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Work Your Socks Off
Rosie and I meet huddled over a cup of coffee in a farmhouse kitchen in Yorkshire and I’m intrigued to find out how she ended up here after leaving Poland 10 years ago. “Well when a great opportunity comes about you take it right?” Carry on Rosie, I’m intrigued…
“I always wanted to work with horses. 100% I was going to make them my career, spurred on by my mum to do something I love and quietening the advice of my dad to get a “proper job” by showing him how committed I was. At 16 I left home and spent four years at college in Poland learning about everything to do with horses as well as fitting in other academic subjects. We worked 14 hour days and had to hitch hike to the yard everyday if we wanted to ride. I was so keen to learn that I did it without questioning why, even in the middle of winter we’d wait on the side of the road for a car, it was that or a 50 minute walk, which we often ended up doing. Most of the kids at college wanted an easy life and weren’t willing to drop their social life for their career. Of the 30 starters less than half finished the four years, only 2 of us are still actively working with horses now – if they had really wanted it they would have work harder”.
“I’ve never been much of a planner and am a “yes man” through and through. It all started when I got introduced to Chris Bartle from The Yorkshire Riding Centre at Strzegom Horse Trials ten years ago. My trainer at the time recommended me to Chris, his response - “sure, she can come over”. And that was that. So through word of mouth and a solid recommendation I would soon be heading to the YRC to spend a year learning from a master of the equine world, pretty cool hey! I came to the UK with one bag and no idea what to expect, I wasn’t even sure where I would be living! One year turned into four and before I knew it I felt like part of the furniture at the YRC. I would look after Chris’s horses whilst he was away and ride schooling liveries that came in. I had the pleasure of looking after and riding Chris’s great partner Word Perfect II in his retirement and Opposition Buzz was also around a lot for training or schooling when Nicola Wilson was away, it was a pleasure to care for such incredible horses. There were dressage horses, eventers and point to pointers on the yard so there was never a dull day and I learnt so much working hands on with the horses.
My time at YRC gave me an incredible amount of experience but sadly after a long winter struggling with pain in my joints I was diagnosed with Hyper-Mobility Syndrome and came to the conclusion that I couldn’t sustain a physically demanding job anymore. Strong painkillers helped me get through the last few months of that cold winter and I went in search of a “normal” job. I found myself at a furniture store where I spent 4 years in sales and interior design. Happy enough but with an aching feeling in my soul I started to ride horses again and help at YRC when I could. They gave me lessons in return and I loved being involved with horses once more. I realised this was where I belonged and with support from my boyfriend and those around me I did a U-turn!
Currently, I look after 5 horses on a private yard, doing morning and evening yard duties 5 days a week. I help manage the YRC website and also dabble with photography as well as doing leatherwork and rug repairs. I take painkillers every day to stabilise my Hyper-Mobility Syndrome and am happy back doing what I love. Oddly, I had more negative comments during my time in furniture sales than I ever have working with horses. In fact, when I first interviewed for the sales job, the owner of the company said “if you’ve worked with horses you must be a caring and hard working person”.
I’ve been incredibly lucky in life. I’ve never owned my own horse, always relying on the kindness of owners to ride and I’ve never turned down an opportunity. I don’t regret a thing, it’s been hard work with long and exhausting days but to spend every day with horses in the open air makes me very thankful. If you’re 16, reading this and pondering your next move my advice would be if you’ve a chance of doing something – for goodness sake do it. You’re young and will enjoy working outside, working with horses will give you a strong work ethic and you’ll learn transferable skills if you decide to change career in a few years. Good luck, work your socks off.”
Rosie x
@kinatazs
