Experience with Horses

In my teens, I worked with polo ponies and assisted with breaking and schooling youngsters and “problem” horses. my employers were Australian and I did learn some dressage with them. I was always the smallest on the yard so got put on everything that turned up to “see how it was”.
I had a break from horses and purchased my own 3 year old pony in 2018. With help from natural horsemanship instructors, I backed him myself and although he’s still green, we have a wonderful connection and we work towards being happier and feeling safer every day. My pony was diagnosed with EMS and Cushings at 5 and it’s been a tough time trying to keep him happy and healthy.

I have worked as a freelance groom for one of my instructors on her private yard. This included all general yard duties but no riding. I did use a horse walker and deal with a few “problem” horses.

I am currently studying equine psychology with the Centre of Excellence. I hope to finish this in the next couple of weeks.

Key Skills

For the past 3 years, I have been working as a contractor in dairy farming. This includes jobs milking, scraping yards, quad driving, tractor and telehandler experience (I have qualifications in this). Also small excavator work.

My main role these past 3 years in the farms has been calf rearing. Working in a block calving system each year to over 400 calves in a 4-5 month period. All care from assisting if needed at birth up to one year. In this period, you’re working from 4.30 am until at times 10pm at night, 7 days a week.

I have a high attention to detail which is needed to spot the early signs of potential illness and disease. And prompt treatment is required. High cleanliness is required to prevent the spread of disease.
I’m happy tubing calves (colostrum or electrolytes) and giving injections all via subcutaneous, intramuscular and IV.
I used the Madigan squeeze foal technique once to “reborn” one of my calves with great success.
I am trained to AI cows although more practice is needed in this area.

Despite being tiring and challenging, I have loved raising happy and healthy calves.

I am happy working on my own or with a small team. Farming is an extremely tough and very hard business and you have to be organised to delegate your own workload.  I worked mainly on my own with the farmers assistance when needed. I also looked after my own pony during this period and did work for my instructor on her yard.

I worked as a hospitality stocktaker also in 2022 and 2023. Highlighting their gross profits or lack of and also consultancy in efficiency in running their business. I enjoyed working with some of my clients but I was drawn more to working in the outdoors.

Before farming, I had my own freehold Village pub in the Cornwall countryside 2016-2021. This taught me many skills like staff management, efficient communication and everything that it takes to run a small business including VAT, Profit and loss management. I ran my pub single handed both front of house, in the kitchen and behind the scenes. I made lots of mistakes but I built my pub up over a five year period and it was extremely successful. I also kept ex battery hen chickens at this time.
I left my life in Cornwall and moved to Somerset due to personal reasons late. 2021. I can discuss this more with a future employer when the time comes. Looking back, I’ve no idea how I managed to survive this time!

Before my Pub, I was a senior healthcare assistant working in both the community and nursing homes. I throughly enjoyed this work and it was very rewarding. All from taking someone shopping to holding their hand whilst they pass over.

In my early 20s, I worked as an assistant veterinary nurse. Love animals so loved this too.

As you can see from the above my experience in working with a variety of horses is limited. I have never been one to follow traditional methods. For example I don’t agree with hunting. I can clip a horse(but wouldn’t charge!) but I’m not very good at plaiting and I’ve never “turned out” a horse for show.

When you meet new horsey people and you’re asked the “So what do you do with your horse” question, most are stumped when I simply reply “Love them”!

What I can offer to horses in my care is calmness, consistency and compassion. I like to do things slowly and I’m always trying to learn more about natural horsemanship and how we can work in balance and harmony. This is either on the ground or riding.

I have recently qualified as a Reiki practitioner. This has really opened up to me being more mindful, calm and focused. Although this does take practice when you live in a busy world!
I have nearly finished my Animal Reiki diploma. Reiki on animals is something that I really would like to do more of in the future.

I love to learn new skills and techniques in ways that will not only better myself but the animals around me. I have always been fascinated with Western riding but something I have never tried.

I do enjoy farming but I just feel that if I wanted to include farming in my life long-term, I would like to have my own very small, small holding. This could be for example, 5 chickens, a couple of pigs and maybe raising a couple of calves a year. Nothing crazy, just something that pays for itself and that I could do alongside working with horses.

Strengths and Weaknesses

• What do you most enjoy about working with horses?
Just being in their presence. And making sure they are happy and healthy to the best of my ability. I love working in the outdoors and being surrounded by countryside.

• Is there anything you’d like to improve?
Yes absolutely. Life is a learning journey and you can never stop learning. I would like to be more confident in my riding skills and have more confidence in my own abilities.
Learning and using my reiki skills to improve my own life and others around me human and animal alike.

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

I am totally committed, trustworthy and reliable. I am happy working on my own but I’m honest and will always ask questions if I don’t know something. I understand what it’s like to run a business and work in a cost saving manner.
I have some skills but if I don’t know how to do something, I’m happy to learn!

I consider myself above average fitness for my age and I am used to being active every day.

Requirements

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

I would like to look after animals in my care making sure they’re happy and healthy. And in turn myself and my animals are happy and healthy.
I would enjoy working with others when needed but happy to manage my own workload.
Expanding my knowledge in natural horsemanship and it would be my dream to be able to liberty ride before I’m past it.

• Do you need accommodation?

Yes I would need accommodation.

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

I have a big but extremely well behaved dog called Harry. He is 8 now but still active. He goes everywhere with me including all the farms I work at currently. He is very safe around other animals and literally takes no notice of dog, cat, horse, sheep, pony or chicken. He loves a snooze in the sun or a throw of a ball.

My pony Mojito is a 14h Appaloosa. He is 10 this year and has EMS and Cushings. In a traditional livery setting it has been a bit tough to manage his needs. For example, not lush rich paddocks or being boxed 22 hours of the day. In an ideal world, I would like him to be out more with his grass restricted.

• Do you have any ongoing commitments?

No

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

No