Senior Equine Facility Manager
About the program
The Senior Equine Facility Manager Fellow operates as the central synchronization officer for daily stable administration, property maintenance, client contract management, and operational workflows.Throughout the 120-day fellowship, the fellow will progress from tactical facility familiarization to operational control, culminating in high-level strategic planning and business optimization. Performance is measured against a structured, objective, percentage-weighted curriculum.
What you'll do
This program focuses on mastering daily equine husbandry, stable hygiene, ground safety, and managing 24/7 labor rosters to ensure seamless facility coverage. Leaders train and supervise stable hands, student grooms, and contract laborers, while enforcing strict health, biosecurity, and livestock quarantine protocols. To maintain the physical plant, personnel run equipment safety logs, implement preventive maintenance schedules for machinery, and audit structural systems—including pastures, paddock shelters, waterers, and irrigation lines. They prioritize and draft work orders for structural repairs and deconflict space and scheduling demands among trainers, private clients, and maintenance crews.Logistically, leaders establish inventory reorder points for bulk feed, forage, bedding, and medical supplies while optimizing high-traffic assets like arenas and therapy equipment. They manage transit inspections, load safety, and interstate health documentation for horse transportation, and schedule recurring farrier, veterinary, and dental visits.Administratively, personnel program a rolling 90-day master operations schedule, audit boarding agreements and liability releases, track expenditures, reconcile vendor statements, and negotiate volume-based supply agreements. Finally, leaders run daily operational synchronization briefings, resolve client and vendor disputes using commercial diplomacy, and author a comprehensive business optimization proposal. The curriculum culminates in a formal oral presentation and executive defense of the proposed commercial improvement strategy directly to facility owners and the board.
Eligibility
- DoD SkillBridge Eligibility: Must be an active-duty service member within 180 days (or branch-specific timeline, typically 120 days) of approved separation or retirement.
- Command Approval: Must possess (or be on track to receive) written approval from the first O-4/O-5 commander in your chain of command.
- Service Standing: Demonstrated record of honorable service with strong leadership performance evaluations.
- Rank/Experience Range: Suited for Senior Non-Commissioned Officers (E-7 to E-9), Warrant Officers (CW3 to CW5), and Officers (O-3 to O-5).
- Functional Specialties: Backgrounds in Operations (S3/G3), Logistics & Supply Chain (S4/G4), Maintenance/Facility Operations, Project Management, or Command/Executive Leadership.
- Equine Knowledge: No prior equestrian or horse-handling background required. The program is structured to teach equine fundamentals while leveraging existing executive management expertise.
- Decisiveness: Ability to assess fluid operational situations, mitigate safety risks, and implement immediate solutions.
- Communication: Exceptional interpersonal and briefing skills capable of interacting with farm hands, vendors, clients, and facility executives.
- Physical Capability: Ability to walk over varied pasture terrain, work in open-air/rustic barn conditions, and work safely around large livestock.