Riding Instructor
Job Details
(posted 2026-05-13)
Hollins University, a private, liberal arts university in Roanoke, Virginia that is recognized as one of the oldest institutions of higher education for women in the United States, invites applications from qualified candidates for the position of Riding Instructor.
About the Role
Using a foundation of safety, professionalism, and attention to detail, the Riding Instructor has an array of responsibilities to help student riders thrive and to support daily barn operations. Working under the guidance of the Director of the Equestrian Program and Head Riding Coach, this role directly supports teaching group riding lessons focused on the growth of the student-athlete including enhancing riding skills and techniques and fostering a culture of teamwork, discipline, and excellence. Additionally, working alongside the Barn Manager and Assistant Barn Manager, this position ensures the highest standards of stable operations and facility readiness while supporting the academic, competitive, and community-facing activities of the barn.
Specific responsibilities include the following:
- Responsible for supervising and coaching at home and away, including occasional overnight trips and other activities.
- Teach beginner through advanced-level riders in the American hunter and jumper system.
- Support staff and riders in creating a positive team and barn culture committed to student success.
- Support the head coach in coordinating competition schedules, travel arrangements, and team logistics.
- Ride and re-school horses as needed.
- Apply best practices in equine handling, grooming, and daily interaction to safeguard horses, riders, staff, and visitors.
- Support conditioning and presentation of horses for shows, clinics, prospective student visits, and university events.
- Transport horses and students to shows.
- Support on-campus equestrian camps.
- Provide barn tours as needed.
- Participate in barn weekend rotations, holiday rotations, and on-call and night turn-out schedules as needed.
Position Qualifications
Successful applicants will have the following qualifications and experience:
- High school diploma or equivalent
- Minimum of two years of intercollegiate riding teaching/coaching experience in the hunter/jumper discipline
- Ability to support teaching and coaching in the forward riding system
- Ability to ride and school a wide variety of horses
- Effective communication, interpersonal, role-modeling, detail, and organizational skills
- Commitment to ensuring a safe experience for riders of all levels
- Ability to work within the framework of the Intercollegiate Horse Shows Association’s (IHSA), National Collegiate Equestrian Association (NCEA), and other riding associations’ rules and regulations as relevant
- Ability to work effectively with student, campus, alumnae/i, and equestrian organization constituencies
- Ability to work well with students and colleagues from varying backgrounds and levels of riding experience
- Ability to work independently and as part of a team
- Ability and willingness to transport horses for off-campus appointments and competitions
- Ability and willingness to travel by car or air and work evenings and weekends
- Valid United States driver’s license with minimal violations
- Ability and willingness to drive a university 15-passenger van for student, staff, or event transportation needs
Preferred candidates will have the following:
- College degree
- Experience with coaching students in open competitions
- Experience driving a rig and six-horse trailer, specifically with a manual transmission
- Experience in a single-sex, residential, liberal arts higher education institution
Application Process
Qualified candidates should submit a cover letter and resume to hollinshr@hollins.edu. Candidates are encouraged to comment in their cover letter on how their contributions will further the university’s efforts to ensure student academic success and engagement. Review of applications will begin immediately and will continue until the position is filled. Semi-final candidates will be asked to submit contact information for three references. Once the selected candidate accepts a contingent employment offer, criminal history and motor vehicle background checks will be conducted.
About Hollins
Hollins University is dedicated to academic excellence, creativity, belonging, and preparing students for lives of purpose. Hollins provides an outstanding and academically rigorous undergraduate liberal arts education for women and entrepreneurial and innovative graduate programs for all in a gender-inclusive environment. The university promotes opportunities for research, education abroad, and leadership training, and offers real-world experience through global internships supported by an extensive alumnae/i network.
Hollins University is committed to providing equal opportunity in employment. No employee or applicant shall be discriminated against on the basis of race, color, religion, sex (including transgender status, sexual orientation, pregnancy, and gender identity), national or ethnic origin, age, disability, genetic information, military or veteran status, or any other category protected by applicable state and federal laws.
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