Vanessa Meza
Visalia,CA
Summary
I'm a professional Barn Manager/ CHA certified lesson instructor and I have my commerical drivers license with the following endorsements: hazmat, tankers, doubles & triples. I'm also BQA certified to haul cattle. I have 10 plus years of experience working within the equine/livestock industry. I am high energy, entertaining and passionate about what I do. Most importantly, I am teachable as I know that I don't know everything but always willing to learn.
Overview
9
9
years of professional experience
1
1
Certification
Work History
Stable Manager
Wonder Valley Ranch Resort And Conference Center
05.2023 - Current
- Spearheaded barn improvements projects including stall renovations improving overall living conditions for boarded horses.
- Strengthened employee performance with ongoing coaching, feedback, and development opportunities leading to higher retention rates among staff members.
- Negotiated contracts with hay suppliers ensuring adequate provision of quality feed year-round while minimizing costs.
- Established strong working relationships with clients by providing exceptional customer service and addressing concerns promptly.
- Provided personalized riding lessons emphasizing rider safety while fostering growth in skills across various disciplines.
- Managed emergency situations calmly and effectively while prioritizing the safety of horses and staff members involved in incidents or accidents.
- Enhanced horse care standards through regular health checks, tailored nutrition plans, and proper grooming techniques.
- Improved overall stable operations by implementing efficient management strategies and scheduling systems.
- Ensured compliance with industry regulations by maintaining accurate records on horse health, vaccinations, and breeding histories.
- Monitored staff performance through regular evaluations and implemented necessary adjustments in responsibilities to ensure a high level of productivity.
- Worked with ranch hands to clean stables and riding areas.
Student Trainee
Proteus
02.2023 - 04.2023
- 6 Week instructional training course
- 250 hours of instruction and on road experience with city roads, highways, freeways and mountain driving
- Demonstrated safe driving by observing road rules, exercising caution in unfamiliar areas and maintaining vehicle control.
- Inspected truck for defects and safe operating condition before, during and after trips.
- Conducted vehicle inspections before and after every trip and performed minor repairs to keep truck functional.
- Forklift Certified
- Drove tractor-trailer combinations to transport and deliver products, livestock or other materials.
- Attended training courses to build understanding of processes, techniques, and industry.
Veterinary Technician
Rood & Riddle Equine Hospital
10.2020 - 05.2021
- Monitored over 25 horses' health and temperament for signs of injury and illness.
- Prepared horses for travel.
- Coordinated care and upkeep of thoroughbred and standardized racehorses and yearlings and equipped horses to be champion athletes.
- Offered every owner exceptional customer service and support as well as top-notch care to each animal.
- Adhered to pet care plans, medication requirements and dietary restrictions as part of quality care.
- Prepared and labeled medications and instructed client on administration.
- Restrained and stabilized animals during examination and treatment to prevent injuries.
- Performed physical examinations and recorded weight, temperature and other vitals.
- Prepared and reviewed records and consent forms.
- Scrubbed, counted and packed surgical instruments and drapes for autoclave sterilization.
- Cared for animals in post-operative recovery by closely monitoring vital signs and progress.
- Administered prescribed injectable controlled substances, tranquilizers, sedatives and injectable or inhalant anesthetics.
- Processed new patients and updated client records with key information using standardized registration systems and encrypted databases.
Groom/Rider
Pin Oak Stud
06.2018 - 10.2020
- Horse handling skills with thoroughbred mares, foals, and yearlings.
- Inspected horses for disease, illness, and injury, and treats animals according to instructions..
- Assisted in breaking and training of yearlings.
- Mare & foal watch, experience in foaling mares.
- Mucked out stalls to remove waste and debris and keep conditions sanitary.
- Cared for and groomed 20 horses each day.
- Kept horses healthy and ready for activities by preparing and distributing feed and water on-schedule.
- Completed routine barn upkeep tasks such as stocking supplies.
- Rendered aid to injured and sick horses and notified supervisors of additional care requirements.
- Prepared food and formulas to meet individual needs of animals under care with safe and nutritious meals.
- Administered treatments to sick or injured animals and consulted veterinarians to handle more complex concerns.
- Turned out horses to promote optimal exercise and health.
- Collaborated with ranch hands, vets and racers for comprehensive training.
- Taught and rode young thoroughbred horses to become accustomed to riding with groups of horses during racing career.
Intern
Kentucky Equine Management Internship
05.2018 - 12.2018
- Collaborated with ranch hands, vets and racers for comprehensive training.
- Worked with owner to determine ranch needs.
- Cared for livestock and monitored health and living spaces.
- Provided water, food, vaccinations and healthcare for approximately 40 horses.
- Prepared horses for travel.
- Demonstrated enthusiasm and strong communication skill, remaining open to learning new things every day.
- Monitored horses' health and temperament for signs of injury and illness.
- Trained and rode horses across wide age range and exhibited excellent horse handling skills.
- Followed exercise training programs laid out by horse trainer and walked, galloped and trotted horses regularly.
- Reported to trainer on horse's progress and performance and discussed each horse's fitness or training concerns.
