Life's a pony farm
...or sometimes not.
Today will be about my first work in New Zealand, the experiences I made.
So from mid December to mid of January I worked for a family and their horses for accommodation and food. My first impression was very positive, but the longer time I've been there, the worse it got.
But let's start with the beginning- in Paihia I decided that I want to work in a Kiwi family over christmas and new year(most work expects you to commit for min. a month). I already found two families offering horse work, both located near Auckland. Auckland is the biggest city in New Zealand, so I thought going back early would increase my chance of finding work - living in hostels and all those tourist activities bored me extremly. I applied for 4 horse&home jobs and surprisingly got a reply from all of them within two days. The first one was interested in me but could only offer me to work from almost New Year on. The second one needed someone who could drive their kids to school, but they did wanted me and wanted to ask the neighbors to do that for me. Looking back that would have been better than what I ended up with and it was even in the same little town, sadly they told me they could take me when I've already started working. The third was the family I ended up with and the fourth was interested in me but didn't really take iniative to communicate with me.
So now about the time. The day I came I already started to work- I had a one hour train ride and another half an hour by car as I got picked up. No lunch, I got to know the "typical New Zealand" chippy sandwich at their place instead- crunched crisps on toast. Then we already went to pick up hay. Very heavy one. I think it were about 20 balls of hay- putting it on the float, driving back and getting it into the hay shed. And after that the first meeting of their horses - 11 but they had another 2 at their friends house. Feeding haylege and special feeds that were some kind of self-mixed muesli. Had to be made freshly everyday.
I'm shortcutting it now, sorry for that. I realised after a few days that the existence of their horses is completely based on backpackers- I did everything. Getting the covers of the horses in the morning (8 covers), getting those 8 horses to their day paddocks, two horses spend their days across the road. Mucking out paddocks and the first week some garden work after that. One hour of lunch break, then more garden work, getting the horses back in, putting the covers back on- 5 horses hated getting their covers on so I needed to hold them in their halter while putting the cover on. After a few days I was told that I should close the hind leg straps first so the horses don't get tangled in them when the horse runs away and the cover isn't fully closed yet. Nonsense, I tell you. Front first, because the cover will move to the hind end of the horse when it runs forward. After that Sean drove me down to get the haylege, it would have been too long to do it in a wheelbarrow for 11 horses. And then feeding the extra feeds, in the first time the grandma mixed them for me but most time I had to do them myself.
Horse day ended at around 7- but they still wanted me to do the dishes everyday.
After some time I also got to mow all the loans, vacuum their house, sweep the kitchen, do their washing, putting it on the line and folding it.
They went on holiday for 6 days after christmas and I got a to-do list for staying at their home and doing the housekeeping. Cleaning ALL windows(afterwards they told me the windows have never been cleaned after 4 years), Tidying up and cleaning the kitchen cupboard(found a yoghurt expired April 2018 in there)(nice and tidy lasted until the first 5 minutes they came back),vacuuming the hole house, all rooms and washing the kitchen floor + removing the paint that has dripped from painting the ceiling). Watering the plants, feeding chooks and horses and cats and dog, walking to the 5 horses they had at their neighbors every second day to check if everythings ok, that was 10min of walking each way, another 10min each way to the 4 horses at the end of their property every day.
Two days after they came back their "pony camp" started. The 9 little girls slept in the room I was sleeping in before, they told me last minute I can stay to help (already had the next job then). And I should do their photoshooting which I didn't for various reasons. So we, Nat and Lou who came the day before camp, stayed in the HORSE TRUCK to sleep. Very expensive accommodation I tell you. And after the first night the day the kids came, out of the sudden one of us has to sleep with the girls every night. Greeaat.
In total I worked roughly 10 hours a day, 7 days a week. Waay too much for just accommodation and food. And I'm definitely not doing this again in the future!! ':)
But now- pictures!! :D
Blue, a grey 2y/o Welsh Pony Mare
For now,
See ya next time!
Today will be about my first work in New Zealand, the experiences I made.
So from mid December to mid of January I worked for a family and their horses for accommodation and food. My first impression was very positive, but the longer time I've been there, the worse it got.
