Photo by Maria Linden.
As the eventing masses begin their migration south for the winter, many are still looking to fill working student positions. If you’re in a position to do so, being a working student is an invaluable step in learning the lay of the land in an upper level eventing environment.
You’ll come away with countless experiences, a finely tuned work ethic and a fierce appreciation for the work that goes into maintaining an equine business.
We are collecting open positions and will continue updating this post through the winter. Riders, if you are in need of a working student, please comment or email us at [email protected] so we can update this post. The same goes for if the position fills; we will take down filled positions as we find out.
Send in your application and pack your bags! We’ll live vicariously through you as we tough it out through the winter. And here’s our first success story from our working student listings:
Success Story from Siobhain O’Connor: “Thank you, Eventing Nation, for spreading the word of working student positions. I received a record 30 applications. A little overwhelming. I have now filled the position and should have few lined up for the future. By far the cutest application was from a 14-year-old girl who sent me a video of her grooming her donkey. That was the best looking donkey I have seen in a long time. I am really not set up for 14 year olds, but that one made me rethink that a bit.”
Open Working Student Positions
Susie Beale (PA/SC): Immediate opening for a working student with international event rider Susie Beale. Position based in PA until January, at which time candidate will ride and train with Susie in Aiken, SC. Friendly environment with great clients and amazing horses. Shared housing and stipend provided. Possibility for the right candidate to bring own horse. Check the 2014 USEA Leaderboard: #1 Jr. Training Rider, #1 Jr. Novice Rider and #1 Jr. BN Rider are all part of the Cairn O’Mount Team. Interested candidates should contact Chris Adair at 484-868-6581 or email [email protected]. More information about our program can be found on our website.
Hawley Bennett (CA): HBE will be looking for another working student starting December/January. Contact Hawley for more info at [email protected].
Kristen Bond (NJ): Are You Ready Eventing, in South Jersey, is currently looking for a full time, experienced groom/manager. Some riding is possible depending on skill level, but not required. It is a paid position, and nice accommodations are provided. Unfortunately, applicants must be horse free and pet free. Serious applicants please contact Kristen Bond at [email protected].
Lisa Borgia (SC): Working student needed Jan through April in North Carolina near Southern Pines. Room for a horse and housing with a few caveats on the housing. Very light amount of work only four horses in run ins. Email lisa_b50@yahoo.com. Eventing facility/two star competitor.
Auburn Brady (CA): Excell Equestrian in Southern California is currently accepting applications for a working student position. Great opportunity to develop your skills riding, teaching & showing. Potential Income & long term position for the right individual. Contact Auburn Excell Brady 949 228 2827 or [email protected]
Kyle and Jennifer Carter (FL): Carter Eventing is currently accepting applications for working students for the winter season. Come to learn in a proven system with many successful students. Please email resumes to [email protected]. Thanks!
Courtney Cooper (SC/PA): C Square Farm has a year-long working student position available that includes free housing, board for one horse and lessons. You will have the opportunity to live, train and compete in Aiken, SC for three months starting the end of December and be in the heart of Area II for the rest of the year. You will ride different horses and learn the ins and outs of a sales business, as well as dealing with upper level eventers and young stock. If you do not have a horse, there will be riding opportunities! This could develop into a full-time paid position for the right person. If an opportunity like this appeals to you, please contact Courtney at [email protected].
Debi Crowley (AL): Cotton Meadows Farm (CMF) in north Alabama, is looking for a long term live-in working student that is physically fit, a hard worker and has a good attitude. CMF is a smaller upscale boarding and training facility with a focus on eventing and dressage.
Our facility includes excellent amenities for both horse and rider including a large indoor arena with mirrors, a large outdoor stadium ring, and low level cross country fences. In exchange for working 5 days per week performing tasks associated with all aspects of a boarding and training facility, this position provides a private furnished barn apartment, board for one horse, weekly lessons, hauling and coaching to some shows, and a small salary.
Please check the Services page on our website for requirements and additional details. This position is best suited for a lower level event rider that is interested in improving their riding skills and in increasing their knowledge in all areas of horse care and management. Please email Debi ([email protected]) with a resume with references and a recent photo.
