Isobel Harrison

In my time working at Bransby, I’ve been able to develop my communication skills not only within my yard team, but with the general public. On the days our site is open to the public, communicating with them can be a large part of my day to day role. Many of our visitors have questions about the site, our equines and the work we do, which allows us to provide them with accurate information while also educating the public on proper equine health, care and wellbeing. This job has also provided me with multiple opportunities to grow and expand my own knowledge, building on the skills I developed in college and being able to apply them into my daily work. My role predominantly revolves around working as part of a large team, not only in my own area, but across the charity as a whole. I need to be able to communicate and work appropriately with my team members in order for the work day to run in an orderly fashion and allow as few complications as possible to occur. However, working with equines does pose the risk of not always going smoothly. This means I have also had to develop strong skills in planning and adapting, to be able to provide the equines with the correct care needed to help resurrect the situation.

• Administered prescribed medication, maintaining horse's optimal health.
• Ensured safety of animals with secure housing and fencing arrangements.
• Maintained high standards of equine welfare by performing regular health checks.
• Promoted animal welfare by strictly adhering to ethical treatment guidelines whilst handling horses.
• Applied preventative treatments against common equine diseases; ensured good overall horse health.
• Monitored horse behaviour for signs of distress or illness; provided timely medical intervention when necessary.
• Communicated effectively with vets during routine check-ups or emergencies.
• Assisted farrier during shoeing process to ensure comfort and mobility of horses.
• Led horses to and from stables and fields safely to reduce likelihood of injuries.
• Monitored horse welfare and wellbeing, identifying and addressing any unmet needs.
• Filled out daily logs and incident reports to record equine data.
• Implemented bio-security measures to protect horses and staff.

In my 3 years working here I watched myself grow as a person. When I took on this role as a shy and reserved individual, I was nervous about communicating with guests. However, I quickly managed to overcome this and began to truly thrive on speaking with guests. This role not only allowed me to communicate with adult guests, but also young children as our pony rides catered to children ages 2 - 7 years. Speaking to guests of all meant I had to develop different communication skills so I could comfortably speak with all guests, as children don’t have as large of a language skill as adults. I also needed to develop my skill to be able to communicate with customers in a calm, friendly and polite manner at all times, even when said customers became angry and upset. An example of this is when guests unfortunately missed their allocated time slot, I had to direct them to guest services, as there was nothing I could offer to correct the situation and provide them with the best experience, as we had to work to a strict schedule. However, I was able to provide them with the correct information and directions of who to speak to, so that their situation could be resolved.

• Supervised loading and unloading from transport vehicles to prevent injury during travel.
• Conducted daily inspections of stables to maintain cleanliness and hygiene.
• Performed grooming tasks; achieved shiny, healthy coats on all horses.
• Mucked out stables and yards in line with schedule.
• Tacked up and untacked horses before and after outings.
• Led horses to and from stables and fields safely to reduce likelihood of injuries.
• Replaced bedding in thoroughly cleaned stalls for hygienic animal living quarters.
• Cleaned and maintained leads, bridles and saddles.
• Prepared horses for lessons, trail rides and competitions.
• Cleaned and brushed horses' coats for silky smooth finished look.

• Operated cash register accurately, ensuring correct change was given back to customers.
• Offered exceptional customer service with a friendly demeanour and quick service.
• Followed health regulations strictly to ensure food safety.
• Performed dishwashing duties efficiently, keeping the kitchen tidy and organised.
• Managed cash handling procedures, ensuring accuracy in transactions.
• Maintained inventory of food items to avoid shortages.
• Stocked shelves regularly, avoiding any shortage of products or ingredients.
• Provided exemplary service to students, staff and visitors.
• Operated equipment in a safe and efficient manner.
• Restocked condiments, beverages and utensils per expected use levels.
• Completed kitchen cleaning close down duties at end of day, readying areas for next shift.
• Used kitchen equipment as instructed and to safety protocols.
• Observed health and hygiene standards to minimise food contamination.
• Kept kitchen areas clean, orderly and well-stocked for smooth service.
• Cleaned food preparation and storage areas in line with schedule.

I was also provided with the opportunity to provide beverages during a staff event after college hours, which gave me with more communication opportunities.