Caretaker is entitled to free agistment for own horse.

Key responsibilities:

· Pasture management – slashing, whipper snipping, seeding, tillage, weed and pest control, paddock & lawn maintenance, tree trimming and pruning.

· Horse husbandry – provide daily care of horses including feed and water, rugging, sunscreen, cleaning feet, grooming, careful monitoring of horse health with injury recognition and general horse care.

· Maintenance on farm infrastructure– fence repairs, cleaning and maintenance of water systems, stables, arena, barn, machinery and other equipment.

· Machinery operation - Efficiently operate various types of machinery essential for farm operations

· Job will also sometimes involve driving to second property 20 minutes away to do all of the above as well as exercising guard dogs.

· Take rubbish to local waste centre, organising and supervising other help like tradespeople

Position details:

• Requires to be available 7 days a week to feed and rug horses only. (With notice, farm owner can assist by filling in some time slots when worker has a special engagement/ vacation.)
• 30 – 40 hours weekly (negotiable). Morning shift potentially starting by latest 6.30 am and afternoon shift ending around 5.30 pm with time off in the middle of the day. Needs to be flexible with hours within reason.
• Weekend days required periodically
• Living on premises is mandatory. Granny flat accommodation provided.
• Remuneration is above the Award Pay Guide and offered according to level of experience

About You:

• Have extensive knowledge of and experience in general horse care and husbandry
• Demonstrated ability to ride
• Experience in assessing a horse's level of handling and temperament
• Basic experience in operation of various types of machinery (with option to learn to operate some machinery on job)
• Confidence with handling guard dogs (initial assistance/ training from owner and dog trainer provided)
• Be physically fit and able to cope with the physical demands of the role
• Excellent work ethic
• Must be willing to take direction from the farm manager and owner and to work as part of a team
• Attention to detail and a high standard of care
• Current driver's license required
• Looking for a person with long term commitment only
• Clean, healthy living person with no active addictions
• Resident visa only

Job Type: Full-time

Pay: $35.00 – $38.00 per hour

Expected hours: 30 – 40 per week

Benefits:

• Housing provided

Application Question(s):

• Do you have a drivers license? Have you had experience with dogs? Are you willing to live on the farm? Can you take direction from management and work as part of a team? Are you a clean, healthy living person with a good work ethic?

Experience:

• farm work & horse care: 5 years (Required)

Language:

• English (Required)

Work Authorisation:

• Australia (Required)

Work Location: In person