Phyllis Dawson (VA): Looking for a long-term working student at Windchase beginning in early 2015. Receive daily lessons, full board for your horse, experience riding multiple horses, housing and shipping to competitions, a package with a value of over $3000 per month – in return for barn work and horse care. You will be part of a top quality Eventing stable, train with an Olympic rider, and learning how to run a successful business. Plenty of riding opportunities and daily instruction, and top class facilities. Check out our website: www.teamwindchase.com. We are in the heart of the Area II Eventing community. Bring your horse, ride and compete – or if you don’t have a horse take lessons on ours. We are looking for dedicated students who can commit to at least six months. Contact Phyllis at [email protected].
Ellen Doughty-Hume (TX/FL) is currently looking for one to two more working students. Included is housing, board, lessons and training. Duties include mucking stalls, feeding, hacking horses, tacking up & some riding depending on candidate’s riding level. You will have the opportunity to show with us; we go to Florida for a few weeks in February and events start here in Area V in March. Possibility for right candidate to be eventually promoted to assistant trainer/instructor to help with building a lesson program. Please contact Ellen @ [email protected] for more info.
Angela Gryzwinski (TX): Tempus Eventing/Angela Grzywinski is looking for a working student beginning Feb 1. Duties include: General barn work, grooming, light riding, and some travel to shows with a barn that is family oriented and has horses and riders from starter level to NAJYRC to CCI***. Included for compensation is housing with all basic utilities, lessons on stable owned horses, and a small salary. There may be an opportunity to bring own horse. A pet is welcome. Own transportation is required. A one year commitment is desired. Please contact Angela at [email protected] or 817-944-2535
Alison Eastman-Lawler (SC/NH) and Apple Tree Farm are looking for a working student for a minimum of one year commitment. Position would be based in Aiken, SC January-April and Hollis, NH for the remainder of the year. Responsibilities include mucking, tack cleaning, feeding, and grooming for shows, and riding multiple horses to the right person. Room for you to bring 1 horse. Housing is provided in both locations. Come be apart of our friendly and easy going team! Please contact Caitlin Dwyer at [email protected] for more information.
Lucinda Fredericks (UK): We are recruiting for a Working Pupil/Apprentice who is a competent rider to join Lucinda, with or without a horse to start at the end February/March. You will need to be able to commit for a minimum of a year. Accommodation is provided onsite. This is a fantastic opportunity to work on a top event yard and learn alongside Lucinda and her team, whilst achieving a qualification at the same time. Please complete an application form which is available on our working pupils page on the website and forward this to Deb at [email protected].
Mikki Kuchta (SC): Aiken Bach Farm is seeking a working student to join us in Aiken, SC from January to April. Seeking independent, motivated person to assist with the care of our competition horses. Involves all aspects of horse care: feeding, turnout, grooming, braiding, mucking and riding (amount of riding depends on skill level). Housing provided, board for one horse, lessons and coaching included. If Young Riders is your goal, this is the place to be. Non-smoker. No pets. Possibility of permanent position. Contact Mikki Kuchta at [email protected]
Olivia Loiacono (CA): OKL Eventing is looking for a full time working student for the 2015 competition year. Applicant must have extensive experience with competition horses and be at least 16 years of age. Responsibilities include stall cleaning, feeding, blanketing, grooming, lunging and some light riding if competent. Compensation is housing, a weekly wage and training on own horse. Location: San Marcos, CA. Please email Olivia at [email protected] for more information.
Elinor MacPhail (FL): Much to our disapproval, our amazing working student, Kayla , is leaving us next month for the freezing tundra. Which means we are now looking for a motivated individual to join us in sunny Florida! Living, board for one horse and all lessons are included. Plenty of saddle time with the opportunity to show some of the younger horses depending on skill level. Position available immediately. For more information, email [email protected].
Joe Meyer (FL): We are still looking for a working student in Ocala starting after Christmas. Great opportunity to ride, train and compete. Bring your horse or ride and compete on of ours. For more info please, contact Ruthie at [email protected].
