Chasing The Dream with Rachel Lyon

This article is from the November 2019 Horse Deals magazine.

Age: 18

Where are you from? Warragul, Victoria

Tell us about your riding history. I started riding when I was five years old, on a naughty white pony called Minty. I then proceeded to join pony club and began competing with my second pony Biscuit. I’ve always loved competing and over the years I’ve experienced a range of disciplines. I developed a particular passion for eventing, in which I now compete my six-year-old gelding, Kingfield Ricochet, along with a couple of young horses.

Where have you been based overseas and how did the opportunity arise? I was based in Wiltshire, west of London, near the town of Marlborough. I was really keen to experience the eventing scene in the UK, so last year during year 12 I contacted Team Price on Facebook about working for them this year. Then I developed a resume and cover letter which I emailed to Jonelle.

At Mere Farm, the home of Team Price, there are indoor and outdoor arenas and 25 stables. A yard like this has a number of grooms, a Head Girl, a Second in Charge and riders who compete and school the horses. The property has access to a lot of tracks for trail riding and we drove to a local gallop track a few days a week to do the gallops.

Describe a day’s work. A typical day at Mere Farm started at 7.30am, by which time, early morning feeds had already been given to the horses stabled at night (this task was rostered). We then began skipping out, turning out and bringing in the outside horses to be thoroughly groomed and fed. Tim and Jonelle usually arrived at the yard a few hours after us to begin schooling. We worked through the list of horses to be hacked as soon as all the horses were brought in. At midday we skipped out for a second time, swept the yard, and gave lunch feeds to the horses. In the afternoon we often got a short 10-20 minute lunch break, but this was sometimes lost in a busy day! We then finished off any hacking, jobs or plaiting before horses were turned out again from 3pm. We aimed to feed at around 5pm and clean all gear used that day at the end of every day.

How does the equestrian scene differ to Australia? The scale is huge! Horses and eventing are such a large part of people’s lives, even those not involved. In Australia, it’s a much more niche sport. Something that really surprised me was that no competition is reduced to just the weekend. My first show was on a Monday with 12 horses, and this became the norm! Often the team would arrive home from an international event in the early hours of the morning, before leaving only a few hours later with another set of horses off to a one day! Grooming as a profession is also far more recognised, with competitions for grooms at many of the big events.

Was the reality of your new job different to your expectations, and if so how? I had been fairly well informed by others I knew who had done a similar thing, however I was so surprised how lovely everyone was. I think I had prepared myself for the worst… but I was lucky to be a part of such a friendly, experienced and hardworking yard. The hours were definitely long, and sustaining such a level of intensity throughout the day took some getting used to.

Did you make any mistakes while learning the ropes? Absolutely! I think everyone makes mistakes, especially at the beginning. It is tricky learning all of the horses and their fields (we had over 40), and it can be frustrating for everyone else, however it’s a natural part of learning. By being honest and upfront about what has happened allows you to ensure it doesn’t happen again and earns you respect from your co-workers.

What was it like attending Burghley? Attending Burghley with so many horses and such a fantastic, professional team was one of the most incredible experiences of my life. Whilst as a team we didn’t finish with quite the result we were after, I was still able to see first hand the huge team of people – farriers, vets, physios, grooms, owners and supporters – it took to get a horse to Burghley, and to maintain them throughout the event.

Having worked with the horses – Ringwood Sky Boy, Bango, Xavier Faer and Faerie Dianimo – since returning from their mid-year holidays, and being able to have a part in their fitness work, both in hacking and galloping, was an invaluable learning experience. To be a part of Burghley with Bango in particular, and the feeling when he and Tim jumped clear on Sunday was truly special.

What have you changed about your riding and management back home? Since returning home, I’ve developed a much higher standard for how my horses work, and the work they do. I’ve started incorporating more exercises into their schooling and strive to make every transition or movement better than the last. Despite learning these skills, four months of hacking and galloping didn’t necessarily improve my riding. I lost a lot of core strength and found this very frustrating on the flat when I got home.

How has the experience changed you as a person and as a rider? In my time overseas, I realised and refocused a lot of my goals. Prior to working for Tim and Jonelle, I had a lot of young horses, and worked with pretty much anything that came my way. I realised that if I was to be really serious about moving forward and chasing a career within the eventing scene I needed to be more careful about the horses I take on. My work ethic definitely improved in my time away, by working with a team to get everything done, even if that means doing the less enjoyable jobs.

What are three things you’ve learnt during your time abroad?
- Be efficient. Working in such a big, busy yard, it’s crucial to be as efficient as possible to allow the day to run smoothly and ensure everything is finished by a reasonable hour.
- Keep busy. When working with horses, there is always something that needs to be done, especially at a new yard it’s crucial to keep and look busy. Even if cleaning that bridle wasn’t the highest priority at that point in time, it still contributes to the overall effort of the day, and nothing is worse than doing nothing.
- Make friends. Being able to share experiences and discuss situations is something I found beneficial when working in the UK. Not everything will go to plan all the time, and after a particularly busy or stressful time, it’s these relationships that help you stay positive and keep enjoying the work.

Do you have future plans to head back overseas? Definitely! Working at Mere Farm has cemented in my mind that being involved in eventing at the highest level is what I want to do, so after producing my current horses and developing my riding further in the next few years, I hope to move to the UK indefinitely. The focus on producing young riders and the wealth of knowledge held by the eventing community in England is something I think is unrivalled by the rest of the world.

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