Resident Farm Care Position

Horse Husband Stables and Mareworthy Charities are accepting applications for a Resident Farm Care Position on our farm in Nicholasville, Kentucky, just outside Lexington.

We are looking for one individual, or two individuals sharing the responsibilities, to provide dependable daily care and support for the horses, other animals, barns, pastures and property.

In exchange for approximately 20 hours of farm support per week, the position includes use of a lightly furnished three-bedroom, two-bathroom home on the farm, including electric, water and internet.

The housing and included utilities have an estimated value of approximately $2,200 per month. Based on approximately 87 hours of work per month when one resident provides the full schedule, that represents an estimated housing and utility value of approximately $25.29 per hour.

This is a housing-compensated position and does not include regular cash wages for the standard weekly schedule.

The position may be available for as few as three months or for up to one year, depending on availability, desired duration and overall fit.

About Horse Husband Stables & Mareworthy Charities

Horse Husband Stables is a boutique Thoroughbred breeding and racing operation built around a simple philosophy: a horse’s story should not begin with a sales price or end with a race record. Through our Foal to Forever philosophy, we follow our horses through every stage of life, from foaling and growing up to training, racing, retirement and whatever comes next. Our focus is not only on developing racehorses, but on lifetime accountability for every horse we bring into the world.

Mareworthy Charities is a Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance accredited nonprofit dedicated specifically to retired Thoroughbred broodmares. Its work focuses on protecting and advocating for mares after their breeding careers through sanctuary, placement, education and long-term retirement solutions. Mareworthy was built around the belief that mares should be valued as individuals, not only for the foals they produce, and that retirement planning should be part of responsible breeding from the beginning.

The Resident Farm Care position supports both organizations. On the same farm, the person or people in this role may help care for young foals and future racehorses through Horse Husband Stables while also caring for mares whose breeding careers are behind them through Mareworthy.

That connection between the beginning and later chapters of a Thoroughbred’s life is a major part of what makes our farm unique.

Position & Housing Structure

The farm requires approximately 20 hours of Resident Farm Care coverage each week.

The position may be structured in one of three ways:

One resident — approximately 20 hours per week
One approved resident may occupy the home independently and provide the full weekly schedule.

Two applicants applying together — shared housing and schedule
Two people may apply with the intention of sharing the home and dividing the approximately 20-hour weekly schedule between them. Each individual must submit their own application and be independently approved for the position.

Two individually matched residents — shared housing and schedule
Applicants who are comfortable sharing housing may apply individually and be considered for placement with another approved resident. Each person will have their own bedroom, and the two residents will divide the weekly schedule.

When two residents share the home, the exact division of hours will be established based on availability and the needs of the farm.

Every person living in the home must apply separately and be independently approved. Housing is not available for non-working spouses, partners, friends or other additional residents.

Children may not reside in the home.

There is no specific age requirement for applicants. We are more interested in maturity, reliability, horse-handling ability, availability and overall fit.

About the Farm

Our Nicholasville farm is currently home to approximately 31 horses, although that number can fluctuate throughout the year.

The horses range from young foals only a few months old to retired Thoroughbreds in their mid-20s.

The property is also home to two donkeys, four goats, three pot-bellied pigs, barn cats and other farm animals.

What You’ll Be Doing

This is a hands-on farm care and property-support position. Responsibilities vary depending on the season and the needs of the animals and property.

Responsibilities may include:

• Morning feeding and haying

• Checking horses for injuries, illness or changes in behavior

• Checking water sources, fencing, gates and pastures

• Catching, haltering and leading horses to and from fields

• Assisting with turnout

• Holding horses for the farrier and routine appointments

• Stall cleaning as needed

• Blanketing and unblanketing

• Assisting with basic bandaging, hoof care and medications under direction

• Feeding and checking pigs, goats, donkeys and barn cats

• Mowing, weed eating and basic landscaping

• Fence repairs and general farm maintenance

• Cobwebbing, sweeping and maintaining barn areas

• Moving hay, grain, straw and other supplies

• Snow removal, de-icing and seasonal farm work

• Other routine tasks necessary to keep the animals and property safe and well maintained

Applicants should expect to get dirty and be physically active. This is real farm work performed in all seasons and normal Kentucky weather conditions.

Schedule

The position requires approximately 20 hours of scheduled support each week.

The majority of the work will typically take place in the morning because feeding, haying, animal checks and other routine care happen early in the day.

