Horse Trainer / Colt Starter needed at Horse Sanctuary in Cerrillos, New Mexico

The Horse Shelter

Email

[email protected]

Location

Cerrillos, NM

Job Type

Full Time, Year round

Salary

starts at $45,000

Posted

September 19, 2025

Housing Offered

Yes

Experience

2-5 yrs

Sponsoring Work Visas?

How to Apply

Via Email

Job Overview: This is a permanent, full-time role focused on training equines using safe, effective and humane training techniques. Horse Trainers work under the guidance of the Ranch Manager supporting THS’s mission to rehabilitate and prepare horses for volunteer handling, saddle training, and adoption.

Primary Responsibilities

Train assigned horses to be safe, responsive and confident in basic horsemanship skills
Gentling feral/wild horses; halter training; groundwork; saddle preparation; colt starting; retraining; behavior rehabilitation
Perform training evaluations and soundness assessments on new arrivals
Assess safety levels and basic personality traits of horses
Develop individualized and overall training plans for assigned horses
Personally execute training, including groundwork and under-saddle work
Capable of having at least eight horses in training at any given time
Identify and address behavioral challenges in horses
Assist the Ranch Manager with behavioral and adoptability assessments
Maintain accurate and timely training logs
Support content creation for horse profiles—descriptions, photos, and videos
Submit monthly training reports to leadership
Collaborate on process and program improvements
Assist veterinarians, farriers, etc., as needed
Administer medications and perform wound care when required
Adherence to all safety policies, which includes wearing a helmet when riding on our property. Helmet will be provided.
Participate in adoption appointments to ensure appropriate horse-rider/handler matches
Support emergency care and feeding as necessary
Cross-train and step in for general ranch duties as needed (feeding, watering, mucking)
Serve as a visible ambassador for The Horse Shelter

Required Qualifications

Minimum 3 years of professional equine training experience
Proven experience with successfully training at least five wild/feral horses; this means from gentling, halter training through finish as adoptable riding horses
Deep knowledge of equine behavior, anatomy and biomechanics
Proven success managing a comprehensive training program
Strong foundation in safe, effective and humane training techniques
Experience and confidence working with horses that are feral, untrained and/or have challenging behaviors
Experience evaluating and assessing the training level and skills of horses with unknown backgrounds, training, or temperaments
Clear communicator, team-oriented, and adaptable
Willing to continue education and work alongside other knowledgeable, experienced trainers
Physically capable of working outdoors year-round, spending most of the day on your feet or in the saddle and lifting 50 lbs.
Valid driver’s license and insurability
Proficient with computers and basic tech platforms
Must comply with industry guidelines that recommend rider and tack weight not exceed 20% of a horse’s body weight; based on the average weight of our rescue horses, trainers must not exceed 190 lbs. with tack

Benefits

Onsite Housing provided in a 2 bed, 5 bath, 1,600 sqft home. Utilities included. ($24,000 value.)
Salary range, starting at $45,000 commensurate on experience
Health, Dental, Vision, Life and Accident insurance benefits
Free board and hay for two horses onsite (all other expenses paid by )

About The Horse Shelter

Celebrating our 25^th year, The Horse Shelter serves as a sanctuary for New Mexico’s abandoned, abused, and neglected horses. Most horses are received through the NM Livestock Board when found abandoned, free roaming or after having been seized on cruelty charges. Rescued horses will be rehabilitated and adopted out whenever possible to environments that support their well-being and future long-term care.

The Horse Shelter Ranch is located in Cerrillos, NM on a beautiful 128-acre ranch, with currently 102 rescue horses onsite and the total capacity of 120.

Shelter horses are housed in run-in stalls, large paddocks, and turn-outs. We maintain a healthy feeding regimen and provide veterinary and farrier care. We aim to exercise our horses when appropriate. We utilize our training program to get them ready for adoption to carefully screened new owners.

For some horses, The Horse Shelter will be a life-long sanctuary due to history, age, or medical condition.