General Manager - Thoroughbred Breeding - MD

EquiStaff•Coastal, MD

3d•Onsite

About The Position

This quiet and picturesque 200-acre thoroughbred breeding farm in Maryland is looking for a new Farm Manager to join their long-standing team. This facility has incredibly high retention, with most employees lasting 10 years or more. The facility primarily houses top-quality thoroughbred broodmares, foals, and yearlings. The winters are generally quiet, and summers are the busy season, with anywhere from 20-50 horses on site depending on the season. The farm prides itself on having well-adjusted and well-behaved young stock due to consistent care and handling. This is a position one can call home for many years to come. After 30 years with this quality thoroughbred breeding program, the General Manager is retiring, and an exceptional individual is sought to fill his shoes. The main duties will be the oversight of care for the yearlings, foals, and broodmares on the farm, though there is generally a small number of racing-age residents as well. All four members of the staff participate in the overall maintenance of the facility, including the General Manager. The owner has been in business for 60 years and aims to develop a breeding program that will produce Book 1 Keeneland babies. There are 27 stalls on-site, and the owner hopes to have 10-12 stakes-winning broodmares producing 7-8 foals per year to sell or retain for racing. The majority of foaling is done in Kentucky, but may occasionally be done in Maryland. The General Manager will be the primary responsible party for first aid, scheduling, supply ordering, and general staff oversight.

Requirements

Minimum 10 years experience handling breeding and young thoroughbred racing stock
Minimum 3+ years managing staff and facility oversight in a breeding program
Able to bandage and administer medications as needed
Strong communication and organizational skills
Comfortable and willing to operate basic lawn and maintenance equipment
Hands-on Leader who will always put the horses first
Clean, respectful, and courteous both at work and at home given close proximity of housing to owners and staff members

Responsibilities

Hands-on oversight of all care activities including feeding, turn in/turn out, cleaning and painting feet, grooming, and handling foals/yearlings
Designing feed and handling plans for each horse's unique needs
Ordering feed and supplies
Scheduling vet and farrier for both routine work & emergencies
Assisting with nightwatch, foaling
Scheduling staff's days off and vacations to ensure appropriate coverage
Hiring, training, disciplining, and firing staff as needed
Reporting progress and any emergency information to the Owner as needed
Handling contractors (equipment repairs, facility improvements, etc)
Basic facility maintenance (mowing, weed eating, pressure washing, etc)
Night Check responsibilities in the event of staff shortages/vacations