02/11/2026
We are recruiting!
Join the Wakefield RDA Coaching Team as a
Group Coach – Horse Care & Management
24 hours per week | 3 days per week
Ideally Monday, Tuesday & Thursday – some flexibility may be available for the right candidate.
Permanent, part-time
Wakefield Riding for the Disabled Association (Wakefield RDA) improves health, wellbeing, confidence, independence and learning through horse-based activities.
We're looking for someone to join our coaching team as a Group Coach, with specific responsibility for horse care & management.
About the Role
Coaching is at the heart of this role.
You'll help plan and deliver high-quality horse-based activities, supporting participants and learners to achieve positive outcomes and individual goals. You'll also be involved in our Alternative Education provision, using practical horse-based activities to support learning, progression, confidence and engagement.
Alongside your coaching responsibilities, you'll have specific responsibility for horse care & management, helping to oversee the health, condition and wellbeing of our horses, working with veterinary and other equine professionals when required.
Our Group Coaches bring different skills and experience to the team and not all come from an equine background. An important part of this role will be sharing your practical equine knowledge and experience, supporting colleagues and volunteers and helping us maintain consistent standards of horse care across Wakefield RDA.
All Group Coaches share responsibility for the everyday care of our horses and the day-to-day running of the centre.
As a small charity team, flexibility and a willingness to contribute to the wider work of Wakefield RDA are important. From time to time this may include agreed evening or weekend horse-care checks, responding to an unexpected equine welfare need, or providing additional cover to help maintain continuity for participants and learners.
Who we’re Looking For.
We're looking for someone who:
• has sound practical horse-handling and horse-care skills and is confident working safely and independently
• can recognise changes in horse health, condition or behaviour and knows when concerns need escalating
• has practical experience of routine and seasonal horse care, including tasks such as clipping, hogging and worming
• enjoys working with people and can adapt their approach to different participants and learners
• is confident sharing equine knowledge and supporting colleagues and volunteers
• is organised, reliable, able to use their initiative and enjoys being part of a team
• takes a flexible, practical approach and is willing to contribute across the wider work of Wakefield RDA when needed
• takes pride in maintaining high standards of horse care and professionalism.
You don't need to arrive as an experienced RDA Group Coach. We'll support the right person to develop through the RDA Coaching Pathway.
We're also open to a suitable candidate developing through a Level 3 apprenticeship pathway. Whichever route you join us through, you'll need sufficient practical horse-care experience, confidence and judgement to work safely and independently from the outset.
We'll Support You.
You'll join an experienced team and receive a structured induction, mentoring and receive support to develop through the RDA Coaching Pathway, alongside ongoing training and professional development.
The development works both ways: you'll bring equine knowledge and experience to the wider team while developing your own coaching skills and experience within RDA.
Why Join Wakefield RDA?
No two days – or even weeks – are the same.
One day you might be coaching a riding session; the next, supporting an Alternative Education learner, organising volunteers and daily horse-care tasks, monitoring a horse's condition, working alongside the farrier or vet, or helping with a fundraising event.
Whatever the week brings, you'll be part of a team committed to providing high standards of care and creating positive opportunities for participants and learners.
It's varied, practical and rewarding work where people, horses, learning and coaching all come together.
Safeguarding
Wakefield RDA is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of participants and expects all staff, coaches and volunteers to share this commitment.
Appointment is subject to appropriate safer recruitment checks, including satisfactory references, identity verification, the relevant DBS check and required safeguarding training.
Interested?
Hours: 24 hours per week / 3 days
Working pattern: Ideally Monday, Tuesday & Thursday, although some flexibility can be considered for the right candidate
Contract: Permanent, part-time
Pay: National Living Wage as the starting point, with a higher rate available depending on experience, qualifications and suitability for the role. Appropriate apprenticeship rate applies where appointed through a Level 3 apprenticeship pathway.
Pension: Workplace pension scheme, subject to eligibility and automatic enrolment requirements
Additional hours: Additional paid hours may occasionally be available by agreement to provide cover and support continuity of delivery
Closing date: Monday 30th November 2026
If you'd like to find out more, have an informal conversation or request an application pack, please contact:
Carol Blake
Centre Manager
Wakefield Riding for the Disabled Association
Camphill Wakefield, Wood Lane,Chapelthorpe, Wakefield, WF4 3JL
Tel: 01924 241341
Email: [email protected]
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