Texas Equine Industry Readiness Program

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The Texas Equine Internship Program is a great stepping stone into the equine industry. The skills acquired help participants experience different aspects of the industry to help narrow down their job search. Interns get real world experience handling horses, interacting with other equine professionals, and the required day-to-day care. In addition to hands-on experience, interns also gain confidence, self-awareness, time management skills, efficiency and problem-solving skills. Click here to apply for our internship!

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Here are some common Frequently Asked Questions: 

1. Is there a time commitment? Yes, interns are required to sign up for a 2-hour work session two days each week. These need to be the same two days for 8 weeks. In addition to the 4-hours a week of work, Interns are required to attend the Virtual Class on Zoom every Thursday at 7:00 PM and choose between the Wednesday 6:00 PM or Saturday 6:00 PM class. *Every new intern will participate in a two week trial period before their first eight week session. 

2. Is there an age requirement? We ask that Interns be over the age of 18 years old. If you are younger than 18 years old, you can check out our volunteer opportunities.

3. Do you provide housing? At this time, we do not provide housing. If you are interested in interning with Texas Equine, you will need to live within a reasonable driving distance from our facility in order to attend the work sessions and lessons.

4. Will I be able to ride or work with the horses? Yes! In addition to the two work days each week, you will also set up a weekly 60-minute group lesson. Each lesson will include:

   • hands-on skills practice 

   • equine exercise instruction (emphasis on ground work with some mounted work for those who meet our horse health policy) 

   • lecture covering various topics in the industry.

   • Lessons take place on Wednesdays or Saturdays at 6:00 PM. You will have the option to sign up for one of the group classes for each 8 week session. Hands-on lessons and Virtual Classes are a requirement of the Industry Readiness Program. 

5. What does a typical day look like when interning at Texas Equine? While this is a great opportunity to gain experience working with horses, this internship does include physical labor. Interns may be asked to complete the following tasks: feed horses, replenish grain bin, unload grain bags (each bag weigh 50 lbs), clean stalls, clean and fill water troughs or buckets, groom horses, bathe horses, clean tack, apply medication to horses, pick up obstacles from the arena, sweep tack room and feed room, blanket horses and other horse care tasks.

6. What should  I wear? Dress for the job you want! Please wear pants (jeans or breeches), a shirt with sleeves, and closed-toed shoes. Boots are preferred, but tennis shoes are acceptable. While shorts and a tank top are cooler, they are not professional for the equine industry. 

7. Is there a financial commitment? A $20 deposit is required to secure an interview slot. The deposit will be returned during the first training session. The deposit will be forfeited in the event of a cancelled interview or a "no-show". In the event that an internship position is not offered, the deposit will be refunded post-interview. ​​

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