- Worked with riders and jockeys to break horse habits.
- Coordinated care and upkeep of thoroughbred and standardized racehorses and yearlings and equipped horses to be champion athletes.
- Taught and rode young thoroughbred horses to become accustomed to riding with groups of horses during racing career.
- Completed assigned duties and consistently produced high volume of work to support daily business needs.
- Analyzed problems and worked with teams to develop solutions.
Herdsman
COS Farm
05.2016 - 06.2018
- Horse handling, Horse grooming, cleaning stalls, preparing equine diets, moving hay bales, filling water troughs, general barn cleaning, assist trainer with ground and horseback training.
- Experience handling mares, foals, and stallions.
- Assisted in artificial insemination and live cover, managing foals as they are born, feeding 30+ horses daily.
- Managing sick or injured horses as needed, hauling horses to Vet clinics.
- Verified animal wellness through frequent illness assessments, vaccinations and medication administration.
- Participated in necessary farm chores and assisted with feeding, turnout, cleaning stalls, barn and farm maintenance, grooming and exercise.
- Kept accurate records of animals and handled feeding, birthing and vaccinations.
- Monitored birthing and animal wellness.
- Oversaw breeding program, including insemination operations.
- Took care of 40 animals at once by managing needs such as feeding, grooming and watering.
- Treated minor injuries and ailments, contacting veterinarians to obtain treatment for animals with serious illnesses or injuries.
- Selected animals for breeding and semen specimens, applying knowledge of animals, genealogies, traits and desired offspring characteristics.
- Observed animals in heat to detect approach of estrus and exercised animals to induce or hasten estrus if necessary.
Research Associate
UC Davis Veterinary Medicine Teaching and Research Center
08.2015 - 06.2018
- Acquire expanded training in dairy production medicine and herd health for dairy practice, dairy consulting practice, food animal academic positions.
- Developed knowledge and skills for designing and implementing clinical research projects.
- Clinical teaching experience.
- Supported data processing operations and provided survey research assistance.
- Obtained samples for testing following standard protocols.
- Cleaned, maintained and calibrated laboratory and field equipment to ensure continuous accuracy and functionality.
- Maintained clean and organized work area with adequate supplies and reagents.
- Monitored lab supplies and proactively replenished for convenience and availability.
- Isolated, identified and prepared specimens for examination.
- Collected information and samples in support of staff research.
- Monitored and observed experiments, recording data for research personnel evaluation.
- Collected, labeled and stored lab samples according to laboratory specifications.
Education
Class A -
William M. Maguy School of Education
Visalia, CA04.2023
Forklift Certified -
William M. Maguy School of Education
Visalia, CA04.2023
Bachelor of Science - Animal Science
University of Kentucky
Lexington, KY11.2022
Associate of Arts - Animal Science
College of The Sequoias
06.2018
Diploma -
La Sierra Military Academy
Floral, Visalia, Ca06.2014
Skills
- Tanker and Hazmat Endorsements
- Clean MVR
- Adaptability and Flexibility
- Attention to Detail
- Safety and Emergency Equipment
- Time Management
- Truck Maneuvering
- Problem-Solving
- Vehicle Inspection
- Dependable and Reliable
- Planning Ability
- Defensive Driver Training
- Manage Loads
- Customer service abilities
- Team Building and Motivation
- Equine Behavior Understanding
- Scheduling and Time Management
- Herd Health Monitoring
- Horse Care Expertise
- Budgeting and financial management
- Transportation and logistics planning
- Equine Nutrition Knowledge
- Equine First Aid Proficiency
- Staff Supervision Abilities
- Risk Management and Safety
- Horse Training Techniques
- Teamwork
- Team Player
- Livestock care
- Riding instruction
- Pasture Management
- Livestock Transport
Certification
- Certified Equine Instructor, Certified Horsemanship Association - 2024
- Certified Forklift Driver, Proteus - 2023
- Certified BQA Transporter, Beef Quality Assurance Transportation - 2024
- Certified Equine Manager, Kentucky Equine Management - 2018
Timeline
Stable Manager
Wonder Valley Ranch Resort And Conference Center
05.2023 - Current
Student Trainee
Proteus
02.2023 - 04.2023
Veterinary Technician
Rood & Riddle Equine Hospital
10.2020 - 05.2021
Groom/Rider
Pin Oak Stud
06.2018 - 10.2020
Intern
Kentucky Equine Management Internship
05.2018 - 12.2018
Herdsman
COS Farm
05.2016 - 06.2018
Research Associate
UC Davis Veterinary Medicine Teaching and Research Center
08.2015 - 06.2018
Class A -
William M. Maguy School of Education
Forklift Certified -
William M. Maguy School of Education
Bachelor of Science - Animal Science
University of Kentucky
Associate of Arts - Animal Science
College of The Sequoias
Diploma -
La Sierra Military Academy
- Certified Equine Instructor, Certified Horsemanship Association - 2024
- Certified Forklift Driver, Proteus - 2023
- Certified BQA Transporter, Beef Quality Assurance Transportation - 2024
- Certified Equine Manager, Kentucky Equine Management - 2018
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