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CAFRE

Vickki Poole – CAFRE Alumni

Vickki Poole, from Londonderry graduated from the College of Agriculture, Food and Rural Enterprise (CAFRE) Enniskillen Campus in June 2016.

Why did you decide to study at CAFRE?

I have always known that I wanted to work with horses so I decided to study at CAFRE because I knew it would help me gain the knowledge I needed to work in the industry. Once I completed my GCSEs, I applied to study the Level 3 in Equine Management. It is a two year course with a good balance of classroom based and practical opportunities – the facilities are excellent!

 What is your current job and responsibilities?

I am currently working as a groom at Paul Schockemöhle competition stables in Germany. My job involves looking after showjumping horses at home and at competitions. As a groom, I am assigned a number of horses to take care of. Along with the rider, I ensure that the horse’s day-to-day needs are met for example feeding, grooming and exercise. I also make sure that other aspects such as vet and farrier needs are taken care of.

What is the best thing about your job?

There are a lot of things I love about my job – I love getting to work with amazing horses but I also enjoy working with so many professional people from all over the world. For me, it is super important that the groom and the rider have a close bond and that you are both on the same page when it comes to caring for the horses. I am fortunate to work alongside a very talented rider from Germany. There are many people from around the world who come here to work as grooms, riders or assistant riders and there is always something to learn.

What is the greatest challenge of your job?

I wouldn’t say that there are many challenges however sometimes having so many people working here can also be a disadvantage! Sometimes when you are working with people from all over the world, they may have different views or have been trained to do things in a different way to you. Mostly this is a positive aspect of my job as we can all learn from each other.

What is your fondest memory of your time at CAFRE?

I have so many fond memories of my time at CAFRE including meeting so many wonderful people and making lifelong friends. I loved riding out the racehorses in the morning and I had the opportunity to compete at Balmoral Show and at the Northern Ireland Festival at Cavan Equestrian Centre.

Have you undertaken further training since leaving CAFRE?

Not yet! Studying the Level 3 in Equine Management gave me a great knowledge base and has allowed me to travel the world doing a job I love. At the moment, I am enjoying my work but who knows what the future will hold!

Would you recommend studying at CAFRE?

I would highly recommend studying at CAFRE to anyone with the interest in equine and showjumping. It will equip you with employability skills for life and there are superb facilities at Enniskillen. I was able to gain knowledge into other elements of the equine industry such as stable management and business, which are all very important. Being able to work and study something you are passionate about makes life easy!

What advice would you give a new graduate?

Follow your heart and do not let anyone talk you out of following your dreams. The world is a huge place, don’t ground yourself in one place – take the opportunity to travel and see the world but most of all just enjoy every moment.