Equine Research Technician
About The Position
The Equine Research Technician, based at 4-Square Ranch in River Falls, Wisconsin, supports the daily care, welfare, and presentation of the equine research herd. This role works closely under the direction of the Equine Research Manager, Assistant Manager, and Grooming & Husbandry Lead to ensure horses are fed, cared for, and handled to the highest standards. This position plays an important support role in both research activities and general horse care, while also serving as a public-facing team member during tours, customer visits, and VIP engagements. This position is ideal for a dependable, team-oriented horse person who values excellent animal care, safety, and professionalism.
Requirements
- High school diploma or equivalent.
- Experience handling horses in a professional or farm setting.
- General knowledge of equine care, feeding routines, and barn safety practices.
- General animal husbandry knowledge.
- Physical ability to perform barn work, including lifting up to 50 lbs and working in varying weather conditions.
- Strong attention to detail and willingness to follow established procedures.
- Professional communication skills and comfort interacting with the public.
Nice To Haves
- Prior experience in an equine research, teaching, or agricultural setting.
- Large-animal veterinary assisting experience.
- Familiarity with foaling and basic equine healthcare.
- Experience handling foals and young horses.
- Experience with handling poultry, cattle, and small ruminants.
- Familiarity with basic livestock healthcare.
- Experience working around visitors, tours, or customer-facing environments.
- Interest in research operations or animal science.
- Basic familiarity with recordkeeping or data collection.
Responsibilities
- Assist with daily horse care duties including feeding, watering, stall cleaning, bedding, and barn sanitation.
- Safely handle horses of varying ages, temperaments, and research classifications.
- Observe horses daily and communicate any health, behavior, or welfare concerns to the management team.
- Assist with daily feedings, watering, and occasionally cleaning pens of other livestock species at 4-Square Ranch.
- Follow all established animal care, safety, biosecurity, and welfare protocols.
- Support equine research activities as assigned, including animal handling, preparation for study activities, basic data collection support, and recordkeeping.
- Assist with maintaining clean, organized, and research-ready animal environments.
- Adhere to all research and compliance requirements, including IACUC standards.
- Work collaboratively with the Manager, Assistant Manager, and Grooming & Husbandry Lead to support team goals and daily priorities.
- Assist other team members as needed to maintain overall barn cleanliness and operational efficiency.
- Contribute to a respectful, team-oriented work environment.
- Support VIP initiatives and help host on-site engagements.
- Partner cross-functionally to strengthen customer and consumer retail experience, leading to brand loyalty and product sales through the 4-Square experience.
- Act as a proud ambassador for the Purina brand and 4 Square Ranch, consistently upholding our reputation for excellence and delivering a superior customer journey.
- Maintain a consistently courteous, professional, and composed presence, even in fast-paced or challenging situations.
- Conduct work in alignment with enterprise and R&D team practices and goals.
- Foster a culture that prioritizes Land O’ Lakes values and expectations across all R&D and partner functions/departments.
- Engage in professional development, training and team building as needed to be successful in role.
Benefits
- A broad portfolio of benefits to keep you and your family at your best.
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What This Job Offers
Job Type
Full-time
Career Level
Entry Level
Education Level
High school or GED
