Meet Lucy, who is currently completing her Level 2 Equine Groom apprenticeship through Haddon Training at Pinkmead Equestrian. From growing up around horses to developing her professional skills through hands-on learning, Lucy shares how her apprenticeship has helped her grow in confidence, knowledge, and understanding of horse care.
What inspired you to pursue a career working with horses?
I’ve always been around horses from a young age. My mum was also into horses, so we’ve always shared that passion. I started riding when I was four, and ever since then it’s been a huge dream of mine to work with horses. I was also really inspired by a lovely lady who worked at the same yard as my share pony when I was 11. She trusted me to look after her horse, and seeing what her workday involved really deepened my dream to work with horses. I found it fascinating how her days were never the same, and how much her hard work paid off.
What aspects of your Level 2 Equine Groom qualification and working at Pinkmead Equestrian have you enjoyed the most?
I’ve really enjoyed deepening my knowledge of horses and being able to understand how to care for them on a daily basis from a new perspective, expanding my knowledge as an equestrian. One of the aspects I’ve enjoyed the most while working at Pinkmead Equestrian has been learning how to identify ill-fitting tack, as it has really shown me how important it is, what measures can be taken to ensure tack fits correctly, and what I can do to help.
What achievement are you most proud of to date?
I’m proud of how much more confident I’ve become around horses and of being able to understand things from a new perspective. I’m also more aware of safety and potential hazards on the yard, which helps me keep both myself and others safe.
What has your experience been like as an apprentice with Haddon Training?
I’ve really enjoyed my experience as an apprentice and felt very well looked after, especially by my Trainer Coach, Laura. Even though I had a few setbacks and moments of doubt, Laura really helped me get to where I needed to be. She put in so much effort to support me, making sure I had everything I needed to complete my work and adapting her teaching methods to suit me.
What are your aspirations for the future?
I hope to continue riding and expanding my knowledge of horses, even while I pursue a different career path. I’ll be taking the skills I’ve learned from this apprenticeship with me and hope to maintain my passion for working with horses.
Find out more about our equine qualifications here.
If you have any questions about our apprenticeships, please get in touch here.
