EQUINE SPORTS
WHAT DOES THE JOB INVOLVE?
Equestrian Australia recognises the Olympic disciplines as Dressage, Show jumping and Eventing (covering cross-country) and Para Equestrian, and it tends to be that employers and their studs are divided this way. In saying this, there are often cross-overs at each individual stud and riders take part in multiple events, or breed horses for different disciplines.
It is possible that you’ll work with some top equine names in the country (if not the world) and get involved with handling and possibly riding their elite performance horses. This could be jumping or riding dressage horses and competing in exciting events.
As an eventing groom, work at the yard will of course involve all the necessary jobs such as mucking out, feeding up, moving horses from stables to paddocks, checking waters, changing rugs, tacking up for practice games, putting bandages on, loading horse onto trucks, assisting vets and farriers and helping with breeding programmes including handling stallions, foals, breakers and broodmares.
It is likely that you’ll be asked to travel to competitions to care for the horses on the journey and during their stay. You and possibly other grooms will be looking after top competition horses and have lots of responsibility.
You’ll more often than not be asked to exercise horses. This could be flat work or jumping, You may also be lucky enough to compete in low level events. Being in rural Australia you may cross over with other equine disciplines such as the polo, polocrosse, rodeo and the cattle work world which offers a really nice opportunity to experience other aspects of rural equine Australia.
Work hours:
You will work 5-6 days a week and in peak season, maybe more. Sometimes you will work straight days and then have your days off together. This is because many competitions are held during the weekends which is a very exciting and a social part of the job. You will need to be prepared to spend time travelling during your work which gives you a great opportunity to see the country.
Locations:
Competition stables are located all over Australia but there is a high population on the east coast. You could be working anywhere between Brisbane and Melbourne and the inner and coastal suburbs surrounding these cities. There is also work near the major cities of Adelaide and Perth.
Pro-riders need to be near international airports if they are competing overseas and need access to the best vets, farriers and equine people in the area. For this reason, studs tend to be situated in slightly more populated areas in the southern half of Australia where rain is more reliable for lush paddocks and good feed.
Typical length of job:
This depends on the size of the stud and how many competitions are attended throughout the year. Most employers are looking for workers between 4-6 months. Working visa rules state that you can work for one employer for up to 6 months.
Season:
This varies depending on where in the country you are. Some events run throughout the year. Studs tend to be busier during times where there are national competitions or during years when the Olympics are being held for example.
Living conditions:
You will most likely be living in workers accommodation near the stables, or in a cottage or outbuilding on the stud with other workers. When on the road you maybe required to sleep in the truck, camp or stay in roadside accommodation. Meals or food to cook is usually provided as part of your wage.
Who does this suit?
Eventing yards offers the opportunity to work with some of the best competition riders in Australia. This is a great job for somebody wanting to further their career in the equine industry and make very useful contacts.
This is a fairly social job and even if there are few grooms at your specific stud, you will meet lots of people in the industry from other grooms, to farriers, vets, riders and trainers.
Studs can be in rural locations but often not too far from sizeable towns or cities. The size and isolation of some of Australia’s locations can be quite daunting, so work at sports stud can be a good start for those who haven’t been exposed to such diversity before. These jobs are a nice ‘in between’ as you get to experience what life is like off the beaten tourist track, but at the same time be close enough to enjoy what the beautiful coasts, towns and hinterland has to offer.
In most cases phone signal and WiFi is pretty goo. If you have any specific dietary requirements then this is often a good place for you as you will have better access to alternative foods and more often than not be able to cook for yourself.
You may need to handle and ride youngsters and you’ll need to be a responsible and confident person who is prepared to be in charge of potentially very valuable horses. You’ll certainly get to learn a lot about the sport that you work with. This is a chance to improve your dressage, show jumping or cross country skills and learn from some of the very best.