Opportunities

Working Students:

We are currently accepting applications from prospective volunteer working students interested to join our team in 2012

You will be keen to learn about and participate in all aspects of Holistic Equitation, including groundwork, work in-hand, on the lunge and in long reins, classical riding and holistic horse and yard management plus the care of barefoot horses.

Experience is not the prime consideration. We are looking for people who are open-minded, willing to work and keen to learn. A can-do attitude, flexible team-spirit and good sense of humour are, however, essential!

In return we offer a great package including full liability insurance cover, an extensive education, free accommodation in one of our onsite cottages for you and free livery for your horse. Please note, however, that there is no salary and you will need to have some means of paying for your own food and drink. There is enough flexibility to enable undertaking additional part-time paid work in the local area. Preference will be given to applicants who can commit for a minimum period of 6 months.

Please contact us now, either by email or telephone, for further details.

Some comments from previous students:

Derek and Jo, I want to thank you for all the help you have given me and Juno. Working with you has been a life changing experience. You're both wonderful people and The Holistic Equitation Centre is going to be a fantastic success. How could it not be with two such knowledgeable and caring people behind it? I'm going to miss the horses, the people, the constant learning, the lovely sense of community - I've just loved it all and I can’t say thank you enough!"
Mel Page

Being a working student at Holistic Equitation has been life changing. It has been a pleasure to work in such a beautifully relaxed, cooperative atmosphere. As students we are shown a huge amount of trust, allowing us to manage our daily routine on the yard and to learn at our own pace. Things often unfold organically and spontaneously; I have benefited from many an impromptu lesson following the usual challenges that occur in daily work with horses! Derek and Jo are two of the most generous people I know and their knowledge of horses is vast. Having studied a natural horsemanship perspective, classical theory has been vital in helping me to recognise and fill in the gaps in my understanding and diagnose the frustrating ’sticking points’ that I have struggled with for years. I feel like the world of horsemanship has expanded in front of my eyes and now offers many more tantalising possibilities to be explored. I would recommend this to anybody who wishes to deepen their riding experience and for those who aspire to become instructors this would also be a great opportunity to model two exceptional teachers. Thank you, thank you, thank you! "
Bea Hammond

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