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.

My experience with horses went from a hobby that I’ve had since 9, to paid work in September 2024; since then, I worked for three months at weekends an international show jumping yard: mucking out, hay, feed, water, rug changes, tack up, in-hand walks, learnt bandaging, and a private yard mon-fri for 10 months. This included the same as the showjumping yard and also turnout, basic medical care, help with appointments (farrier/vet), care for the chickens, cats, dogs including walking, and also occasional help in the house, running errands for owner. I loved that job so much; the only reason for leaving that job was two fold: firstly I volunteered in Greece at a riding school for a month in June, doing all horsey duties and taking tourists on hacks up the Kefalonian mountains, and secondly the owner was selling her horses so didn’t need me any more. I am still in touch with the owner, and still help occasionally when needed and when/if I can.

 

Since June, I have not worked with horses, though I still help with my friends’. Reason for this being I have not found anything that suits me right now.

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 can work alone but am also a great team worker and love learning. I am organised and manage my time well. I am not afraid of putting myself out of my comfort zone and will give anything a good try. I am not afraid to ask for help if needed, as I love to learn new things.

Medically, I can do basic medical care (cuts/grazes/abscesses), and my previous pony had severe sweet itch that I managed to control with lots of research, so have good experience with managing that.

Strengths and Weaknesses

• What do you most enjoy about working with horses?

Horses are my passion. I have ridden since I was 9 (on and off during teens), and just enjoy being around them; they are beautiful and I love caring for them. I care for other people’s like I would my own, and people do tend to trust me with them which is a great privilege.

• Is there anything you’d like to improve?

Always; I would love to practice clipping more to become more confident in it (have only done it a handful of times supervised). I would also love to practice plaiting more.

Riding wise, I would love to improve my flat work and general riding. I can lunge, but these have all been ‘easy’ horses – would love to advance lunging skills with perhaps younger horses.

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

I am hard working and I love horses; I am keen to learn and listen to instructions/advice/guidance. I am friendly and have generally always got on with colleagues. Always willing to help and go the extra mile; I’m flexible so can help cover holidays etc.

Requirements

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

Experience, work with different horses, meet new people, learn some new things along the way.

• Do you need accommodation?

No

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

No animals

• Do you have any ongoing commitments?

No

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

No