Exact start and end times may vary somewhat depending on the season, weather, veterinary or farrier appointments and the needs of the farm. A standard schedule will be established with the selected resident or residents so expectations are clear on both sides.

When one person occupies the home independently, that individual will provide the full weekly schedule.

When two approved residents share the home, they will divide the approximately 20 hours of weekly coverage between them.

Some flexibility from week to week may be possible with advance communication, but dependable coverage is essential.

There may occasionally be opportunities for additional paid work outside the normal Resident Farm Care responsibilities, such as extended farm sitting when the owners are traveling. Any such work would be discussed separately.

Position Term

Resident Farm Care placements may be available for as few as three months or for up to one year.

Applicants will be asked to provide their earliest available start date and desired length of participation.

Longer-term availability is welcome, but applicants seeking shorter three- to six-month arrangements are also encouraged to apply.

Continued occupancy of the farm housing is connected to continued participation in the Resident Farm Care position and will be governed by the applicable written agreements provided before move-in.

Horse Experience

Applicants do not need to be professional horsemen or horsewomen, but they should be comfortable working around horses and willing to learn our routines and handling practices.

Most of the horses on the property are Thoroughbreds and range from young horses to retirees. Residents must be able, or become competent through training, to safely catch, halter, lead and handle horses of different ages, sizes and temperaments.

The right person is observant enough to notice when a horse has a cut or swelling, is behaving differently, a fence has been damaged, a water source is not working or something else needs attention, and responsible enough to communicate those concerns promptly.

We value experience, but we also value someone who follows established care instructions, asks questions when something is unclear and remains willing to learn.

This Is Not a Riding Position

Riding is not part of the duties of this position.

The role is focused on animal care, horse handling and farm and property maintenance.

There may occasionally be limited riding opportunities for an appropriately experienced person as certain horses enter retraining, but applicants should not apply with an expectation of riding.

Physical Requirements

Farm work happens year-round.

Applicants must be prepared to work outdoors in Kentucky heat, cold, rain, snow, mud and other normal weather conditions.

The position requires routine physical activity, including the ability to lift and move approximately 50-pound bags of feed and assist with moving hay or straw bales weighing approximately 50–70 pounds.

Residents are responsible for providing their own appropriate work clothing, boots, rain gear, winter clothing and other personal apparel required for safe farm work.

Housing & Compensation

The position includes a lightly furnished three-bedroom, two-bathroom home located on the farm in Nicholasville, Kentucky.

The home will include basic living-room and dining furniture and a bed in each occupied bedroom. Residents are welcome to bring additional furniture or household items of their own.

Electric, water and internet are included.

The estimated combined value of the housing and included utilities is approximately $2,200 per month.

When two approved residents share the home, each resident will have their own bedroom.

Residents are responsible for their own food and meals, personal and household supplies, transportation, clothing and work footwear, and any additional furniture or household items they would like.

Residents are expected to keep the home clean and appropriately maintained throughout their occupancy.

Residents, Children & Pets

Every person who resides in the home must submit a separate application and be independently approved for the Resident Farm Care position.

The home is not available for non-working spouses, partners, friends or other additional residents.

Children may not reside in the home.

Our standard policy is also that residents may not bring horses, dogs or other pets to the property. We already have numerous animals on the farm and need to carefully manage the number and compatibility of animals onsite.

Applicants with an unusual circumstance may request an exception in their application, but approval should not be assumed.

Who We’re Looking For

We are looking for someone dependable, observant, teachable and comfortable taking responsibility for the daily care of animals and property.

Horse knowledge is valuable, but reliability matters just as much.

The right person shows up when scheduled, communicates clearly, follows established care instructions, asks questions when something is unclear and immediately reports injuries, illness, damaged fencing, water problems or anything else that may affect the safety or wellbeing of the animals.

Because the selected person or people will both work and live on the farm, respect for the animals, property, privacy and other people on the farm is essential.

There is no specific age requirement. This could be a fit for someone at many different stages of life, including someone working remotely, already employed in the Lexington area, attending school or simply looking for a housing arrangement that complements their schedule.

Interested?

If this sounds like a good fit, complete the application below.

We’ll ask about your horse and farm experience, available start date, desired length of participation and preferred housing arrangement.

You may apply to occupy the home independently and provide the full approximately 20-hour weekly schedule, apply with another person with whom you would like to share the responsibilities and housing, or apply individually and be considered for placement with another approved resident.

If two people would like to live in the home together, each person must submit their own application and each must be independently approved.

Selected applicants will be contacted for an interview and additional screening before any placement is offered.