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.

Before university I worked at Dulwich Riding School as a riding instructor for at least 5 years. I regularly lead large groups of volunteers and equine husbandry talks, while looking after 21 horses as a part of a team and teaching groups of up to 10 individuals from the age of 6. Following this, I attended university and competed against other universities on both the second and first teams. While a part of this club, I held committee positions including treasurer (1 year) and chairwoman (2 years). This club also allowed me to try polo, which I now play recreationally. Outside of a professional context, I have not owned my own horse, however I have loaned trickier ponies in the past, and helped exercise family’s horses, including ex racer thoroughbreds on fun rides and hunters on hacks.

 

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

I am good at general equine husbandry; handling, plaiting (would like to improve), clipping, mucking out, turning out and collecting, etc. I enjoy most working with others however I’m very well practiced at working alone as well.

I have very good organisational skills and often enjoy administration side of things.

 

Strengths and Weaknesses

• What do you most enjoy about working with horses?

I most enjoy working with horses for what they can teach you. For example, I know that I am patient when necessary, shown to me by bringing on a green pony to be ready for the riding school, and I know I am calm under pressure with how I’ve previously handled potentially dangerous situations. Aside from that, I mostly love being in and around nature and animals.

• Is there anything you’d like to improve?

I’d like to see improvement in everything I do, but particularly to improve groom skills such as plaiting.

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

I believe I should be considered above others I get on well with most people due to a diverse background that includes city and countryside, so I am comfortable with most environments. I also have no commitments to a horse of my own and so, am able to look after employers horses with the care of as if they were my own. Not knowing what discipline I most enjoy (i.e. polo, dressage, showjumping, etc.) means that I have well-rounded experience in the equestrian world and I’m always eager to learn and help with things that are new to me.

Requirements

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

I would most like interaction with horses. I’d like the opportunity to improve competition-groom based skills including plaiting and travelling too.

• Do you need accommodation?

Live-in preferred, live-out possible depending on location.

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

None.

• Do you have any ongoing commitments?

I am currently between degrees, starting a masters of research in January, with no ongoing commitments until then.

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

None.