I've gotten in to everywhere besides Ireland (who were busy and going to get back to me this week, but now I'm not sure if it's the place I want.)
Now it sounds like a good place to learn and improve on horsemanship things, but so does Spain (super excited to work with paso's again), France (This one is a definite riding improver and I think I'd like to spend more time here. Had a lovely chat with her the other day on skype. Apparently when I'll be there so will a German girl who's an experienced rider so I might actually have a riding buddy for once!) and Italy (which looks gorgeous). So good learning opportunities from all of those, but I'm abroad and I'd also like to have a 'fun' place.
Not that the others won't be, but I'd like to do a trekking type thing. What can I say, I kind of miss trail guiding. I think with a different boss and a better trained horses (he considered spending $400 on a horse to be too expensive. He liked to spend about $150 on them. At the auction. And they had to be 'flashy'.) it would be fun. So I think I may have found a different place in Ireland that does trekking more than training. It's just all getting a bit confusing.
I just kind of think I'd like a break among all that learning. So I'd love your input on what you think I should pick. Mainly on the first two options but also on the other if you have the time.
Here's the new place's description:
About: "We live in a highly scenic and cultural part of Ireland. There is a blue flag 3 mile beach on our door step offering all kinds of outdoor pursuits. We need help firstly with our ponies so someone with horse riding experience. A very big welcome for helpers who enjoy handling and training ponies. And helping on the farm. We do not expect all Work Awayers to have all of these skills! But helpers must enjoy variety of tasks and be willing to try different jobs as and when they arise on the farm. We have good accommodation & food & are looking for work awayers with some experience, good attitude, good humoured and good workers to come and stay with us for a short time or a few months at a time. Email me if you are interested in coming to us & helping us on the farm. Looking foward to hearing from you.
Help needed: In Spring and Summer we also have a lot of sheep grazing on the hills and grassy plains..we need help with the lambing and later on in July we have a lot of shearing to do. Over the winter months we need help at our yard where we over winter ponies and foals. Need help working the foals and quiet connemara ponies. 2014 Please, looking for someone with genuine practical experience with young horses/ponies.
We also have a stables where in Summer we offer horseriding and Trekking. We grow some vegetables & have flower garden & borders. We hope to plant trees & hedges on the farm this summer. We also have a bog where we save turf/peat. There will also be times when general maintenance is called for. We can tailor make the work to match the skills and interests of the workaways. If there is anything here that you can help with please get in touch. All help really appreciated. Take your pick."
Gorgeous pictures (link: http://www.workaway.info/15188181314d-en.html)
And here's the place I originally applied:
About: "We are an Equestrian and Horse training Center located in Beautiful West Cork, Ireland. Lessons as well as Therapeutic riding are taught Professionally by a BHS approved instructor. located ten minutes from the beach and right next to beautiful treks. PREVIOUS HORSE EXPERIENCE ESSENTIAL and willingness to work and learn new things ( gentle ways to bulid up trust and communicate with horses, in particular using the work and methods of Buck Brannaman join ups etc), equine related/horse management/handling/mucking out,etc.
Please be aware that if you want to come and work at our center there are usually quite a few other people wanting to come around the same time, so preference will be given to people who are genuinely interested in improving horsemanship.
Please be very aware that this type of work can be very physically demanding, so a genuine love of horses is also essential ! Please read this carefully, A GENUINE LOVE OF HORSES IS ESSENTIAL ...... and also be prepared to be outside in all types of weather . The work day is often split into two halves a couple of hours in the morning and again in the afternoon/ evening. This type of work can be very variable, horses needs and the overall running of the center can change so please be prepared to be flexible. The people who have really enjoyed their stay are the ones who really love the horses and have a real interest in improving their riding / horsemanship. I make sure that you have ample opportunity to ride and do interesting work with the horses if i can see a genuine interest, however if you are really only interested in travelling and improving your English then this might not suit. The type of work is ..... work with horses which involves, mucking out, grooming, watering, feeding, leading horses, tacking up, riding especially if you enjoy riding and are competent etc etc. The horses are ridden most days, there are usually one or two young horses that I work with and lessons (1 or 2) in the evening. I like to make sure as well as working there is also ample time for exploring and also RESTING, If you are hard working and flexible then you will have a lot of free time too.....Do not feel that you have to be extremely experienced, a good attitude is the most important requirement and an ability to learn. It can be great fun and really rewarding, Please get in touch if you want to improve your horsemanship...I look forward to hearing from you"
Help needed: "Five stables which need to be mucked out every single day, Taking care of the yard (sweeping the yard, etc) and putting the horses out on fields and bringing them into the stables in the evening. Helping with lessons, grooming, feeding / watering. Riding (if competent,) ground work etc. Helping with lessons (NOT TEACHING I do all the teaching but leading ponies helping children to mount etc )"
Link: http://www.workaway.info/648929565825-en.html
So, what do you think? Do I take the lots of hard work and mucking and horsemanship option or the horse trekking and more laid back sounding option?
Those are 2 of my options.
There's also this one:
About: We are a horse riding centre in County Clare on the West Coast of Ireland. We offer horse treks with views of the Cliffs of Moher, Aran Islands, Connemara and the Burren. We also train young horses.
Help: Experienced horse rider wanted to guide horse treks and work with young horses at a riding centre in County Clare on the West Coast of Ireland.
Must have excellent English.
Position available now through October."
Link: http://www.workaway.info/735792448258-en.html
Bit short.
I'm kind of leaning towards the new place to be honest. I was also checking out Scotland, which sounded awesome, but they only take help during the times I can't do it. So boo.
the new place sounds friendlier, I have to say.
ReplyDeleteShame about Scotland, it's brilliant here :D you could look at the Western Isles, South Uist/Eriskay and work with the Eriskay ponies? Not quite as impressive as an Andalusian but awesome little hill ponies.As far as I know most of them live wild up on the hills, but maybe there's a few crofts or so who may appeciate help or contact the trekking centres directly?
Back on topic, your first option sounds like a much nicer more relaxed atmosphere, or the last one sounds good too.
Ooh, that's a good idea. Yeah, I have to agree about the friendlier seeming part. I think they've had less people come that didn't understand the work that goes along with horses...
ReplyDeleteWhat a decision you have on your hands! I'm so envious and wish I'd done something like this when I was just out of college!!!!! I like the sound of the trekking one as well!
ReplyDeleteIf you want to be able to travel easily (before or after your work stay), the Continent would be a better bet than the British Isles.
ReplyDeleteAs far as trekking goes, depending upon where in France and Spain the other places are, there are tons of marked trails, as well as the El Camino.