Positions Available - If you find this page - it is no longer relevant as I no longer have property or horses :( - It is extremely hard and sad and hope to get back to it one day when my health improves. When it does - I will re open this page to the public.
WORK EXPERIENCE POSITION
If you are in need of doing work experience for a course you are doing - ranging from a day or so a week to a few weeks straight - we can certainly help you there as well.
Alternately, you may live relatively local to us, and wish to gain some more experience with horses, and wish to come one or two days a week/fortnight etc. If you decide you would like to save some fuel and stay overnight every now and then - that is fine too.
So, given the options - there are things that need doing here regardless of what the time available situation ends up being for someone.
All I ask is that you are able to give a bit of time each day you are here to feed and water the horses - anything from 1 hour for a basic feed out & check water up to about 3 - 4 hours if we need to shuttle water to the paddock, if there is any fencing, or working of horses. For the most part its pretty relaxed and can work around whether you want to go and explore the surrounding areas.
Tasks here involve:
Feeding & Watering Horses
While we have some green feed in the paddocks, we generally feed hay daily to all of the horses. Sometimes we have big bales - be they round or square, occasionally we have small bales - just depending what is available at the time.
At various times of the year or depending on what is happening with each individual horse, we have hard feeds that need mixing and giving to them.
With regards to water, some troughs are automatic, some are manual fill, and they get cleaned when they need it to keep the water fresh and clear. The automatic troughs still need checking daily as some of them have been in place for a long time, so making sure they have not sprung any leaks or the floats have seized.
We clean the troughs with a scrubbing brush and water - or white vinegar - this keeps them clean and is chemical free.
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Pasture Management and Manure Removal
We like to rotate the paddocks to ensure that they get a chance to have a break - this helps with any possible parasite issues that may arrise depending on the season.
There are only a couple of the paddocks that require regular manure removal. This is pretty easy as we have poop scoops, garden carts etc and if they are picked up twice a week - that about controls it. (Plus they are generally the little ponies - so they do half the amount of poo as the big ones!)
If someone is keen they could bag the manure and sell it - though I suspect that the folk of Wallacedale are able to get manure free of charge for the most part. There is a market there though for someone who is keen enough to say 'hey - I'll fill the trailer for you and deliver for $XXX' .... If you are happy just putting it in the pile - thats all good too!
Handling & Working Horses
Dependent on what your level of expertise when it comes to the horses, we always have something happening. If you are perhaps someone who loves horses and hasnt had a whlole lot to do with them - but are willing to give things a shot - I can talk you through learning to catch, halter, lead, groom, lunge, tack up, ride etc if there is a horse that suits your level here at the time. If you are keen but dont want to ride - and just want to do the ground stuff - thats perfectly fine. You wont be asked to do anything with them that you are not comfortable with or capable of.
Handling ranges from handling older experienced horses and ponies who know whats up and know the 'rules' as such, to those first moments with a newborn, getting it used to people and liking the interactions it will have to look forward to later in life.
Dependent on the time of year - we also have breeding (I tend to do paddock serving for the most part - however at times it may be needed to hand serve), foal watch, foaling down, teaching young ones to have their first set of tack on and to lunge and accept what goes on with starting them under saddle. If you are an experienced person and wish to show - inhand or under saddle, compete, do clinics etc - then you can do that as well if it is all going to fit in and work with scheduling.
Management of Fencing
When you have livestock - you always have some fence repairs that may need doing or a new fence to go up. Thankfully with electric fences as well as the normal mixed stock fencing, it's really a matter of being able to check for faults if needed, put a post in here and there, and tighten up any wires that are loose - all of which I can teach you as well when/if required.
Hours
Hours are completely flexible dependent on what needs doing - there is on average a 1 - 2 hours a day if we get down there and theres nothing to do but feed and check water - it could be 30 to 45 minutes., and anywhere from 2 - 6 hours dependent on weather, on a day with activities planned, emergency repairs (to fences or horses!) etc. I do not function in stinking hot or freezing cold weather - so may not be able to be out there every single day to help feed (or supervise) and you will need to be able to do the tasks on your own if needed at times.
You will need:
- To have a sense of humour.
- The ability to share whatever you are eating with the Kelpie who is NOT a dog, she is a 'people', and don't you forget it! Tess McBess is a darling girl who will sit there looking and waiting for you to drop food, or give you an indignant look if you dare to ask her to move off the couch.... Be prepared to share the couch.... she wins every time.
