Ponds Equestrian - Senior Equine Groom Apprenticeship

Ponds Equestrian is Fiona Kashel, an international event rider who competes and produces horses up to an advanced level as well as running the livery yard. She is looking for an experienced candidate with good 'horse sense' to join her team on her big 50 box livery yard in Surrey.

Wage

• £16,640 for your first year, then could increase depending on your age
• National Minimum Wage rate for apprentices
• Minimum wage rates (opens in new tab)

Training Course

• Senior equine groom (level 3)

Hours

• Hours will be 40+ per week over 5 days to include 1 weekend day per week. Days and times to be confirmed.
• 40 hours a week

Start Date

• Tuesday 1 September 2026

Duration

• 1 year 6 months

Positions Available

• 1

What You'll Do at Work

The position would involve all the usual yard duties including:

• Mucking out, sweeping yard
• Turning out and bringing in
• Feeding
• Filling hay nets and water buckets
• Putting horses on and off the horse walker
• Tacking up and untacking
• Responsibilities involving the supporting of the running and management of the yard and dealing with clients
• Potential of riding for the right candidate

Where You'll Work

Ponds Equestrian
Brook Lane, Shere
Surrey
GU5 9JL

Apprenticeships include time away from working for specialist training. You’ll study to gain professional knowledge and skills.

Training Provider

• HADDON TRAINING LIMITED

What You'll Learn

Course contents:

• Promote, monitor and maintain safe working practices at all times and comply with current health, safety and security policies and procedures (including PPE). Contribute to risk assessments.
• Organise, supervise and carry out all yard and field duties, day to day rotas and routines including liaising with vet, farrier and other visiting specialists. Maintain and organise basic yard based records including farrier, worming, vaccinations, etc.
• Monitor, maintain and assess quality of stocks and supplies of feed and bedding. Evaluate, prepare and maintain stabling and grassland for horses. Manage horses stabled and at grass. Implement measures to prevent and control the spread of disease. Coordinate waste minimisation, environmental and sustainable working practices. Supervise admission of a new horse and carry out an initial assessment, to include record keeping and health status
• Identify and discuss main superficial muscles and structure of the lower leg and foot. Assess and evaluate a horse including conformation, action, condition and fitness. Assess welfare (including health), recognise and treat common minor ailments and injuries. Administer first aid and treatments under veterinary advice to include, poultices, dressings and bandages. Administer permitted oral and topical treatments under direction. Take temperature, pulse and respiration rates of the horse.
• Identify and use appropriate methods to handle or restrain a horse. Prepare a range of horses for different types of work or competition to include grooming, clipping, trimming, pulling and plaiting. Recognise and discuss hoof balance. Demonstrate the correct procedure for removal of a shoe in line with current legislation.
• Plan and implement diets and feeding regimes. Organise the feed room and stock rotation.
• Coordinate the preparation for travelling horses including supplies, equipment etc. Plan the transportation of horses by road taking into account current guidelines, documentation requirements and procedures. Prepare a horse for transport, load and unload safely following current health and safety protocol. Supervise and care for horses during and after transportation.
• Prepare and lunge a horse for exercise using various types of equipment appropriately.
• Use correct terminology, paperwork, pedigree knowledge and hygiene practices within regular stud work. Assist with recording breeding information as appropriate. Be able to tease and make recommendations on subsequent actions. Assist with the preparation for coverings. Prepare a foaling environment and assist during normal foaling, to include examination of the placenta. Recognise non-normal foaling events and the actions to be taken. Manage, monitor and maintain routine care, well-being and handling of breeding and youngstock. Assist with successful weaning processes and implement fostering programmes and care of orphan foals. Monitor, maintain and manage the health and well-being of breeding and youngstock. Present a male horse correctly for inspection.
• Prepare a turnout for exercise and competition. Harness up and put to with an assistant a pair turnout. Drive a single turnout in a training area and on the highway demonstrating safe rein handling and whip use. School the turnout in basic correct way of going. Exercise horses/ponies in a non driving environment, including being able to lunge or Long rein in an enclosed area to improve the horse and to maintain and embed the horse in correct way of going, using a variety of equipment. Prepare comprehensive equipment lists for shows and events for drivers, horses, carriages and portable stabling.
• Discuss and initiate methods of loading and transportation of equipment. Design, coordinate and review a fittening and feeding programme for competition turnout including physiotherapy where necessary. Evaluate the use of specialist equipment in the fittening and training of driving horses.
• Handle Thoroughbred racehorses in and out of full training including young horses and those with training problems. Contribute to the early education and effective training of the horse to prepare for, and improve racecourse performance
• Assist in introducing young horses to equipment and tack. Ensure compliance with all industry regulatory requirements at the races or sales. Prepare horses at the race and assist with saddling up and the parade ring procedures
• Clean and prepare equipment for work and competition to the appropriate standard. Prepare horses for work and competition including selecting and fitting correct discipline specific saddlery and equipment. Exercise a variety of horses in all paces with and without stirrups maintaining an established position showing balance, independence and a supple seat. Ride horses of varying levels of fitness and training for exercise, understanding the type of work needed to maintain fitness. School a variety of fit horses with refined and coordinated aids showing feel, respect and an understanding of the horse’s way of going to develop the horse appropriately and according to instruction. Ride appropriate exercises including transitions, variation of pace, lateral movements to improve and develop work. Ride a variety of exercises over ground poles at canter, to enable progression to ride, where practical, over a course of show jumps and cross country fences, showing confidence and control, in a balanced and secure position. Design, implement and review work and fitness programmes.
• Clean and prepare equipment for work and competition to the appropriate standard. Prepare horses for work and competition including selecting and fitting correct discipline specific saddlery and equipment. Coordinate and supervise maintenance programmes for the establishment. Monitor the choice and quality of supplies and suppliers. Promote the business through word of mouth, advertising, social media and the internet. Plan, organise and implement a variety of events/ shows or activities, whilst constantly looking for ways to diversify and improve the business. Deliver, monitor, review and improve customer care and satisfaction. Carry out office duties including using IT for budgets and record keeping. Implement, record and review a programme for recovery, recuperation or rehabilitation. Design and review work and fitness programmes and implement non-ridden exercise regimes. Prepare and long rein a horse for exercise.