A huge congratulations to Niamh, who has recently completed her Level 3 Senior Equine Groom apprenticeship at Four Winds Equestrian Centre! With horses having always been a big part of her life, her apprenticeship has helped her turn that passion into a career.
Read on to find out more about Niamh’s apprenticeship experience, what she’s enjoyed most and what she’s hoping to do next!
What inspired you to pursue a career with horses?
From when I was little, horses have always been a massive part of my life and a big passion of mine. The school environment was always a bit too busy and crowded for me, so once I’d finished my GCSEs, I wanted to do something that I enjoyed and would benefit me in the future, and an apprenticeship with horses was exactly that.
What does a typical day look like for you as an apprentice?
A typical day starts at 8:30am with turning out, mucking out and preparing feeds and haynets. On Tuesdays and Thursdays, we have a staff riding lesson at 11am, followed by videos or coursework before lunch. After lunch, we get the horses sorted for the afternoon and prepare everything for the next day. At 4pm, we bring the horses in, feed them and get them settled before finishing at 5pm. The days can always change around, as when working with horses, nothing is guaranteed to go to plan!
What have you enjoyed most about your apprenticeship?
What I have enjoyed the most throughout my apprenticeship is deepening my knowledge. I’ve found it really interesting learning more about anatomy and conformation and how they can affect a horse.
Have you faced or overcome any challenges during your apprenticeship?
I was quite lucky during my apprenticeship that I didn’t have any major challenges to face. However, when I did struggle with coursework or became unsure about something whilst at work, I had a good network of people around me to help and teach me.
This included other colleagues, my boss and my Trainer Coach, Scarlett, who were all really helpful and supportive throughout my apprenticeship.
How has your experience been as an apprentice with Haddon Training?
My experience as an apprentice with Haddon has been really good. I really liked the format of how the apprenticeship is laid out and how it is mainly all done on the job. I enjoyed the fact that I was always at work and didn’t have to go to college, as people came to us so they could see our normal ‘work day’ and we could work through coursework whilst at work. I always felt supported and encouraged by Scarlett, and I knew that if I had issues, I could go to her and she would help me.
What are your future aspirations?
Whilst I was doing my apprenticeship, I also did my Level 1 coaching with the ABRS, which allowed me to begin coaching at my workplace. Now that I have finished my apprenticeship, I’m currently doing my Level 2 Coaching course to become an instructor and continue teaching. I have also recently bought an ex-racer, who I’m currently re-training with the hopes to one day event. Doing an apprenticeship has allowed me to do something I love as a career and has opened the door to many more opportunities in the industry.
Find out more about our equine apprenticeships 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.
