STALLION HANDLER – STUD GROOM
For more than 20 years, Westbury Stud has been operating at the top end of the New Zealand thoroughbred industry; breeding elite racehorses who consistently out-perform on the global stage.
Spread over two picturesque properties we are seeking an experienced and dedicated Stallion Handler Stud Groom who enjoys the fast pace of the breeding season to join our team at Westbury Stud, Karaka. This is a hands-on role working with our current line-up of 6 stallions and supporting the success of our breeding programme.
Our roster ensures you receive 4 days off every fortnight (even in the breeding season), providing a great work-life balance year-round.
Main Responsibilities:
• Ensure all stallion handling and daily tasks are carried out with a strong focus on health and safety, following established protocols to protect the wellbeing of staff, horses, and visitors and reporting any hazards, incidents, or unsafe behaviour immediately.
• Day-to-day care and handling of our six stallions ensuring the highest industry standards are applied to the bloodstock’s care, safety and wellbeing at all times
• Handling of the stallions and broodmares in the serving barn carrying out routine breeding procedures
• Assisting with all breeding and covering processes ensuring the highest quality of care and attention
• Assisting with teasing of the broodmares
• Assisting with the daily routines of our stallions, including monitoring health, feeding, grooming and paddock rotations
• Maintaining animal health records, treating minor injuries, administering treatments and reporting serious conditions to the Stallion Team Leader
• Maintaining a high standard of hygiene in the stables, paddocks and covering shed
• Supporting vet checks, farrier visits and daily horse care tasks
• Parading stallions for clients and visitors
• Any other reasonable duties that may be required of you by your Team Leader
Outside of the breeding season, this role will also include general stud duties including but not limited to:
• Weaning and educating foals
• Educating the yearlings to lead, walk, stand for farrier/vet, load and walk on the horse walker, travel in trucks, wear head collars and rugs
• Exercising the horses using the horse walker, transferring horses between boxes and paddocks
• Assisting with the yearling prep for annual sales including parades for clients as directed by the General Manager (as and when needed)
• Maintaining animal health records, treating minor injuries, administering treatments and reporting serious conditions to the appropriate Team Leader
• All aspects of horse grooming – washing, brushing, cleaning and maintaining hooves, trimming of manes and tails etc
• Assisting in feed regimes for stallions and other horses on the farm, including making of feeds, feeding out, cleaning feeders and water troughs
• General stable duties including yard work and mucking out
• Any other reasonable duties that may be required of you by your Team Leader
About You:
• You will have a minimum of 2 year’s experience handling breeding stallions in a serving barn environment and working with them on a day-to-day basis
• Ability to demonstrate safe handling practices for live coverings and general stallion routines
• Confident and calm around strong, unpredictable horses
• Proven experience presenting and holding mares in the serving barn
• Experience in daily horse care (e.g. feeding, grooming, stable and yard work)
• A good team player with strong communication skills
• Reliable and able to work flexible hours, including weekends and early morning and late-night coverings and checks, as and when required
• Have a desire to learn and grow professionally
We offer a competitive salary which will reflect your experience and expertise along with onsite accommodation and career pathways for further career growth through professional development in equine care and leadership skills. A full-time position, the usual hours will be the equivalent to 40 hours per week from 7:30am – 4:30pm, as per our ten days worked and four days off roster to help assist with a better work, life balance.
Vacancies are available for an immediate start, alternatively we can accommodate a mutually agreeable start date.
Please note, this is not an entry level position and is not suitable for someone with no previous stud or veterinary experience.
If you are passionate about the care and management of stallions, we encourage you to apply for this exciting opportunity. Please send a cover letter and CV outlining your experience to vacancies@westburystud.com or follow the ‘Quick Apply’ link and lodge your application directly through our recruitment platform.
All applications and expressions of interest are received in the strictest of confidence.
