• Experience with Horses

I’ve been with horses all my life. Primarily evented, but I’ve also hunted, showjumped and dressage. I love turning out to a high standard, plaiting manes and tails. I haven’t clipped a huge amount but I’m ready to learn more. From 2011 to 2014 I managed my mum’s yard. We breed our own horses and produce them ourselves. I’ve produced horses from youngsters at 4, backed and broken myself, from BE90 to 7 year olds at Novice. We also lease horses out, producing them to a confident horse until they’re ready to find a home.

I worked at Rebecca Curtis’s racing yard from 2015 to 2018. I rode out, going from riding the easiest horses to riding keener ones. We also had a group of flat youngsters(2yr old TB’s) which I hepled back and produce. This was a brilliant job which I thoroughly enjoyed. I learnt a lot about working on a busy professional yard, and how to be disciplined with your work and time.

I then freelanced for a few months or so, mostly working part time at 4 or 5 yards at a time. One of these included working at Castell Sport Horses. Here we produced youngsters and stallions from unbroken 3 Yr olds to 8 year old competition horses and stallions jumping 1.15 and upwards. They breed the best sport horses in the UK in mine, and a lot of others, opinion. They use top KWPN lines, and have very energetic and dramatic youngsters.

From February 2018 till August 2018 I worked at Heath House Sport Horses with Hannah Bate and Paul Sims. This was brilliant as I had my own mare there and learnt a lot from being taught by two 4* eventers regularly. I also groomed for up to 7 horses at competitions, flat out days and I kept up well.

From September 2018 till March 2019 I worked on a pointing yard,Tyrnog Racing. This was mostly sole charge, where the trainer watched me ride and I looked after the horses the rest of the time. There were between 7 and 9 horses on the yard at a time, and I was the sole yard worker employed.  I helped break in 3 year olds here, and schooled the pointers from the start of the season over poles to the chase fences. There are videos of me schooling their pointers on Ray Owen Racing page.

In March 2019 I was working in Switzerland at a part time job with a travel company and ruptured my ACL in my knee skiing. This stopped my physical activity for about 4 months, but I came back strong and stable without the need for surgery. I did a bit of hospitality work until the spring of 2021.

 

In February 2021 I moved to Germany to work at Schöckemohle Lewitz Stud. This is where the 3 and 4 year old get produced further after being freshly backed. They jump their first course of jumps and doubles, and are taught the basic level of flatwork. Nothing can provide any experience like working there. You have a personal list of 12 horses to ride a day, with a groom to help you prepare the horses. Watching the horses learn so much and move up the levels was very interesting. I also worked at Scheckenhoff, the next yard up, where they jump larger courses and do 1.20m grid work. It was an amazing experience and I’m glad to have worked there.

I moved back to the UK in June 2022. I wanted a break from the fast production of youngsters. Rebecca Curtis heard that I was back in the UK, and she asked me to go back to work for her. Due to a lack of accommodation, I had to leave unexpectedly in November.

 

At the end of February 2023 I started working for John Gallagher, a flat trainer in the Cotswolds. Here I had the chance to rehabilitate a mare who had been banned from the track for 2 years, due to dangerous behaviour in the stalls. With my one to one riding and attention, she came back to form, passing the stalls trial and winning 3 times in her first 4 races back on the track.

 

I had the opportunity to go travelling at the end of 2023, using the chance to go to America, and Australia, where I worked at another flat racing yard in Queensland. I visited my friend in Germany in March 2024, where I was offered a job at Stall Witt, a wonderful family run competition yard, where they have their own extensive breeding program since 1925. Unfortunately, my leg was re-injured, in a freak accident. I had to return to the UK in May, where I am now on the wait list for surgery.

 

Since then, I have developed my online and computer skills, working on my customer service skills. I gained a work from home customer service agent role, with Teleperformance. From September 2024 to December 2024 I worked on the NHS vaccine booking line, booking vaccines and amending appointments, resolving issues in one call. In December 2024 I joined a DWP campaign, where I was reviewing claimants Universal Credit Claims. I have since moved on to a in office customer service role at Welcome Furniture, a long established busy furniture manufacturer. Here I have developed further administrative skills, and learned a lot about production and delivery processes.

 

Since July 2024, I have regained my fitness, and am now at a point where I can safely and reliably be back to a more physical job. I am looking to complete my BHS Stage 4 qualifications in 2026, and would like to find a position in the equine industry again.

Key Skills

I can work alone or in a team, enjoying either. I enjoy taking pride in producing youngsters and constantly improving the ride. I absolutely love turn out, with an attention to detail to make sure the horses are looking incredible. I’ve worked with race fit thoroughbreds, competition stallions, 3 to 4 year old warmblood breakers. I’ve kept them fit myself up to a novice level.

 

Strengths

• I thoroughly enjoy all aspects of working with horses. I think I work well with youngsters, as I enjoy producing them. I also think I work well with other people as I’m a sociable person
• With my lifetime of experience at numerous professional yards, I’ve gained a huge amount of insight from a range of disciplines.

 

Requirements

• I’d like riding to be optional. My current riding fitness and knee history means I can realistically only ride horses 5 years and older, unless they are safe or quiet. My skills are not lacking, I just can’t risk falling off unpredictable horses at this time. If the horses are predictable, I can work with them.
• I do require accommodation.
• With my current tennency I require a month’s notice.