Experience with Horses

Outline your experience with horses here/the scope of your freelance services. If you’re looking for a non-equine or non- yard-based job please use this space to describe your experience skills/abilities and adapt the questions to suit your line of work.

Experience 

Experience with Horses

I have had a passion (obsession?) for horses since I first sat on a Shetland as a toddler. By the age of 13 I was mucking out and leading ponies at a riding school in exchange for lessons. At the age of 15, desperate for extra pocket money to fuel my equine addiction, I took on regular gigs as a babysitter for local families. 12 years later at the ripe age of 27, I have a diverse and well-rounded background in working with both horses and children!

• Racehorse Stud & Foaling: I worked on a racehorse stud where I was often the sole person working night shifts during foaling season. My responsibilities included monitoring mares and assisting during labour, providing essential care to new born foals, and assisting with any complications. Additionally, I worked in the rehab barn where horses recovering from injury or training breaks were housed. I became adept at helping to manage their rehabilitation, ensuring they were kept comfortable and well-cared for.
• Grooming & Sales Prep: My two years working with racehorses also involved prepping horses for the sales. This experience taught me to groom to a high standard, ensuring that the horses were presented impeccably. I also played a significant role in the daily exercise routines and upkeep of the yard, which was especially busy during prep season with a yard full of yearlings.
• Livery Yard Management & Therapy Sessions: Currently, I manage a livery yard with 18 horses, which requires me to oversee daily horse care, coordinate with owners, and ensure the health and safety of the animals. I am also responsible for exercising and riding both livery horses and the horses used in our therapy sessions. I run grooming and ridden therapy sessions for children with special educational needs, focusing on equine-assisted activities that promote physical and emotional well-being. This work allows me to see first hand the positive impact horses can have on children with various challenges.
• Personal Horse & Training: As well as keeping everyone else’s horses exercised and happy, I also have my own personal horse who I am currently training with for low-level combined training competitions. This is helping me to develop  a deeper understanding of the needs and challenges that come with training and exercising horses at various levels.
• Estate Management & Maintenance Experience: In addition to my equine experience, I have worked as a member of the site team at an all-girls secondary school, where I was responsible for the maintenance and repair of property and equipment on site. This role provided me with practical experience in estate management, including overseeing building upkeep, overseeing and carrying out repairs, and ensuring the safety and functionality of all facilities. I took great pride in helping to maintain the school to a high standard and developed a strong attention to detail when addressing maintenance issues.
• Building Positive Relationships: During my time at St. Anne’s, I made a concerted effort to bridge the gap between the students and the support staff, particularly the site team and IT support team. Traditionally, the site team had limited interaction with the students, but I took the opportunity to engage with them and encourage an understanding of the skills and work involved in maintenance and repairs. I am proud to say that several of the girls, whom I worked closely with, now aspire to pursue “Jobs that involve power tools and ladders”!
• Childcare: Additionally, I have worked as a childcare practitioner in a nursery, where I was responsible for creating a safe and engaging environment for young children. This role further developed my ability to connect with children and foster positive relationships. My experience working with children has helped me build strong communication skills and the ability to adapt my approach to suit individual needs, particularly in equine therapy settings and in coaching children.

Key Skills

What are you particularly good at? For example: working alone, working with others, clipping, plaiting, turning out for shows, handling stallions, handling/riding young horses, non-equine skills etc

• Organization & Event Planning: I have a natural talent for organizing and planning events, from pub quizzes and show-jumping competitions to kids’ clubs and parties. I thrive when tasked with responsibility and enjoy managing all the details to ensure a smooth, successful event.
• Empowering Young Riders: I particularly enjoy working with children and young riders, encouraging them to reach their full potential. Whether helping them learn the fundamentals or psyching them up them for competitions, I take great pride in their progress.
• Team Management & Solo Work: I am equally comfortable working as part of a team, managing others, or working solo. My flexibility means I can adapt to any environment and contribute where needed, whether that’s helping with daily chores or taking on more complex responsibilities.
• Grooming & Turnout: My experience prepping racehorses has taught me the importance of a high grooming standard. I take pride in turning out horses for shows and sales, paying close attention to detail in both presentation and overall care.

 

Strengths and Weaknesses

• What do you most enjoy about working with horses?

I love getting to know each horse’s individual personality and I’m very interested in equine behaviour! I’m also a huge believer that horses have healing powers and have seen children who have severe difficulties with communication, or who suffer with anxiety or depression, form a relationship built on complete trust with an animal that is three times their size

• Is there anything you’d like to improve?

One of my goals for the upcoming year is to complete my BHS stages, following the coaching pathway. I am always eager to learn and further develop my knowledge and skills in the equine industry, and I’d love to develop my coaching skills!

I am also very keen to get a trailer licence so that I can get out and about with my own horse, as well as be able to offer transportation services to a future employer!

• Why should employers consider you above any other job seeker?

What sets me apart from other candidates is my ability to combine multiple skill sets: my extensive experience with horses, my background in looking after and coaching children, and my proven organizational and planning abilities. I am not only committed to the care of the horses but also to the personal development of young riders. I am reliable, dedicated, and have a strong work ethic, making me a trusted asset for any equestrian employer!

Requirements

• What would you like to do or gain in your next job? 

In my next job, I would love the opportunity to combine my skills in horse care, coaching, and administration. Ideally I would enjoy working on a smaller, family property where I could be useful in both horse and childcare!

After travelling around the UK since leaving school and gaining plenty of experience in various industries, I am now looking for a permanent role where I can really take pride in a role that gives me purpose and value!

• Do you need accommodation?

Preferably and my partner and I are looking for a place to live together. (He also loves animals and is very handy!)

• Do you have any special requirements for any animals you wish to bring with you? 

I have a lovely, very kind natured Irish Sports horse who I would love to bring with me if possible! Once I’ve gained a license and purchased a trailer, I would be happy to bring other horses and riders along to competitions, clinics and fun rides with us!

• Do you have any ongoing commitments?

No – My whole life has been my job for the past year, so I have had a very limited social life!

• Do you have any holidays booked that an employer needs to know of?

No- although if possible, I would love to be able to go home to spend Christmas with my family! I am happy to take this off unpaid and find cover for myself for this if necessary. It is also not the end of the world if this isn’t possible as I have spent Christmases away from home before.