Pippa Moon (SC): Pippa Moon Training & Sales is looking for a full time working student for at least the winter/early spring season (now until end of April). We are largely a sales business, but also specialize in producing young horses and re training horses from different disciplines. One of our current working students is leaving and thus we have an opening. Compensation is board for a horse (should you have one) lessons, coaching and possibly housing in the right situation. Please visit www.pippamoon.com to learn more about Pippa. Applicants should be over 16yo and have transportation. Contact Pippa at 207-650-9220 or [email protected]
Fergal Nesbitt (IRE): Fergal Nesbitt is looking for a working student in Tipperary, Ireland. Start end of January. Live-in position. Small, private yard. Willingness to compete. [email protected]
Andrea Pfeiffer and Amber Levine (CA) at Chocolate Horse Farm are currently seeking a full time employee. Must be a motivated individual looking to be a team player. No stall cleaning. Mainly grooming with some light riding. Please contact Andrea Pfeiffer at [email protected] with interest.
Selena O’Hanlon (ON): O’Hanlon Eventing is looking for another working student to join our team in Kingston, Ontario, Canada. It is an active busy barn with horses from grassroots to international level. Six days a week with a three-day break every month; 730: a.m. until we finish 🙂 We provide lessons, coaching and accommodation; horse boarding options can be discussed. Students, according to ability, do hacking, lunging and some fitness and practice riding in addition to the daily lesson. Chores include tack cleaning, grooming, stall mucking, paddock and arena maintenance, horse health care, etc. You will learn what it takes to bring horses to the highest levels of this sport. We are looking for a dedicated person who is passionate about horses. If you are seriously interested, please contact Morag O’Hanlon: 613-331-4080, [email protected]
RNS Video Media (IL/Varied): RNS is looking for shooters! Our equipment, your time, all positions paid. Looking for all Midwestern and Eastern areas, must like watching all 3 phases of eventing!! We are also looking for part time editing help, since we’re based in Chicago you would have to be as well for that paid position. Send an email to [email protected].
Fred Scala (IRE) is looking for a working pupil to join his team in Ireland. Hard working, fun and dedicated. The lucky candidate will be surrounded by top quality sport horses and will have regular training with Fred on a range of his horses. Accommodation provided on site. For further information, please contact us. [email protected]
Jane Sleeper (PA/SC): Looking for a motivated working student who wants to ride, train and compete — Your horse, our young horses, plus two professors! We’re in PA Area 2 and travel to Aiken, SC for six weeks to get our event season on course for 2015! We’ll set up a program just for you. Please contact Jane Sleeper Eventing, [email protected], and let’s get started, move up the levels, come join our team.
Lauren Sprieser (VA/FL): Sprieser Sporthorse in Marshall, VA seeks a high-energy and detail-oriented team player to join their team. While we are a dressage barn (run by USDF Gold Medalist Lauren Sprieser and assistant trainer USDF Silver Medalist Allison Spivey), we are in the heart of the eventing Holy Land, with access to the country’s best. The position offers housing, riding opportunities and a salary, as well as a chance to groom and ride in Florida for the winter. Email [email protected] with a resume and at least two non-family references. Position available immediately.
Mara DePuy (VA): Mara DePuy is looking for a long term working student with potential for growth into a paid groom’s position for the right person. More info can be found on her website at MaraDePuyEventing.com.
Suzie Lundergan (SC): Red Horse Stables LLC, located in Aiken, SC, is looking for a few motivated working students to join our team. This would be the perfect opportunity for a pony clubber looking to get on lots of quality horses and work on all the skills necessary to move up the ratings. This position will include all aspects of horse care including grooming, bathing, wrapping (at least practicing ;)) tacking, riding, lunging and nutrition all under the supervision of an H-A graduate pony clubber. If interested please contact Suzie @ 603-845-8379 for a barn tour and interview. This is an exciting opportunity to further your horsemanship as well as riding and does offer the ability to compete to the right rider! Check us out on Facebook to see all the pictures of the horses currently available at RHS.
Ryan Wood (PA): Ryan Wood and Woodstock Eventing are looking for one or two people to add to their team in preparation for the winter. These individuals will travel to Aiken, SC from December 31 through the end of March. Contact Ryan on Facebook for more details.
