Yard Supervisor – Experienced Senior Yard Professional
Lavant Equestrian – South Downs National Park
£13.50–£20 per hour, dependent on experience and hours available
Full-time | Up to 40 hours per week | Two full days off each week
Includes weekday evenings and weekend work
Lead with Confidence in a Thriving Equestrian Environment
Lavant Equestrian is looking for an experienced senior yard professional to join our team as Yard Supervisor.
This is not an entry-level position. We are looking for someone with substantial professional yard experience who is confident taking sole charge of a busy yard, leading a team and taking responsibility for the day-to-day operation.
You may currently be working as a Senior Groom, Head Groom, Yard Supervisor, Yard Manager or similar. You do not need to have held the official title of Yard Supervisor, but you must have previous experience taking responsibility for a yard and supervising or leading others.
This is a senior, physically demanding and hands-on role. You will need to be a knowledgeable and confident horse person who can lead by example, make sensible decisions, maintain high standards and get stuck into the day-to-day yard work alongside the team.
We are looking for someone who is reliable, organised and calm under pressure, with the initiative to see what needs doing and act on it.
Just as importantly, you must be friendly, approachable and a genuine people person. As a busy riding school, you will interact daily with clients, children, parents, staff and management, so excellent communication and professionalism are essential.
About the Role
Working closely with the General Manager, you will help ensure the smooth, efficient and professional daily running of the yard.
Key responsibilities include:
- Taking sole charge of the yard when required
- Leading, organising and supervising the yard team
- Allocating and delegating daily duties and ensuring high standards are maintained
- Working hands-on alongside the team and leading by example
- Liaising closely with the General Manager regarding staffing, operations and horse welfare
- Ensuring yard systems, routines and procedures are followed consistently
- Overseeing horse care including feeding, hay, turnout, catching-in and general welfare
- Monitoring horses and identifying health, behaviour or welfare concerns
- Ensuring horses are groomed, correctly equipped and punctually presented for lessons
- Confidently handling a wide variety of horses and ponies
- Supporting the efficient running of lesson changeovers and daily horse movements
- Maintaining a clean, organised and professional yard
- Providing a friendly and professional presence for clients and visitors
- Using initiative and taking appropriate action when problems arise
About You
We are looking for someone who can demonstrate:
- Current or recent professional experience on a busy equestrian yard
- Previous experience taking sole charge of a yard
- Previous experience supervising or leading a yard team
- Strong practical horse knowledge and confident handling skills
- A good understanding of horse welfare and day-to-day yard management
- Strong leadership, organisation and decision-making skills
- The ability to delegate while still being willing to get stuck in
- Excellent communication and people skills
- A friendly, approachable and professional manner
- Reliability and a strong sense of responsibility
- A full UK driving licence
Previous professional experience within a riding school or busy equestrian centre would be a distinct advantage. The pace and demands of a riding school require excellent organisation, time management and an understanding of how horse care, lesson schedules, staff and clients all need to work together throughout the day.
Applicants coming from other professional equestrian backgrounds are very welcome, but must be comfortable working within a busy, client-facing riding school environment where punctuality, teamwork, organisation and excellent standards of horse care are equally important.
BHS qualifications are desirable but not essential. Professional experience, horse knowledge, leadership ability and the confidence to take responsibility for a busy yard are more important to us.
We need someone who can walk onto a busy yard, understand what needs doing, organise the team and confidently take responsibility for the day.
What We Offer
- £13.50–£20 per hour, dependent on experience & availability
- Up to 40 hours per week with two full days off
- A supportive, professional and motivated team
- A beautiful working environment within the South Downs National Park
- Riding opportunities for the right candidate
- Ongoing training and development
- A varied range of well-cared-for horses and ponies
- A well-organised, undercover indoor yard
- Free onsite parking and a warm staff room
- A varied senior role with genuine responsibility
Interested?
If you are an experienced equestrian professional ready to take responsibility, lead a team and become an important part of a busy, established equestrian centre, we would love to hear from you.
Please include details of your current or most recent yard position, experience leading staff, previous sole-charge responsibilities and any previous riding-school experience when applying.
Please note: applications without previous professional yard experience and experience supervising or leading others will not be considered.
Job Types: Full-time, Permanent
Pay: £13.50-£20.00 per hour
Benefits:
- Employee discount
- Free parking
- On-site parking
- Store discount
Experience:
- Equestrian Groom: 3 years (required)
- Sole charge : 1 year (required)
Work Location: In person
