At Sheepcote Equestrian, Sofia combines her day-to-day responsibilities caring for and riding horses with her Business Administrator in Equine apprenticeship with Haddon Training.
With a passion for competitive dressage and a desire to keep learning, Sofia is developing her business knowledge alongside her practical experience in the equestrian industry. We spoke to Sofia about life at the yard, balancing her busy schedule with her apprenticeship and her ambitions for the future.
Can you tell us about your role at Sheepcote Equestrian and what a typical day looks like?
My role is to look after the horses at the yard, as well as ride and compete the ones I train. As a senior member of the team, I also oversee and help guide the working pupils with their day-to-day jobs around the yard.
My day starts at 7am with feeding, haying and mucking out, followed by getting the horses turned out or onto the walker and cleaning the yard. I use my breaks to catch up on emails and apprenticeship work before spending much of the day riding. In the afternoon, I ride the remaining horses before helping the team put them to bed, usually finishing around 5pm.
What inspired you to do the Business Administrator in Equine apprenticeship?
Having studied A levels, I’ve always wanted to keep learning, even though I knew I wanted to pursue dressage competitively. Because my job is so practical, I often find myself craving the studying side more than I ever expected. The Business apprenticeship will help me understand how to run an organisation profitably and effectively, which I think will be really valuable. As a rider, I might want to set up my own business or yard further down the line, so having that business knowledge will be a great advantage.
How has your experience been with Haddon Training so far?
Although I’m still in the early stages of my Business Administration apprenticeship with my Trainer Coach, Darren, my experience so far has been really positive. I genuinely look forward to the sessions. Everything covered during each session is sent straight over to me by email, along with some work to help me keep what we’ve learned fresh in my mind until the next scheduled session.
I also feel comfortable getting in touch if I’m unsure about anything. The Haddon team members I’ve worked with so far have all been welcoming, understanding and helpful, which has made the experience really positive.
What are your future aspirations?
Like many people my age, the future can feel a bit daunting and uncertain. Personally, I’m aiming to keep doing what I enjoy and see where that takes me! Although I don’t have a specific goal for where I’ll be in 10 years’ time, I’d really love to become a rider for a top dressage yard. That could be here in the UK, but I’d also welcome the opportunity to work abroad.
For now, I’m looking forward to continuing to develop my riding while building my business knowledge through my apprenticeship.
Find out more about our Business Qualifications in Equine here.
Whether you’re starting out or looking to take your next step, we’re here to help! Get in touch with our team here.
