Equine Asssistant (Weekends)
- Company: Blackberry Farm Park
- Closing Date: 04-10-2026
- Location: Blackberry Farm Park, Whitesmith, Lewes,
- Salary: £8 to £10.85
- Hours: Fixed term
- Contact Title: Farm Manager
- Contact Name: Pippa Harris
- Contact Email: info@blackberry-farm.co.uk
- Contact Telephone: 01825872912
- How to Apply: Email info@blackberry-farm.co.uk with your CV and cover letter
Description
Equine Team Member
Blackberry Farm Park – East Sussex
We are looking for two enthusiastic and friendly people to join our Equine Team at Blackberry Farm Park.
We have one Saturday position and one Sunday position available, with the opportunity for additional hours during school holidays and busy periods.
Applicants must be aged 16 or over.
This is a very public-facing role, so we are looking for someone who is confident, approachable and enjoys working with children, families and ponies. You will be representing Blackberry Farm Park throughout the day, so a friendly and positive attitude is really important.
What you will be doing
Our Equine Team are involved in all aspects of our pony activities, including:
* Running our daily pony rides for children aged 2+
* Preparing and caring for the ponies before, during and after rides
* Leading pony rides around our sand school
* Helping children feel comfortable and confident around the ponies
* Talking to families and answering questions about our ponies and activities
* Running our Pony Parties, including grooming, hoof picking, plaiting and pony rides
* Helping with our Pony Experience, where children get involved with feeding, grooming, exercising and some stable duties before finishing with a ride
* Assisting with our weekly Pony Club, which takes place every Saturday morning and includes grooming, tacking up, riding, stable care, games and basic horsemanship
* Ensuring children are safely supervised and following our procedures at all times
* Maintaining high standards of pony welfare, cleanliness and general stable areas
* Helping with general stable duties, including mucking out, feeding and keeping the equine area tidy
* Working as part of the wider farm team and helping wherever needed during busy periods
Our Pony Club is aimed at children who genuinely love being around ponies and combines hands-on care with games, riding and basic horsemanship skills.
Our Pony Parties involve an hour of pony activities, including getting to know the ponies, hoof picking, plaiting and a pony ride, while our Pony Experience gives children the opportunity to spend time alongside a member of our team helping with feeding, grooming, exercising and stable duties.
About you
We are looking for someone who is:
* 16+
* Confident and friendly when speaking to the public
* Comfortable working with children and families
* Passionate about ponies and animal welfare
* Reliable and punctual
* Happy working outdoors in all weather conditions
* Confident handling ponies safely
* Comfortable getting stuck into practical jobs such as mucking out and cleaning
* Able to remain calm and professional when the park is busy
* A good team player with a positive attitude
* Comfortable following health, safety and welfare procedures
Previous experience working with ponies is essential, and experience working with children or in a customer-facing environment would be an advantage.
About Blackberry Farm Park
Blackberry Farm Park is a busy family-run attraction in the East Sussex countryside. Our Equine Team play a really important part in our visitors' days, and we want someone who enjoys creating positive experiences for children and their families.
Our pony rides are available throughout the day, subject to availability and weather conditions, and we have a team of carefully selected ponies with different personalities and temperaments.
This isn't a role where you'll be working behind the scenes all day — you'll be interacting with our visitors, leading activities and helping families have a great experience, so being confident and personable is just as important as your equine knowledge.
Hours
Saturday – 1 position available Sunday – 1 position available
Additional shifts may be available during school holidays, events and particularly busy periods.
If you love ponies, enjoy working with children and families and aren't afraid to get stuck in, we'd love to hear from you!
