Heavy Horse Department Assistants

Heavy Horse Department Assistants work with the equine team to ensure high standards of animal welfare, husbandry and presentation. They also play a vital role in the upkeep and cleanliness of Home Farm. High standards of hygiene are required in all areas to help us comply with our zoonotic disease control measures. While working around the farm, they engage with our visitors by being friendly, helpful and by answering general questions.

What’s in it for you?

·      Becoming part of a friendly and dedicated team

·      Working with equines, learning about their care, husbandry and training

·      Meeting people from all walks of life and making new friends

·      Keeping active

·      Working with the general public

What’s involved?

• The nature of the work will vary depending on the time of year. Two days at Home Farm are rarely the same! You’ll be assisting the staff and fellow volunteers in the day to day running of both the farm and visitor attraction. 

• As an open farm, a lot of what we do is focused on keeping our visitors safe from zoonotic diseases (such as e-coli, campylobacter, and salmonella). The most common way that these can be caught is through contact with animal muck. For this reason, it is vital that all areas open to visitors are kept as clean as possible. Equine and Farm Assistants are key to helping us keep public yards swept & disinfected, fences & surfaces scrubbed and washed.

• The farm day starts at 8.00am and finishes after 5.00pm (3.30pm in the winter). During the main season (February – November) we open to visitors at 10.30am every day. The focus of the work before 10.30 is to get the farm ready and cleaned for opening.    

• Working with the horses will include mucking out, grooming, day to day care and handling, assisting with exercising and training of the horses, care of harness and equipment and partaking in demonstrations and engaging with the public. It is essential that assistants have previous equine experience.

• Once we open, equine assistants continue with the day-to-day management of horses: but with an emphasis on engaging with visitors as they work.

• There are always lots of odd jobs to do around the stables. Equine assistants help with minor maintenance work, such as painting and fencing, weeding and de-cobwebbing.  

• You’ll also get involved with visitor events. This could be “meet the Shire”, horse husbandry demonstrations, agricultural or carriage work and assisting with experience days.

• We are a proper working farm, primarily concerned with rearing livestock for meat. We present ourselves as such, and try to steer away from the conventional “petting farm” image of a lot of farm parks. For this reason, you’ll have a professional and realistic attitude to dealing with our animals. You’ll be expected to work to our high, RSPCA‑approved welfare standards, and report any signs of injury or illness to the Head Horseperson or a senior member of staff.

·      You’ll be providing an extra pair of eyes in terms of managing the Farm Park and its visitors by being aware of possible danger areas. You’ll be able to give advice regarding any damaging behaviour or out of bounds straying and reporting any damage or suggested appropriate improvements.

·      You’ll become familiar with, and then follow, the National Trust’s Health and Safety Policy at all times.  After induction training, you’ll be conversant with and capable of implementing emergency fire, evacuation and accident procedures.

·      On your first morning, you’ll be given initial farm induction and role training. You’ll also attend an estate induction day. In your time with us, you’ll acquire the necessary knowledge of the Farm, its contents, Wimpole estate and the work of National Trust.

·      You’ll give any other appropriate assistance as may be reasonably requested.

All these arrangements are binding in honour only and not intended

to be legally binding.