Freelance groom, rider and ESMT (HGV training commencing shortly)

Experience with Horses

My experience working with horses consists of my previous jobs on multiple yards on which I gained a huge amount of knowledge on both the everyday and speciality care required for horses.

From 2015 to 2017 I worked at Ullenwood Riding School and Livery yard, working between my days at Gloucestershire College.

Ullenwood unfortunately closed down in 2017, I then started working with horses again in January 2019 at Butlers Hill Farm, a small privately owned boutique livery yard in Cowley. I worked here for roughly 5 months and during that time my yard duties consisted off mucking out american style stables, cleaning the stalls, haynets, making and distributing personalised feeds to an excellent standard, catching and turning out horses, rugging, grooming, tacking up, assisting livery owners in jumping sessions, exercising client horses, loading horses, giving medication, harrowing the indoor and outdoor school using a quad bike and seeding fields using a quad bike

In 2020 I worked as a polo groom with a national coach from May 2020, where I cared for a set of 5 horses. I lived in on site accommodation and enjoyed this job hugely.

As part of this role, I exercised my set of horses each morning followed by all general yard duties, grooming and preparing for matches/ chuckas

I worked as a competition groom at Seren sport horses based in Bourton on the Water. Here I cared for young stock between the ages of 4-7 who compete in a specialty discipline of showjumping, dressage or eventing. I also handled stallions within this role.

In 2023 I worked with a trainer in Cirencester breaking horses, this was a ridden position that included all yard work as well as ridden (riding and first time backing) as well as lunging and exercising client horses.

Over the winter period of 2024, I groomed for Dan O’Sullivan in Gloucester on his Training and Full livery yard. I worked alone most days, mostly sole caring for up to 15 horses on full livery. This role included all general yard duties. Unfortunately this role ended as the horses went onto their summer routine.

 

Most of my roles have been seasonal positions but I’d now love to find a permanent place on a yard where I can continue to develop my abilities and offer horses the best quality care,

I now run my own business – AW Equestrian where I work as a freelance groom and rider covering all areas within Gloucestershire. I am also a qualified ESMT (Equine sports and rehabilitation massage therapist) which I provide as an additional service.

Key Skills

-I am able to work effectively alone and as part of group, and have excellent communication skills which enables me to work well with my colleagues.

-I have a very calm and collected approach when working with horses, I strive to always show my best work on the yard, whether this includes mucking out within a tight time frame or grooming a horse to perfection.

-I am also able to use some plaiting techniques for showing, I am keen to learn more and practice this often.

-I have effective horse handling skills, I consider riding to be a huge passion of mine and an area I would like to develop further in although I am able to ride to a good standard on a range of horses- hacking or schooling. I have a wide range of experience due to working in a range of disciplines so am very adaptable to different yards and methods used for completing tasks

-I have experience handling a range of young fit competition horses as well as stallions

-I am able to provide my additional ESMT service to clients within my area, this has a huge benefit to horses of all abilities and levels. I would be happy to offer this service to a yard, keeping the horses looking and feeling their best!

-I will be completing my HGV training shortly.

Strengths and Weaknesses

• What do you most enjoy about working with horses?

I enjoy being able to learn about each horse’s individual personality and being able to build a bond with them from working with them on a daily basis, I enjoy leaning their one likes and dislikes so that I can work with them effectively and provide the best care possible.

Horses are a passion for me and therefore it is work that I am always able to enjoy.

 

• Is there anything you’d like to improve?

Within the Equestrian industry, there are always new things to learn and I am always keen to learn new things on the go.

There are many disciplines where things are often done differently from each other, so I am keen to learn different techniques and constantly develop my abilities.

 

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

I constantly work to the highest of my ability and am able to put knowledge I have learnt practically or theoretically into my work to a high standard. I am also always willing to learn new things within my job or am able to use constructive criticism to improve my techniques and the way I perform tasks.

I work extremely well with other team members whilst also being able to work very well on my own when I am confident of the work being asked of me.

I have a wide range set of skills that enable me to work extremely well within the equine industry and a passion for the work that enables me to achieve my set goals.

I am also able to provide my ESMT services.

Requirements

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

I would like to gain a job that I look forwards to throughout the week, and a job where I can feel welcome and supported by other members on the yard and be able to work with people who are happy to answer my questions and further my understanding.

I am keen to constantly develop myself within the industry.

I would also like to gain great contacts within the industry and gain experience as I feel you never stop learning in this industry.

• Do you need accommodation?

Yes, I am looking for a live-in position. This is not only convenient for me, I also like to be close by in case I am needed at short notice to assist at the yard and in case of any emergencies.

I am happy to relocate.

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

I don’t currently have my own horse but would love to look into having one in the future if possible.

I do have 3 friendly well-behaved dogs, these are 2 cocker spaniels and 1 golden retriever. My golden retriever never comes off the lead (unfortunately his ears are decoration only!) and my spaniels only come off  away from horses and when supervised. They won’t be freely roaming on a yard.

 

• Do you have any ongoing commitments?

No, I don’t have any other commitments.

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

No