Experience with Horses

I have been working with horses since the age of 12, my first job was with Alderney Stud in Liss working with stallions, foals, youngsters, liveries and competition horses. My time there was formative, and I was taught traditional skills within a professional setting. Following my time at the stud, I completed two years at Merrist Wood College, learning industry standards. During my time at college I had a number of placements working for competition yards including Nicky Barrett and Exton stud.

My first job following college was second girl at Green Lane Farm Livery yard, here I looked after a variety of animals including chickens, dogs, goats and horses. My duties included sole charge while the head girl was off, we had a variety of horses and ponies including polo ponies and we needed to care for them all including exercising, grooming and general yard duties.

I moved on from Green Lane to complete a short placement with The Devils Horsemen during which time I did some stunt training and learnt how to tack up for carriage driving and backstop. I then worked for a competition yard for a shorter time with event horses, I was injured at this placement and ended up taking nearly 8 years away from the industry.

When I started back within the industry, I took a job working at Hampshire Riding Therapy Centre where I worked closely with the existing team to develop my skills further learning to teach and working with Neuro-divergent and additional needs clients. At the centre, I also completed a lot of work with PPEDS looking after pigs, chickens and dogs as well as learning how to look after those with chronic illnesses. I still work for PPEDS now, despite the riding centre closing down.

Following on from there, I worked at Quob Stables for 4 years teaching a variety of clients from pony club to adult group lessons and horseback archery. While working for Beth I developed my riding, getting a lot of support from the team to take my BHS exams gaining my Stage 3 Care and Lunge. Sadly, before taking my Stage 3 riding the pandemic hit and I was furloughed and subsequently made redundant.

From here I started my freelance business which as gone from strength to strength, I pride myself of traditional skills and values. I have excellent attention to detail with exceptionally high standards in all aspects of my groom work. I have a wide range of skills and abilities, confident and able to work on my own, but equally comfortable working within a team. I am confident and able to look after a variety of farm animals including pigs, chickens, dogs and goats. I learn quickly, I am quiet and respectful of the rules and work to time quickly and efficiently, which is why I have a number of long standing clients.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Key Skills

I am best at working on my own completing grooming tasks, maintaining high standards across the board, enabling clean, quick and efficient working. In employment I am treated with respect as my friendly attitude and hard work means that I am trusted with responsibilities. I have enjoyed house sitting, looking after animals while owners were on holiday and keeping things up together. I also like to help with cleaning, tidying and organising tasks, something I am really good at.

I do work well in teams, I’m happy with others but what I do find is that because my standards are generally higher than others I have to work harder than them to do the same work which is why I am generally better on my own.

 

Strengths and Weaknesses

 

• What do you most enjoy about working with horses?

I love being around horses and getting to know them and their individual personalities, I find it peaceful and cathartic completing manual labour tasks and maintaining a tidy yard.

 

• Is there anything you’d like to improve?

I would like to improve my turning out skills as I haven’t had a lot of practice with this recently, I am competent but I could be better. I haven’t ridden as much in recent years so I also need to re-develop my riding fitness.

 

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

I have exceptionally high standards and work very efficiently, skills which are hard to come by in this industry. As a reliable and hardworking individual, I am very successful at not only keeping employment but also generally being offered more work and greater responsibility.

 

Requirements

 

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

I would like to be paid a living wage for the hours which I do, recently I have found that achieving a reliable and decent wage is increasingly difficult which has meant my stepping back from a lot of my freelance work. I would love to have a sole responsibility role that I could really get my teeth into, teaching, grooming and occasionally riding.

 

 

 

• Do you need accommodation?

It depends on location and the role, I do have accommodation but if the job was right I would be able and willing to move.

 

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

If it’s a full time live in role, I would like to be able to bring my horse.

 

• Do you have any ongoing commitments?

I am married, but we do not want or have children nor will we ever want them.

 

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

Not until the Spring.