The job of a Yard Manager is varied and on the whole very demanding. As so much depends on the yard, it is impossible to describe a typical day but as this site is dedicated to Clyn Du Riding Centre, the information is based on the job on its manager, Rhian Rees.
Rhian has always been around horses and left school at the earliest opportunity to become well enough qualified to work at a yard. Before Clyn Du she worked at a Competition Yard and an Equestrian Centre.
Her day at Clyn Du starts at 9 a.m. By this time Proprietor Bobby Vaughan-Jones has already started the routine work of the day by getting in the horses and ponies that will be in use.
There are over 30 equines at the centre and most of them are brought in at some time during the day. First, their hooves have to be picked to check for any damage. Foot damage is potentially one of the most serious ailments a horse can suffer and at best will put him out of action - at worst, a foot injury can be life-threatening.
All the equines have to be groomed carefully. Like all good proprietors, Bobby will not allow her horses to leave the stables looking dirty or unkempt. being a good Yard Manager, Rhian doesn't have to be reminded!
Each horse take an average of 20 minutes to groom but the time is approximate and can vary considerably, depending on the weather conditions and whether the horse has found some glorious mud to wallow in!
While school horses and ponies take around 20 minutes each, the horses used for eventing and competing are generally groomed for an hour every day. This improves the muscle tone and therefore helps to keep them fit.
The yard has to be swept. Horses brought in from the fields will normally deposit some mud from their hooves as they are led across the yard and have been known to deposit more noxious substances! It is vital to keep a yard clean and free of all debris. To begin with, a scruffy yard reflects badly on the Proprietor and Yard Manager. However, there are more practical reasons for ensuring everything is pristine; a yard with general litter strewn around will be a hazzard for horses. Anyone who has spent time in their company knows that something as innocent as a crisp packet can cause a major trauma for a horse. Imagine what could happen if a child was on board when the threatening object "attacked" the horse... Litter also harbours rats and mice - not what your average rider wants to meet as he/she prepares for a lesson!
The horses not brought in for the day will need to be checked on and so will the pasture. Are there any fences down? Have any trees blown over or any new obstructions found their way into the fields? While most riding centres are run on private land, it is usual for people to walk the fields in search of blackberries, mushrooms or just to walk the dog. Clyn Du actually has a public footpath running across the land. People rarely cause deliberate damage but a gate left open or a fence weakened can be a nightmare for a riding school.
However well-fenced the fields are at Clyn Du, some ponies make it their ambition to escape to pastures new! Copper, a cheeky chestnut gelding, will get through any gap he can fit his head through - and he has a small head! Horses which break into resting fields will find the grass is greener on the other side - but then there's the risk of collic and laminitis. Copper simply puts on weight, but even this is a problem as it effects his work and an over-weight pony is susceptible to the same health problems an over-weight adult faces.
Rhian shares the instructing duties with Bobby and spends at leat 2 hours every day teaching. This includes Saturday as it is the day most people favour riding! So, a Yard Manager generally works a 6 day week.
Instructing is a big responsibility. Up to 6 people may form a ride and the instructor has to ensure their safety and enjoyment as well as their improvement. More is written on instructing elsewhere but when the inevitable happens and someone falls off, there are forms to fill in and records to keep. Clyn Du is noted for its safety and thankfully serious accidents are rare. However, instructors have to be vigilant and aware of what to do in the event of a problem.
Every thriving yard will have youngsters to bring on and Clyn Du is no exception. Rhian can expect to ride at least three horses a day and the days leading to competitions are even busier.
Bringing on young horses is an important job. All equines, like people, have their own personalities and respond to different stimuli. It is important that they are understood and subsequently well-schooled to prepare them for beginner riders. You will usually get advice on what your mount likes and doesn't like before riding him or her for the first time. Obviously, dangerous horses are never used in the school but one may have a tendency to nip, another may threaten to kick if the rider gets too close behind, another may have a sensitive girth area and so it goes...
After exercise and before being turned out, horses and ponies need feeding. A good Yard Manager will have worked out a diet for every equine and will not even have to refer to a schedule to organise the evening meal!
After dinner, there's the feed and water buckets to clean ready for the next day. There's the food store to check and orders to place when various ingredients run low.
Mucking-out is a less than glamorous job but it has to be done. When the equines have done their bit they are turned out and their stables, boxes and ties have to be cleaned. Straw or sawdust bedding has to be clean and dry and anything that is soiled is thrown out. It's anyone's guess as to how much muck a yard manager has to shift in an average week!
While these are the basic jobs, there are other responsibilities too. Clyn Du is the local RDA centre and the yard manager is called on to assist, along with any volunteers who turn up. Bobby and Rhian keep a keen eye on proceedings and, of course, take the lead with the riding activities. RDA is not jsut about allowing disabled people to sit on a horse - exercise is vital to them and there are various activities they need to do.
Clyn Du is the centre for the local Pony Club and while Rhian is not directly involved, she has general responsibilities such as preparing ponies for mounted rallies and sometimes supervises the young riders. During Pony Camp she helps with instruction and has all her duties to fulfil along with managing the young members!
When all is well, this is a typical week but problems occur from time to time and have to be sorted. Injured or sick horses are a problem. The Proprietor will make the decision to call in the vet but the Yard Manager will assist with the care of the sick equine and this adds to the day's responsibilities.
Well, this just about sums up what a yard manager at a small but thriving riding centre has to take in her stride. It's a highly responsible job but rarely well-paid. The hours are long and sometimes the working conditions are appalling when the weather is inclement. Rhian works 6 days a week and generally doesn't finish until 6 p.m.
If you think you can hack it, it is advisable to get some work experience behind you - do a couple of weeks in the summer and try again in the winter when conditions are wet and cold. It's a great job if you love horses - but you have to want to do it and not for the money, either!
