Barn Manager

Volunteer Position Brief:

Main leadership role in the care of the animals and upkeep of the barn. The Barn Manager is responsible for ensuring that the animals are properly cared for and the grounds remain safe. Supervises live floor operations and serves as the neutral arbiter for volunteer equine caregiver program disputes. 

Barn Manager helps Head Volunteer Trainer implement policies and set expectations in the welfare of the animals and grounds among the volunteer group.

Benefits 

  • Like Minded Community: Connects you to others who are passionate about animals. 

  • Ultimate Leadership Over Herd Welfare & Barn Operations: Take the definitive reins in managing the daily care, health tracking, and environment of our rescued equines. This is the premier role for an experienced horseperson who wants to directly impact herd interactions, monitor medical needs, and maintain a safe, top-tier sanctuary environment.

  • Uncompromised Authority on Active Shifts: Enjoy complete confidence and clarity on the floor. As the final word on live barn safety, you hold the absolute authority to provide immediate, real-time corrections to any volunteer or trainer if animal welfare or human safety is ever compromised.

  • Freedom from Educational and Scheduling Administrative Fatigue: Focus entirely on what you love—the horses and the facility. Because our Volunteer Coordinator handles shift scheduling and our Head Volunteer Trainer manages the curriculum, clinics, and progress report paperwork, you are completely relieved of the heavy lifting of training administration.

  • Serve as the Trusted, Objective Arbiter for the Community: Build sophisticated leadership credentials by acting as the neutral, safety-centered voice for the organization. You will serve as the final escalation point to review and resolve volunteer Tier graduation appeals, ensuring fairness and integrity across the entire program.

  • A Powerhouse Strategic Partnership: You are not alone. You will work in lockstep with a dedicated Head Volunteer Trainer to ensure that the rules taught in the clinics seamlessly match the practical, everyday safety realities of your barn floor.

How to Become a Barn Manager

Desired Attributes 

  • Proven experience as operations director or similar position

  • Experience in volunteering locally

  • Able to communicate effectively with diverse people

  • Excellent organizational and team coordination abilities

  • A pleasant, outgoing personality

On-Site Training

  • Training will be provided on the site and by someone of senior level for barn care. 

  • Supervision as well as feedback will be provided on a continual basis to provide support as needed. 

Hours: 20+ hours a week
Selected By: Board of Hay Burr Inn Corp

Responsibilities:

  • Leadership

    • Lead a constant changing group of volunteers to work together towards a common goal of providing the best care for the health of the animals. 

    • Attend meetings such as Volunteer Training Meetings and Mandatory Continuing Education Meetings. The Development Committee is also integral as fundraisers commonly occur on the grounds and understanding and providing feedback as an advocate for the equines is important. Horsemanship Clinics are also strongly encouraged. 

    • Systemic Feedback Loop: Follows up all live safety overrides with the Head Volunteer Trainer to ensure consistency is updated system-wide.

    • Tier Appeal Resolution: Serves as the independent, neutral evaluator if a volunteer appeals a quarterly report card or tier graduation denial.

  • Safety

    • Monitor the herd interactions and environment to take the appropriate steps to prevent injury from bites, scratches or other forms of harm. 

    • Know the emergency plan for various scenarios. 

    • Live Floor Override: Holds ultimate authority on the barn floor. Can immediately correct or stop any volunteer or trainer if animal welfare or human safety is compromised.

  • Monitor Equine Health

    • Ability to administer medications

    • Monitor the health of the animals on a daily basis

    • Ensure volunteers check and record vitals on a monthly basis. 

    • Contact the veterinarian when medical attention is needed.

  • Keeping Stalls Clean & Outdoor Areas

    • Bedding: Clean and proper level

    • Free of cobwebs and other debris

    • Cleanliness of stalls, outdoor areas and feeders

    • Keep hay area tidy and organized

  • Feeding

    • Properly feed according to the equines needs including preparing grain

    • Ensure that the equines have access to clean water buckets

    • Fill up empty hay nets and distribute 

    • Ensure the grain shed is tidy. 

  • Grooming

    • Ensure coat, mane, tail and feet are properly cared for and checked over for any issues. 

    • Blankets & Fly Masks: proper use and sizing

  • Fundraisers & Events

    • Participate and be an advocate for our equines at fundraisers. 

  • Limitations 

    • Does not design the training curriculum or manage standard volunteer schedules, focusing strictly on asset safety and objective arbitration.

  • Ultimate Responsibility to the Care of the Equines & Grounds

    • Do not leave the grounds until

      • All equines have been verified safe, well, and contained (check fencing) in their respective areas with plenty of hay, water, respective shelter, fans or heated water buckets (when applicable), gear is assembled correctly and on for the anticipated weather conditions.

      • Any facility utilities such as lighting, fans, electrical, water, are to be in their respective settings in a safe manner before leaving the property. 

      • Inclement weather conditions: Ensure plenty of resources are prepared such as extra water in buckets and extra hay bags prepared on the farm to care for the equines for an extended period of time.

    • Take on additional responsibilities on the grounds to ensure the equines’ care including preparing for the change of seasons. 

  • Keeping to the Mission of Hay Burr Inn Corp

More Volunteer Opportunities