Experience with Horses

Alongside college and working on yards I have always been around horses as my family had their own, I got my first horse age 11, who was BSJA pony, the horses I’ve had since have all been neglected or abused or needed re training and bar 2 have all stayed with me. One particular horse I owned for 8 years, we bought him when I was about 12, he was so severely neglected his hair had grown and matted over his head collar, he kicked, bit and was severely head shy.

I handled him for a year with help from my mum, then we broke him in.
I ended up doing everything on him XC, beach rides etc and most of it bareback.

He was always hard to deal with and wouldn’t allow new people or a man to be near him, after 8 years he turned on me and kicked me in the face in a freak accident, his behaviour had been declining for months but the vet couldn’t find anything, unfortunately the heartbreaking decision was made to have him pts as he wouldn’t let anyone touch him in the stable without being dangerous to handle, I am still heartbroken as he was going to be with me for life, but I know that we tried everything and I’m extremely grateful for everything he taught me how to be compassionate, kind and definitely taught me how to ride, to this day he taught me the valuable skills I now use on my project horse I bought 3 years ago and every horse I handle or ride.

 

Level 1 & 2 in horse care – the course included riding 5x a week ( flatwork, jumping and XC ) + riding my own alongside, lunging, bandaging and general horse care.

Working on Verity Perry’s dressage yard in Rosevidney, Cornwall a few times over the  space of about 3 years.

This job included handling young stock, broodmares, stallions and clients horses, general yard duties , riding clients horses and the riding schools own including hacking, jumping in the school and on grass.

Interview Age 18, at Charlie Longsdons race yard in Gloucestershire, rode 2x racehorses up the gallops for the first time and got the job, unfortunately I couldn’t take my horse that I had at the time and it was a deal breaker for me.

Interview age 21 at Chialvo Polo in Cirencester, got the job if I wanted it but realised polo isn’t for me.

 

Age 23 I moved to West Sussex to work on a racehorse rehab yard, where we had sole charge two days a week, and worked as a team for the rest, we had to keep the yard pristine as well as keep up with the general yard jobs and the individual horses rehab routine.

Age 24 I moved back to Cornwall and worked on a racehorse rehoming yard, where I worked mostly lunging, rehab & fitness work.

 

Key Skills

 

I personally feel my compassion and kindness towards horses is by biggest attribute, I’m calm and know my way around a horse.

I can sit to most things well thanks to a few of my horses teaching me that and I feel this is a valuable skill as green or “ naughty “ horses don’t put me off.

 

 

Strengths and Weaknesses

• Everything, they have been my life since I was a small child and horses has been the only thing I’ve wanted to pursue in life.

 

• Is there anything you’d like to improve?

My plaiting and clipping skills and general turnout need improvement, because the majority of mine have come to me for re habilitation they didn’t go out to shows etc much and my main horse who I had for 8 years was a traditional gypsy cob so I never needed to plait.

I did do some practise in college but that was a while ago.

 

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

My passion for horses, it’s the only thing I’ve taken a interest in and the only thing I can see myself doing in life, if you want someone kind and compassionate and trustworthy around your horses then I’m the person for you.

 

Requirements

• What would you like to do or gain in your next job?
I’m open to suggestion, I’d like to maybe learn how to teach but I ideally just want to become a more skilled horse person in general .

 

• Do you need accommodation?

Yes

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

I have 1 male Staffordshire bull terrier, he’s castrated and is well behaved he would need to be able to come with me & a 17hh otttb gelding who is good to do in every way.

I also have a partner with a female frenchie, we have successfully both lived in before.

 

• Do you have any ongoing commitments?
Just the horse and dog, work is not a problem.

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

No.