Isla Dewar

After relocating to the North West of England with my family, I decided to take the opportunity to work completely freelance within the equine industry. This allowed me to broaden my experience by working across a variety of yards and with a wide range of horses, riders, and management styles.

As a freelance groom, I provided a range of equine services including general horse care, riding work, groundwork, clipping, exercising, and supporting the backing and production of young horses. I worked with horses of different temperaments, ages, and abilities, adapting my approach to suit each individual horse and owner’s requirements. My work often involved maintaining routines, assisting with rehabilitation and fitness work, preparing horses for competitions or sale, and providing reliable cover for owners and yard managers when needed.

Working freelance strengthened my confidence, adaptability, and ability to work independently, as I was regularly trusted to manage responsibilities with minimal supervision while maintaining high standards of horse care and professionalism.

Whilst working as a self-employed groom, I developed strong organisational, communication, and yard management skills while caring for horses with a variety of individual needs and routines. I was responsible for creating and following detailed care plans based on both veterinary guidance and owners’ requirements, ensuring horses received consistent, high-quality care. Working in fast-paced yard environments meant I had to quickly absorb and communicate important information to other staff members, updating care plans and handovers to ensure the smooth running of the following day and minimise avoidable issues.

Alongside daily horse care duties, I regularly completed administrative responsibilities after working hours, including writing detailed handovers, updating treatment records, and informing the team of any changes to routines, medication, or management plans. I frequently had to prioritise workloads around vet visits, farrier appointments, and emergency situations, which required careful planning and time management to ensure all essential jobs were completed to a high standard while also helping manage the yard and supervise younger team members.

I was trusted to take responsibility for decision making on the yard and understand how my actions could affect both horse welfare and the wider running of the day. I also acted as a main point of contact for owners, vets, farriers, and visitors, handling queries professionally and communicating updates regarding horses, rehabilitation progress, and yard operations.

During my time on the yard, I gained significant experience supporting horses undergoing rehabilitation and veterinary treatment. This required me to manage multiple veterinary visits, accurately follow treatment instructions, administer medication, monitor wounds and recovery progress, and coordinate ongoing care between appointments while ensuring owners remained informed and involved where required.

**PAID WORK EXPERIENCE / AD-HOC WORK**

As an ad-hoc groom, around my role at LSSH, I was trusted to independently manage the yard while the owner was away competing at showjumping events. The yard operated on an assisted DIY basis, meaning my responsibilities mainly focused on the owner’s horses alongside any booked-in services for liveries.

My duties included completing daily horse care routines to a high standard, including feeding, turnout, mucking out, grooming, rug changes, and general welfare checks. I was responsible for ensuring the yard remained clean, organised, and running smoothly while maintaining consistent routines for the horses in the owner’s absence. I also communicated any concerns or updates when required and ensured any additional services booked by liveries were completed efficiently and reliably.

**PART TIME ROLE WEEKENDS / BANK HOLIDAYS / AFTERNOONS / SCHOOL HOLIDAYS**

Whilst working as a groom on a competitive showjumping yard, I was responsible for the daily care and management of a string of sales horses, along with one personal stallion. The yard operated in a high-performance, results-driven environment, where presentation, fitness, and consistency were essential.

In my role, I often worked independently or alongside one other team member. When horses were away at shows with the rider, I was trusted to manage the yard and take full responsibility for the horses that remained. This required a high level of organisation, self-motivation, and attention to detail to ensure every horse was maintained in top condition and nothing was overlooked.

My main priority was always the horses in my care, ensuring they were comfortable, healthy, and correctly managed at all times. I was responsible for maintaining routines, identifying any changes in behaviour or condition, and ensuring any issues were communicated promptly and handled appropriately.

I regularly attended veterinary and farrier visits, ensuring horses were prepared, handled safely, and any instructions were clearly understood and followed through. I also assisted with the preparation of horses for work, including grooming, tacking up, and general yard support to ensure the smooth running of daily training routines.

Strong time management was essential in this role, as I had to plan my day effectively to ensure all yard duties were completed to a high standard while also maintaining flexibility for visits, exercise routines, and unexpected changes. I took pride in keeping the yard clean, organised, and ready for the following day, ensuring a professional and efficient working environment at all times.

Overall, this role strengthened my ability to work independently, take responsibility, and maintain high standards under pressure within a competitive equine setting.

I first began gaining hands-on experience within the equine industry at around 12 years old, when I helped out at a local riding school in exchange for lessons. From a young age, I spent every Saturday, Sunday, bank holiday, and school holiday at the yard, often from sunrise until sunset, which quickly developed my work ethic, commitment, and passion for working with horses.

During this time, I assisted with a wide range of daily yard duties including mucking out, grooming, tacking up, feeding, turning horses in and out, yard maintenance, and helping prepare horses and ponies for lessons. Being in such a busy environment from a young age taught me the importance of responsibility, time management, teamwork, and maintaining high standards of horse care. It also gave me valuable early experience handling different horses and working in a structured, fast-paced yard environment.