Equine Veterinary Assistant / RVT Assistant

About the role

Rhythm Equine Veterinary Services is looking for the right person to join our team as a full time Equine Veterinary Assistant. For this role, the person matters just as much as their previous experience.

This is a hands on position supporting our RVTs and veterinarians, both in our equine hospital and out on the road. You will help prepare for the day's appointments and procedures, handle horses, set up and care for veterinary equipment, assist with patient care, and help keep the hospital running smoothly.

You will also clean stalls, do dishes and laundry, pick up poop, shovel snow, and tackle the everyday jobs that come with keeping an equine hospital running.

We are looking for someone who notices what needs to be done and does it. Someone who gets their team's truck or treatment area ready before they are asked. Who notices the laundry or the dirty stall rather than walking past it. Who jumps in when a teammate needs a hand. And who is comfortable in an environment where priorities can change quickly and no two days look quite the same.

You might be our person if you

• Have excellent horse sense and horse handling skills. This one is non negotiable

• Know and genuinely enjoy the horse world and horse people

• Are hardworking, reliable, and take pride in doing a job well

• Are a self starter who looks for what needs doing next

• Are willing to pitch in wherever the team needs help

• Take feedback well and genuinely want to become excellent at what you do

• Know when you can figure something out yourself, and when you need to ask for help

• Are adaptable and can shift gears when the day does not go according to plan

• Are friendly, have a sense of humour, and enjoy being part of a team, while understanding when it is time to be professional

• Are physically capable of a demanding job, including regularly lifting up to 30 kg

• Are looking for a long term position and a team you can become part of

What will you do?

Our Veterinary Assistants work alongside our RVTs and veterinarians in both ambulatory and hospital settings. Depending on your training and experience, the role can include:

• Preparing veterinary trucks, equipment, and supplies for the day's appointments

• Safely handling and restraining equine patients

• Obtaining basic patient information such as temperature, pulse, and respiration

• Setting up and taking down commonly used veterinary equipment

• Assisting with diagnostic imaging, procedures, and patient care

• Preparing and handling laboratory samples

• Assisting with treatment and rehabilitation

• Cleaning and maintaining equipment, vehicles, and work areas

• Restocking supplies and helping maintain inventory

• Helping maintain a clean, organized, and functional hospital
  
  

As your skills develop, there are opportunities to learn increasingly advanced veterinary assistant skills within Rhythm's structured training and competency framework.

Previous veterinary experience is an asset but is not required. We can teach veterinary skills. What we need you to bring is excellent horse handling, a strong work ethic, curiosity, good judgment, and a genuine desire to contribute to your team. Experience hauling a horse trailer or operating a tractor or skid steer would be a definite asset.

Schedule and benefits

This is a full time position working four 10 hour days per week, generally around 8 am to 6 pm. Equine medicine does not always respect the clock, so some flexibility is important. Days can occasionally run later, particularly during our busy season, and overtime opportunities are available.

Our employment package includes:

• Health and dental benefits

• Uniform allowance

• Structured training and professional skill development

• Competency based wage progression

• Overtime opportunities

• A four day regular work week
  
  

A valid driver's licence and clean driver's abstract are strongly preferred.

Sound like you?

If you are the kind of person who sees something that needs doing and thinks "I've got it," we would really like to meet you.

How to apply

Please send the following to heather@rhythmequine.com:

• Your current resume

• 2 to 3 references, including at least one previous employer or supervisor where possible

• A brief introduction telling us a little about you and your horse background, why this position interests you, and what you are looking for in your next job

Nothing formal is required. We just want to get to know you a little beyond your resume.

Applications will be reviewed as they are received. Only applicants selected for the next stage of our hiring process will be contacted.