Finally getting round to writing a blog! I’ve been in NZ now for almost a month, working at a sporthorse stud farm a few kilometres out of Matamata. To gain work experience for my university degree I wanted to travel to a whole new country and the furthest place I could think of was NZ!

Travelling to NZ was the longest and most boring journey ever, but I arrived here in one piece and am having an amazing time NZ reminds me a bit of Ireland, not many people, lots of fields and cows, lots of rain in spring! Make sure you pack clothes for every sort of weather – since I’ve been here it’s been rainy, sunny, windy and frosty!

A typical day begins around 7am when we have to get up and feed out, maybe even moving the herd of horses to a different paddock to graze. Back to the house for breakfast (a big big breakfast is needed!) then back out to the yard by 9 to start cleaning out boxes, moving the stallions to their paddocks and changing silage and water.

Then the training begins. At the start, I worked with two very well-trained horses to practise my Natural Horsemanship techniques. Since then I’ve started riding the geldings, experimenting with bareback riding which (I’ve discovered) is fantastic for abs! Lunch is usually around 2pm then back outside for more training. There’s never a shortage of jobs to do on a farm – horses have to be brushed, paddocks rotated, constructing fences, general maintenance work, feeding…the list goes on! Recently a new foal was born and another one is due next week, we’ve also been artificially inseminating the mares in season so there’s plenty to do!

The day ends around 6pm and then its back to the house to cook dinner, everyone mucks in, then relaxing for the rest of the evening.

Out of work, there is lots to do in the surrounding area. I’ve visited the hot mineral spa at Te Aroha with the girls which was absolute bliss, and reasonably priced. I’ve got plans to skydive, go to a Waikato rugby match in Hamilton, bungy jump in Rotorua and visit a traditional Maori village all before I leave. I’ve travelled up the Coromandel Peninsula to pick up some mares, and the scenery was absolutely beautiful, even if it was chucking it down!

The people are great too, it’s so good to travel halfway around the world and still find great people. Tina runs the stud and trains and competes the horses, then there’s Naho from Japan who, like me, is gaining valuable work experience. Jenny is a German Intern who left a few weeks ago to go travelling but is returning at Christmas. Everyone has made me feel very welcome, we have a great laugh together.

This Internship is a lot of hard work, but it’s so rewarding when you make progress with a difficult horse, definitely puts a smile on your face! The first month has gone by so quickly, can’t believe I only have two left before I have to return to the UK!

If you’re interested in an Equine Internship in New Zealand like Annette’s, visit the Equine Internships page for details on the programme and to check out example placements available.

Alternatively you can call the experts on Australia and New Zealand internships on 0207 353 7699 to have a chat about an internship for you.