The Horse Haven Intern reports to Kristie Gerard, Horse Haven Supervisor, and will receive regular supervision and feedback. The minimum time commitment for the Horse Haven Internship is 40 hours per week at $15.00 per hour for 13 weeks. This is an on-site internship at the Best Friends Sanctuary in Kanab, Utah. Interns must arrange for their own housing and transportation. Students seeking college credit are welcome to apply.

Intern orientation includes a tour of the Sanctuary, Horse Haven, Piggy Paradise, and Goat Barn, overview of rules, safety protocols, and daily schedule. Interns will have the opportunity to meet with Best Friends founders and Senior Leadership, learn about and shadow staff in other departments, work on projects specific to their learning and career goals, and attend presentations on various animal welfare topics. 

RESPONSIBILITIES:

- Work within a team setting to assist with the daily care of horses, pigs, and goats.

• Assist in providing basic and routine care for animals which includes feeding, watering, and light grooming.

• Assist in providing enrichment and socialization to the animals as outlined by the Intern Supervisor or Trainer. 

• Assist in supporting the animals’ medical needs when appropriate and in alignment with intern’s interests and goals.  

• Clean work areas and preserve the physical appearance of horse, pig, and goat buildings and grounds: scooping, mucking sweeping, mopping, trash removal, etc.

• Follow all safety and quarantine protocols outlined by department leadership.

- Be a Sanctuary ambassador, representing Best Friends’ work to visitors and volunteers, and speaking to the Sanctuary’s special role in Best Friends’ no-kill mission. 

• Work alongside and support volunteers, workshop attendees, and other types of visitors. 

• Greet and conduct tours, speak about specific animals, horse/pig/goat welfare issues, the work of Horse Haven and the Sanctuary, and answer questions.

• Interns may be asked to represent Horse Haven at various community events. 

- Attend and participate in various learning, networking, and socialization opportunities with other interns, Best Friends staff members and founders.

- Treat people around you with Kindness and Compassion, build trust by demonstrating authenticity and following through on your commitments, prioritize your well-being, and work to build strong inclusive relationships with your colleagues by participating in communication loops to share and receive honest feedback.

LEARNING OUTCOMES

• Gain a comprehensive understanding of the day-to-day husbandry of the horses, pigs, and goats of Horse Haven including their diet, training, and enrichment needs.

• Learn about and be able to speak tocommon welfare challenges facing each species.

• Learn basics of training and socialization for each species.

• Develop an understanding of behaviors, body language, and signs of stress in horses, pigs, and goats.

• Select a project animal and work with trainers to identify the needs of the animal and the correct training methods to address those needs.  

• Gain skills in communicating with visitors and giving engaging and interactive tours, creating positive volunteer experiences.

• Develop an understanding of animal welfare and Best Friends 2025 mission.

• Individual goals and projects can be adjusted to the intern’s interest (i.e., medical, behavioral/enrichment, or education).

QUALIFICATIONS:

• Genuine interest in working with horses, pigs, and goats.

• Must have held a valid driver's license for at least three years, possess a clean driving record, and pass a motor vehicle record check and on-site driving test in order to operate the vehicles in and around Horse Haven. 

• Must have reliable transportation to get to, from, and around the Sanctuary. There is no public transportation in Kanab.

• Ability to receive and provide constructive feedback, and a commitment to learning and improvement. 

• Commitment to communication, cooperation, and collaboration.

• Active listening skills and confidence to ask questions if needed.

- Must be able to:

• Routinely lift and carry up to 75 pounds and perform daily strenuous and/or repetitive activities including sweeping, mopping, bending, stooping, lifting, reaching, walking, and working at computers (typing, hand motions). 

• Work indoors and outdoors in a variety of weather conditions including extreme heat and cold.

- Must be comfortable with:

• Potential contact with hay, dust and other allergens.

• Potential exposure to zoonotic disease. 

• Interaction with animals that have significant behavioral and/or medical issues.

• Potential exposure to animal injury, illness, and/or death.

Best Friends employees may only hold one compensated position at any time.  Current employees are not allowed to hold another position and this internship position at the same time.  If a current employee would like to apply for this internship, the employee would be required to resign from their primary position, with no guarantee of re-employment, if the employee wanted to accept this position.