Farm Manager

Job Description

Job Description

LINDY FARMS OF CONNECTICUTPremier Standardbred & Thoroughbred Breeding and Training • Somers, ConnecticutFarm ManagerFull-Time, Year-Round | On-Farm, Somers, CT | Housing Available | Reports to OwnershipAbout Lindy FarmsLindy Farms of Connecticut is a family-owned operation founded in 1972 and recognized as one of the most successful breeding and training farms in North American harness racing. The farm has bred more Hambletonian winners than any other individual breeder, and its founders are enshrined in the Harness Racing Hall of Fame's Hall of Immortals. Today, Lindy Farms maintains active Standardbred and Thoroughbred divisions across our Somers, Connecticut property, positioned between New York, Boston, and Saratoga.Position SummaryThe Farm Manager is the hands-on operational leader of the farm - responsible for the health and daily care of the broodmares, foals, racehorse layups and rehabs, and young horses across both the Standardbred and Thoroughbred divisions, the crew that cares for them, and the land, facilities, and equipment that support them. The farm runs roughly 150 head with a full-time crew, and this role owns its day-to-day operating budget. It is a lead-from-the-front position for a proven horseperson who is as comfortable in the foaling stall at 3 a.m. as they are managing a crew, preparing young stock for the sales, and keeping the property in first-class order. The Farm Manager works alongside the farm's trainers - who run the training barn - and reports directly to ownership.Key ResponsibilitiesBroodmares, Breeding & FoalingOversee the daily care, feeding, turnout, and well-being of all broodmares, in-foal mares, and foals across both divisions.Routinely inspect the stock - walking the barns and paddocks daily to check condition, soundness, and well-being, and catch problems early.Manage turnout and herd dynamics - paddock groups, pairing, and rotation across the property.Manage all phases of the breeding season: mare cycle monitoring, coordination of shipped and AI semen, and breeding bookings and logistics.Schedule and coordinate reproductive exams with the veterinary staff - pre-breeding checks, pregnancy ultrasounds (14, 28, and 42 days), and foal-heat timing.Supervise foaling season - overnight foal watch, safe deliveries, and post-foaling mare and foal care - and staff the operation accordingly during peak months.Maintain a nurse-mare and foster-mare program to care for orphaned or rejected foals.Develop and enforce the feeding and nutrition program in consultation with an equine nutritionist, and set deworming and vaccination schedules alongside the farm veterinarians; provide basic care and escalate to veterinary attention as needed.Own the farm's biosecurity program - new-arrival quarantine, isolation protocols, and disease-specific prevention (EHV, rotavirus, and similar) to protect the herd.Oversee new-horse intake - arrival exams, quarantine, and onboarding of mares and horses shipping in from the sales, other farms, or boarding partners.Maintain accurate, up-to-date records and registration paperwork for every horse - Jockey Club / USTA registration, DNA typing and microchipping, foaling reports, and health documentation (Coggins and health certificates) for shipping.Young-Horse Development & Sales PrepManage the raising and development of weanlings and yearlings - handling, halter-breaking, turnout, and conditioning.Run a structured young-horse development program - early handling and imprinting, a defined weaning process, and regular hoof-care and farrier cycles.Provide corrective foal care - monitoring growth and working with the vet and farrier to manage angular and flexural limb deformities during the growth window.Direct sales preparation for the yearling and mixed sales: conditioning, grooming, and readying horses for delivery to the consignor.Coordinate with the trainers on horses moving from the farm into the training barn, ensuring a smooth handoff.Bloodstock, Sales & Owner RelationsCoordinate and execute the matings selected by owners and clients - managing bookings, season and nomination logistics, and scheduling across both divisions.Coordinate with the consignors who sell our horses - preparing and delivering sale horses, managing the repository (radiographs and endoscopy) and vet work, and handling entries and logistics.Keep owners and partners informed with regular updates, foaling notifications, and photos, serving as a professional point of contact for the program.Track and report reproductive and performance KPIs to ownership - live foal rate, per-cycle conception, foaling percentages, and sales outcomes.Represent Lindy Farms through active involvement in industry organizations (USTA, Kentucky Thoroughbred Association, and farm managers' groups).Coordinate equine insurance (mortality and fertility) and arrange safe transport and