Shire Horse Handler

Hermann Farm is hiring for the Shire Horse Handler position in Hermann, MO. This hands-on role supports the operation's day-to-day production and care work. Reliable execution and early communication matter because the work directly affects plants, animals, equipment, coworkers, customers, or the surrounding property. What you will do • Feed, water, observe, move, and care for animals according to the farm's routines and welfare standards. • Clean and bed housing, maintain fences and water systems, and keep feed, tools, and care areas orderly. • Report changes in appetite, behavior, movement, injury, health, births, or facility condition immediately. • Clean stalls, replace bedding, and maintain horse and livestock facilities to a standard suitable for daily animal care and public tours, checking doors, gates, water, footing, and work areas as tasks are completed. • Feed, water, and groom the Shire horses; assist with the care, showing, and safe handling of the Shires and other livestock; and follow established equine behavior, safety, and basic first-aid practices. • Help maintain trucks, tractors, wagons, harness, tools, and other horse equipment, and interact professionally with visitors, tour groups, and media while representing the farm. How the work fits together Animal checks set the order of the day. Feed, water, health, weather exposure, and secure housing are confirmed before lower-priority projects. The employee records or reports observations, completes assigned husbandry and facility work, and rechecks gates, animals, equipment, and supplies before the shift ends. At Hermann Farm, the employer also makes these role-specific priorities clear: Clean stalls, replace bedding, and maintain horse and livestock facilities to a standard suitable for daily animal care and public tours, checking doors, gates, water, footing, and work areas as tasks are completed. Feed, water, and groom the Shire horses; assist with the care, showing, and safe handling of the Shires and other livestock; and follow established equine behavior, safety, and basic first-aid practices. Help maintain trucks, tractors, wagons, harness, tools, and other horse equipment, and interact professionally with visitors, tour groups, and media while representing the farm. What the employer is looking for • Proven experience as an equine caretaker or in a similar animal-care role, knowledge of horse behavior and safety, familiarity with basic horse first aid, and the strength and agility needed to handle large animals carefully. • A current driver's license, strong work ethic, personal responsibility, ability to work both independently and in a team, and willingness to work irregular hours including weekends and holidays; horse-driving experience is desirable but not mandatory. • Dependable attendance, direct communication, and willingness to follow the employer's safety, quality, and customer- or production-care procedures. • Ability to complete the role's active, in-person work and to ask for instruction before using unfamiliar tools, equipment, products, or animal-handling methods. Schedule, conditions, and compensation This is an in-person horse-care position using eight-hour shifts, with weekend, holiday, and irregular-hour availability required. Hermann Farm does not publish the numeric compensation, guaranteed weekly hours, normal start and end times, overtime treatment, or employee-benefit package for this opening. Candidates should confirm those items along with the horse-driving training process, physical expectations, protective equipment, tour responsibilities, and the usual weekend rotation during the interview. The employer does not publish a numeric wage range on this page, so no compensation has been estimated. Applicants should confirm the final hours, overtime treatment, starting assignment, travel or reporting point, supplied equipment, and benefit eligibility directly with the employer before accepting an offer. This is an in-person agricultural and animal-care position with a small operation. Daily priorities can change with weather, plant or animal condition, equipment availability, customer schedules, and the season. The successful person should arrive ready to work, communicate early when a task or condition is unclear, follow the employer's safety and quality procedures, and leave tools, vehicles, production areas, and job sites secure and ready for the next shift. Applicants should expect active work that may include long periods of standing or walking, bending, lifting, repetitive hand tasks, noise, dust, mud, pollen, heat, cold, rain, or work around moving equipment. The exact physical demands differ by assignment. Candidates should discuss any accommodation needs with the employer and confirm the final schedule, overtime treatment, training period, travel expectations, and benefit eligibility before accepting an offer. Only compensation and benefits expressly published by the employer are included here; unpublished terms have not been estimated. How to apply Email a resume to Pam Schroeder at pam@hermannfarm.org and identify the Shire Horse Handler position. Highlight direct horse-care, large-animal handling, stall care, grooming, equine first aid, driving, harness, tractor, wagon, maintenance, tour, or public-facing experience.