But let's start with the beginning- in Paihia I decided that I want to work in a Kiwi family over christmas and new year(most work expects you to commit for min. a month). I already found two families offering horse work, both located near Auckland. Auckland is the biggest city in New Zealand, so I thought going back early would increase my chance of finding work - living in hostels and all those tourist activities bored me extremly. I applied for 4 horse&home jobs and surprisingly got a reply from all of them within two days. The first one was interested in me but could only offer me to work from almost New Year on. The second one needed someone who could drive their kids to school, but they did wanted me and wanted to ask the neighbors to do that for me. Looking back that would have been better than what I ended up with and it was even in the same little town, sadly they told me they could take me when I've already started working. The third was the family I ended up with and the fourth was interested in me but didn't really take iniative to communicate with me.
So now about the time. The day I came I already started to work- I had a one hour train ride and another half an hour by car as I got picked up. No lunch, I got to know the "typical New Zealand" chippy sandwich at their place instead- crunched crisps on toast. Then we already went to pick up hay. Very heavy one. I think it were about 20 balls of hay- putting it on the float, driving back and getting it into the hay shed. And after that the first meeting of their horses - 11 but they had another 2 at their friends house. Feeding haylege and special feeds that were some kind of self-mixed muesli. Had to be made freshly everyday.
I'm shortcutting it now, sorry for that. I realised after a few days that the existence of their horses is completely based on backpackers- I did everything. Getting the covers of the horses in the morning (8 covers), getting those 8 horses to their day paddocks, two horses spend their days across the road. Mucking out paddocks and the first week some garden work after that. One hour of lunch break, then more garden work, getting the horses back in, putting the covers back on- 5 horses hated getting their covers on so I needed to hold them in their halter while putting the cover on. After a few days I was told that I should close the hind leg straps first so the horses don't get tangled in them when the horse runs away and the cover isn't fully closed yet. Nonsense, I tell you. Front first, because the cover will move to the hind end of the horse when it runs forward. After that Sean drove me down to get the haylege, it would have been too long to do it in a wheelbarrow for 11 horses. And then feeding the extra feeds, in the first time the grandma mixed them for me but most time I had to do them myself.
Horse day ended at around 7- but they still wanted me to do the dishes everyday.
After some time I also got to mow all the loans, vacuum their house, sweep the kitchen, do their washing, putting it on the line and folding it.
They went on holiday for 6 days after christmas and I got a to-do list for staying at their home and doing the housekeeping. Cleaning ALL windows(afterwards they told me the windows have never been cleaned after 4 years), Tidying up and cleaning the kitchen cupboard(found a yoghurt expired April 2018 in there)(nice and tidy lasted until the first 5 minutes they came back),vacuuming the hole house, all rooms and washing the kitchen floor + removing the paint that has dripped from painting the ceiling). Watering the plants, feeding chooks and horses and cats and dog, walking to the 5 horses they had at their neighbors every second day to check if everythings ok, that was 10min of walking each way, another 10min each way to the 4 horses at the end of their property every day.
Two days after they came back their "pony camp" started. The 9 little girls slept in the room I was sleeping in before, they told me last minute I can stay to help (already had the next job then). And I should do their photoshooting which I didn't for various reasons. So we, Nat and Lou who came the day before camp, stayed in the HORSE TRUCK to sleep. Very expensive accommodation I tell you. And after the first night the day the kids came, out of the sudden one of us has to sleep with the girls every night. Greeaat.
In total I worked roughly 10 hours a day, 7 days a week. Waay too much for just accommodation and food. And I'm definitely not doing this again in the future!! ':)
But now- pictures!! :D
Simba, one of the cats. Catching all birds that fly too low or too slow. His evil side was biting your feet and jumping on you with beating claws into your back and bum out of the nowhere..
Floyd the dog on the day of his shaving. Loves cuddles and reminded me of Grommit
Above and below, Wesley
Treasure
Blue, a grey 2y/o Welsh Pony Mare
Robbie
Cosmo, my favorite out of all 13 horses💗
For now,
See ya next time!
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