Assistant Starter

Apply at www.hcpn.com/Careers

Job Responsibilities Include:

• Serves as a right hand for the Head Starter.
• Maintain a log of all horses that come to the gate during training hours. Log how the horse is handled while being loaded in the starting gate. This is called putting "Marks" on the horse.
• The Starter is assigned a horse to handle. They must load the horse to the best of their ability with the information given.
• Report any problems with the horses or the gate to the Head Starter.
• Handle race horses and load into the starting gate.
• Maintenance of the starting gate. Such as, washing to keep clean.
• Inspect batteries for any problems.
• Set numbers on top of the starting gate, making sure that the number on the stall matches the number assigned to the horse being loaded into the gate.
• Morning work consist of schooling horses or breaking these horses from the gate. Once a new horse is ready the Asst. Starter sends them to the Head Starter for an application for an OK card.
• Have the trainer bring the horse to the gate in the mornings, continually, until the Head Starter feels the horse has overcome the problem and is taken off the Head Starter's list.
• Also, working with horses that have some problems while trying to load them into the gate.
• Must carry out all duties assigned to him by the Head Starter.

To be successful in this position it will require the following skill set

• Knowledge of Thoroughbred horses.
• Ability to handle horses weighing in excess of 900 pounds.
• Preferably one to two years prior experience as an Asst. Starter.
• Ability to read and comprehend simple instructions, short correspondence, and memos. 
• Ability to write simple correspondence. 
• Ability to effectively present information in one-on-one situations to customers, clients, and other employees of the organization.
• Ability to add and subtract two digit numbers and to multiply and divide with 10's and 100's. 
• Ability to apply common sense understanding to carry out detailed but uninvolved written or oral instructions. 
• Ability to deal with problems involving a few concrete variables in standardized situations.

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations will be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. 

• Walking 25% of the time
• Sitting 25% of the time 
• Standing 35% of the time
• Bending and lifting 15% of the time
• Lifting/moving maximum of 25 lbs.
• Ability to see 20/20, color, and/or peripherally