1. 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.

I have been riding since I was 7 years old. When I was 16 I had saved enough money to buy my own pony and I kept him at DIY livery at a small private polo yard, where I was head groom. I worked with the polo ponies for three years until the owners moved away to New Zealand.

After this I started my own freelance business with horses. I did riding for clients, backing & breaking youngsters, competing, yard cover, mother’s help and house sitting. This was a very busy & successful business for many years.

Through one of my clients, I ended up being offered a job at Farriers Stud, one of the most successful New Forest pony studs in the country. I took the job and spent 5 very happy years doing all aspects of work at the Stud. I was responsible for the day-to-day management of up to 40 ponies, handling & competing stallions, handling youngstock, competing at County level in the showring, and representing the stud at Riding Club level in dressage to Medium level. I dealt with visiting mares and associated vets visits, and am very well versed in most veterinary procedures having seen my fair share of ailments & injuries over the years!

I decided to take a short break and went to New Zealand for a month, and then on my return was sole charge at a private dressage yard in Hampshire. Again I was responsible for the day to day running of the yard & care of the dour horses there, and also did a lot of house sitting including looking after their dogs.

10 years ago I moved to the Isle of Wight, bringing my ponies with me. I have rented my own yard & had liveries with me during this time, and have continued to enjoy competing. I am now a registered breeder with my own prefix, and we welcomed out first homebred foal two years ago.

 

 

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 work very well on my own and with others. I can recognise a lot of ailments & have a lot of experience with most problems that require veterinary intervention. I clip & turnout to a high standard. I am used to handling youngstock & stallions, and am very experienced at backing & starting youngsters.

 

Strengths and Weaknesses

• What do you most enjoy about working with horses?

I enjoy all aspects of working with horses.

• Is there anything you’d like to improve?

I am always keen to learn more about new disciplines that I haven’t been involved with yet in the equine industry

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

I am incredibly hard working, with very high standards of care & turnout. I work well on my own initiative & am very experienced with all aspects of horse care.

 

Requirements

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

I enjoy all aspects of yard work & am always keen to learn more about disciplines that I haven’t been involved with in past jobs.

• Do you need accommodation?

Yes, will need accommodation for myself & my daughter. Happy to share a room. My daughter is very well behaved & very respectful of everything.

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

No special requirements. I do have 3 ponies but can sort livery for two of them if there is only an option to bring one with me to my place of work.

• Do you have any ongoing commitments?

I have a six year old daughter who has been around horses since she was born. She helps with all the yard jobs, rides and competes and is an absolute joy to have around the yard. I would need to be able to get her to & from school in term times.

I have three New Forest mares; my semi retired 18yr old competition mare who I keep ticking over and who my daughter rides & competes. I also have her 2yr old daughter who I bred. I am just starting my 4yr old who I bought as a yearling.

 

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

I have no holidays booked.