Working Student Program

Train Here.
Grow Here.

A working student position at Élan Vital is not a job — it is an education. You are here to learn, to ride, to absorb everything this environment has to offer.

Rya Washington — Working Student at Élan Vital
Current Working Student

Rya Washington

Relocated from Vermont · January 2026 · Personal Horse: Riddles

Rya joined Élan Vital at the start of 2026, relocating from Vermont with her personal horse Riddles — currently schooling all FEI work. She is integral to this program from day one, knowing every horse at Crownview inside and out.

Her goals are to become the most well-rounded rider she can be, develop into a skilled teacher, and earn her USDF medals. That ambition is exactly what this program is built for.

The Program

What a Working Student
Position Means Here

Daily Barn Responsibilities

You will be directly involved in the daily care of every horse in the program. Feeding, turnout, grooming, tacking, cooling out. You will know each horse as an individual — their habits, their preferences, their needs.

Riding Education

Working students ride. The number of rides and horses ridden grows with demonstrated competence and responsibility. Lessons with Blaire are part of the program — you are here to improve.

Access to the Team

You will be present for vet visits, farrier appointments, chiropractic and acupuncture sessions. You will learn from a team that includes USET-level professionals. That access is not accidental — it is part of the education.

Personal Horse Welcome

If you have a personal horse with the appropriate training level, bringing them is encouraged. Their care and training become part of the overall program — with input and oversight from Blaire.

Applying

Is This Right for You?

Working student positions are limited and competitive. We are looking for riders who are serious, coachable, and genuinely committed to learning — not just riders who want cheap board.

The right person for this position is physically fit, emotionally resilient, and excited about being in a professional barn environment. If that is you, we would love to hear from you.

Send a brief introduction, your riding background, your current goals, and — if you have one — a short video of you riding. No formal application form. Just a real conversation.

Apply for Working Student →