- The Cats are not above staring you down either. They can be shifty as hell. Be aware that they can hear the fridge opening from the other end of the house, and can sniff out cheese, chicken, or other cat friendly foods.
- You will need an understanding of a variety of illnesses and limitations that I have - My body decides not to work and doesnt want to play nice at times and it means I am rendered almost totally useless. I tend to 'supervise' a lot (ie: sit on my milk crate with my camera in hand) on 'good' days and on bad ones - I cannot even get up and be functional - on the 'bad' days - you will need to be able to just wander on down and feed the horses and take care of the basics that are needed.
Please read through the 'In A Nut-Shell' page and the two links on that page as well prior to applying so that you are aware and can ask any questions if you need to regarding my health issues. (nothing catching I promise! lol) I do not wish to be threatened with hospital again anytime soon - and I am learning to 'behave' and when the body says NO - to actually (sort of) listen to it.
- Your own vehicle is preferred - your drivers license is a must at the very least - and if you are using your car to go feed the horses at all - I am more than happy to put some fuel in it for you.
- A responsible and mature attitude is a must as well - while I am not overly concerned if you are young - I at least need someone who is of adult age (unless on work experience from school/tafe - in which case all appropriate parental and course consent etc is required. I have a past in SES, Pony Club Instructing, Foster Care, Working with children, first aid etc).
What can I offer you?
The work experience position is a VOLUNTEER position.
That bit is plain and simple. So if I get an email or any other form of enquiry asking how much the pay is - it will get deleted faster than you can blink! lol.... You are volunteering your time and effort. I can offer you the following:
Relaxed Taskload - Hours are not 'set' - as long as the horses get fed, watered, and when we need to do stuff - it gets done, then I am happy with that.
Entertainment - ok so this ones just a bit silly - but I can guarantee you are going to laugh at me for something stupid at times.... (this may be on a three or four times a week basis, if not daily).
You will learn how to "MacGyver" stuff if something needs fixing and we do not have the right things to do it right that second. Hours are very flexible - provided the horses are fed, watered, the basic jobs are done - we can work around everything else.
Road Trips - Every now and then we need to do a road trip for a variety of reasons, lasting from 48 hours to 10 days, depending on where/when/why/how etc - so either it will be you and I on the road - or you can stay and look after the place here. All depending on what’s happening and who is able to come with me.
On a serious note - we have a pub a short distance away at Condah that is quite popular. We are just over an hour from Mount Gambier - so there are a number of sites to see there but also great shopping... Hamilton is 40km, Heywood is 30km, Portland and Warrnambool are not too far away either for touristy stuff - likewise with the Grampians, Naracoorte Caves, Kingston SE, Millicent, Nelson, etc... dddddddd
Alternate Ideas - If you have a mare that you would like served - I am also open to having someone come to work in return for that if your mare is suitable for the stallion.
If you have a home business etc and would like a website built, photographic services etc - I am more than happy to do that as well. So throw those ideas at me and we will discuss what suits!
- The ability to work unsupervised and to take initiative and think for yourself.
On the days that my body is non functional - and worse - that my brain is - if you see a job that needs doing and it is not just one of those 'oh can do that anytime' ones - then it would be greatly appreciated if you did it. So occasionally if you happen to come out here and I am having a particularly bad day - please don't be offended if I end up crashed out for most of the day.
Note Regarding Safety Equipment:
Helmets: I have current regulation and safe/undamaged riding helmets that must be worn when mounted at all times. It is also recommended that when working with horses in any capacity that a helmet is worn.
Safety Vest: We have a Tipperary Safety vest here that is to be worn when onboard young or green horses in particular and it is recommended that it is worn when working with horses in any capacity.
Footwear: As shoe size is so individual - depending on the size of your feet I may have suitable boots available. At all times, suitable footwear must be worn around the horses. Horses are heavy creatures with a knack for knowing where your feet are and where to place theirs to do maximum skin removal if you are not wearing covered shoes. With long grass and animals such as snakes and leeches, spiders, various sticks, prickles etc being around it is highly recommended that closed in footwear is worn.
By contacting me with regards to a position you are acknlowedging that being around, working with and riding horses is considered a risky and somewhat dangerous activity, and that you assume all responsibility for disclosing the true nature of any of your previous horse experience or lack thereof. You agree that you have read and understand the information given above.
Regards, Shell Williams - Email: reigatestud@gmail.com
