Grooming & Husbandry Lead

Grooming & Husbandry Lead

The Grooming & Husbandry Lead, based at 4-Square Ranch in River Falls, Wisconsin, plays a critical hands-on role in the daily care, presentation, and well-being of the equine research herd at 4-Square Ranch.

This individual will work with a population of approximately 40-50 horses, supporting both research efforts and general equine care, while serving as the lead for grooming, horsemanship, and husbandry to ensure horses are consistently presentation ready for tours, VIP visitors, and customer engagements.

This is a highly visible, public-facing role requiring strong equine skills, attention to detail, and a professional demeanor.

The Grooming & Husbandry Lead will collaborate closely with the broader equine research and operations teams to uphold the highest standards of animal care, safety, cleanliness, and brand representation.

Equine Grooming & Presentation


* Serve as the lead groom for the herd, setting standards for grooming, clipping, bathing, blanketing, and overall horse appearance.


* Ensure horses are consistently clean, calm, and presentation‑ready for tours, VIP visits, and research demonstrations.


* Develop and maintain grooming schedules aligned with research needs, seasonal conditions, and tour activity.


* Assist with training or guiding part-time or rotational staff on grooming and presentation standards.

Horse Handling & Training Support


* Support basic horse training and handling, including haltering, leading, tying, grooming preparation, and standing behavior for farrier as well as the ability to load on a trailer.


* Assist with young‑horse handling and reinforcement of foundational horsemanship skills as directed by leadership.


* Help prepare horses for routine care, research procedures, exercise activities (including equine treadmill training), and public interactions by promoting calm, safe behavior.


* Work consistently and patiently to build horse confidence and ensure safe handling practices.

Equine Husbandry & Daily Care


* Assist with daily barn operations, including feeding, watering, stall cleaning, bedding, and sanitation.


* Safely handle horses across age groups, temperaments, and research classifications.


* Monitor horse health and behavior; promptly communicate concerns to management or veterinary staff.


* Follow all established animal care, safety, biosecurity, and welfare protocols.

Research Support


* Assist with equine research activities, including animal handling, preparation, sample collection support, and accurate recordkeeping as assigned.


* Assist with maintaining clean, organized, and research‑ready animal environments.


* Adhere to all research and compliance requirements, including IACUC standards.

Work Environment


* Combination of barn, laboratory, and office settings.


* Physical requirements: work requires constant physical effort and working outdoors in varying conditions.; lif...