vanning of mares, foals, and sales horses.Cross-Program CoordinationWork directly with the farm's Kentucky operation and with boarding vendors in New York to maintain consistent care, standards, and program continuity for Lindy horses across every location.Coordinate the movement, records, and care of mares and young stock among the Connecticut farm, Kentucky, and New York boarding partners.Staff Leadership & DevelopmentHire, schedule, train, and manage farm staff and grooms; build a reliable crew and a culture of horsemanship, safety, and accountability.Set daily and weekly work assignments, lead by example, and ensure coverage through foaling, breeding, and sales seasons - including nights, weekends, and holidays.Coordinate payroll and HR matters with the company's HR department - timekeeping, onboarding, performance management, benefits, workers' compensation, and seasonal and H-2A/visa labor.Manage on-farm employee housing - assignments, upkeep, and turnover.Direct and oversee the resident veterinarians working on the farm - coordinating their schedules, priorities, and care programs to keep the herd healthy.Collaborate closely with the farm's trainers to align horse care, conditioning, and daily operations, so the whole farm runs smoothly.Facilities, Land & EquipmentOversee the farm's barns, stalls, fencing, paddocks, pastures, and grounds to a first-class standard, directing the pasture-management program - rotational grazing, seeding, fertilization, and mowing.Direct the farm maintenance manager on repairs, projects, equipment, and general upkeep - setting priorities and holding the property and its equipment to a first-class, show-ready standard.Oversee the farm's property systems through the maintenance manager - water and wells, frost-free waterers, backup power and generators, and utilities - ensuring everything runs reliably year-round.Manage inventory of feed, bedding, medical, and farm supplies, and coordinate outside contractors (farriers, hauling, construction, hay).Maintain emergency and disaster preparedness - fire plan, colic and injury response, backup power, and severe-weather protocols.Uphold farm-presentation standards for owner visits and buyer inspections, keeping barns, grounds, and horses show-ready.Budget & AdministrationOwn the farm's operating budget: control costs, track expenses, manage vendor accounts and supply purchasing, and report on spending to ownership.Keep organized records and use standard software (Microsoft Office / farm-management systems) for scheduling, purchasing, and billing inputs.Ensure compliance with USTA/Jockey Club registration, equine health regulations, biosecurity, and workplace-safety requirements.QualificationsRequiredExperience: 7+ years in progressively responsible roles on a Thoroughbred, Standardbred, or comparable equine breeding farm, including hands-on foaling and breeding-season experience, with time in a senior or management role.Horsemanship: Confident, safe, and skilled handling horses of all ages and temperaments; sound judgment recognizing and responding to equine health issues, working closely with the farm veterinarians.Leadership: Demonstrated ability to hire, teach, motivate, and manage a team and hold it to a standard.Budget sense: Comfortable owning a farm operating budget - cost control, purchasing, and reporting.Reliability: Willingness to work unsociable hours during foaling and breeding seasons - nights, weekends, and holidays - in all weather. Valid driver's license required.PreferredDirect experience with Standardbred and/or Thoroughbred breeding and sales prep.Familiarity with USTA and/or Jockey Club registration and reproductive/neonatal protocols.Experience coordinating consignors, owner/partner relations, and executing breeding programs.Working knowledge of farm-management software.Kentucky Equine Management Internship (KEMI) or a degree in equine science, animal science, agriculture, or equine business is a plus, but not required in place of experience.Compensation & BenefitsCompetitive industry salary, commensurate with experience.On-farm housing available.Health insurance and paid time off.A rare opportunity to lead the breeding operation of a Hall of Fame farm with a lasting industry legacy.Lindy Farms, LLC EEO Statement: The Company is committed to and supports equal employment opportunity and affirmative action to all employees and applicants. Equal employment opportunity means equal treatment of employees and applicants without regard to the following legally-protected characteristics: race, color, religion, creed, sex (gender identity), pregnancy (including childbirth and related medical conditions), sexual orientation, marital status, national origin, ancestry, age, medical condition, genetic information (including characteristics and testing), veteran status, physical or mental disability status or any other legally-protected status.