Equestrian CV Example
An equestrian CV should highlight your horse management experience, riding qualifications, and ability to care for horses across disciplines such as competition, breeding, or livery yard management.
Recommended template: Modern
Key Skills to Include
Quick Tips
- Include your BHS or other equestrian qualifications and competition achievements.
- Highlight the number and types of horses you have cared for.
- Mention any experience training riders or managing livery operations.
- Demonstrate your knowledge of equine health, nutrition, and welfare requirements.
Ready to build your CV?
Start with the Modern template and customise it for your animal care role.
How to Write Your Equestrian CV
An equestrian CV needs to combine practical horse care expertise with evidence of organisational and interpersonal skills. Employers in the equine industry want to see that you can manage horses to a high welfare standard, handle the physical demands of yard work, and communicate effectively with clients, colleagues, and professionals such as vets and farriers. Your CV should reflect your qualifications, hands-on experience, and genuine passion for the industry.
CV Structure
Use a reverse-chronological format that leads with your profile and qualifications. Each role should include the type of yard or facility, the number of horses in your care, and the disciplines or breeds you worked with. List practical responsibilities followed by specific achievements such as competition results, occupancy improvements, or health outcomes. Keep the CV to two pages and ensure your BHS or equivalent qualifications are visible early in the document.
CV Format
Opt for a clean, professional template that is easy to read. Equestrian employers often scan CVs quickly, so use clear headings and bullet points. Avoid overly decorative layouts. Include your contact details, driving licence status, and willingness to live in or on-site if applicable, as these are common requirements in equestrian roles.
CV Profile Examples
Experienced Equestrian Professional
BHS Stage 4 qualified equestrian with nine years of experience managing livery yards and competition horses across eventing and dressage disciplines. Skilled in all aspects of horse care including nutrition planning, injury rehabilitation, and schooling young horses to a high standard. Proven ability to maintain a yard of 30 horses while coordinating staff rotas and client relationships.
Competition Yard Manager
Dedicated equestrian professional with a strong background in competition yard management, responsible for preparing horses and riders for affiliated events at regional and national level. Experienced in stable management, fitness programming, and liaising with veterinary surgeons and farriers. Known for maintaining excellent welfare standards while meeting the demands of a busy competition schedule.
Riding Instructor & Yard Supervisor
Passionate BHS qualified riding instructor transitioning into a senior yard management role, bringing seven years of experience teaching riders from beginner to intermediate level. Skilled in assessing horse and rider combinations, developing lesson plans, and ensuring safety across indoor and outdoor arenas. Committed to promoting best practice in equine welfare and client satisfaction.
Summarise your qualifications, years of experience, and the types of yards or disciplines you have worked in. Mention the number of horses you have managed and any standout achievements such as competition placings or yard improvements.
Key Skills for Your Equestrian CV
Horse Care & Husbandry
Providing comprehensive daily care including grooming, feeding, mucking out, and monitoring horse health and behaviour.
Riding Instruction
Teaching riders of varying abilities in flatwork, jumping, and hacking while prioritising safety and progression.
Stable Management
Organising daily yard routines, managing bedding and feed supplies, and maintaining clean, safe stable environments.
BHS Qualifications
Holding British Horse Society qualifications that demonstrate competence in riding, horse care, and teaching standards.
Competition Experience
Preparing and competing horses in affiliated events such as British Eventing, British Dressage, or British Showjumping.
Feeding & Nutrition
Designing balanced feeding programmes tailored to individual horses' workload, condition, and dietary requirements.
First Aid for Horses
Recognising signs of injury or illness and administering basic first aid while awaiting veterinary attention.
Yard Management
Overseeing all operational aspects of a yard including staff coordination, client liaison, and health and safety compliance.
Equine Health Monitoring
Conducting routine health assessments and maintaining accurate records of veterinary treatments, vaccinations, and worming.
Work Experience Examples
For each role, provide context about the yard size and type, then list your core responsibilities and achievements. Quantify where possible — number of horses, competition results, occupancy rates, or cost savings. Equestrian employers value practical experience, so be specific about the tasks you performed daily.
Yard Manager
Brookfield Equestrian Centre
Managed a 35-horse livery and riding school yard in Oxfordshire, overseeing daily operations, staff supervision, and client relations for a busy BHS-approved centre.
Responsibilities
- Supervised a team of four grooms and two part-time instructors, coordinating daily routines including turnout, feeding, and mucking out.
- Managed individual care plans for each horse, including feeding schedules, exercise programmes, and veterinary and farrier appointments.
- Organised and ran affiliated and unaffiliated competitions at the centre, managing entries, course building, and stewarding.
- Liaised with livery clients regarding their horses' welfare, progress, and any concerns, ensuring high levels of customer satisfaction.
- Maintained health and safety standards across the yard, ensuring compliance with BHS and local authority requirements.
Achievements
- Increased livery occupancy from 75% to full capacity within eight months by improving facilities and client communication.
- Reduced veterinary call-out costs by 20% through implementing a proactive health monitoring programme and early intervention protocols.
- Successfully prepared three horses for British Eventing regional championships, with two achieving top-ten placings.
Senior Groom
Thornton Park Stud
Provided hands-on care for a stud of 18 thoroughbred broodmares and their foals at a specialist breeding facility in Newmarket.
Responsibilities
- Carried out daily health checks, grooming, and feeding for broodmares at varying stages of gestation.
- Assisted with foaling duties including overnight watch, post-birth checks, and initial foal handling.
- Managed paddock rotation, worming schedules, and farrier visits for the entire herd.
- Maintained accurate breeding records and communicated updates to the stud manager and owners.
Achievements
- Assisted with 14 live foalings over two seasons with zero complications, contributing to a 100% survival rate.
- Identified early signs of colic in a valuable broodmare, enabling prompt veterinary treatment that prevented surgical intervention.
Education & Qualifications
Lead with your BHS qualifications or equivalent, including the level achieved and date. Follow with any equine science degrees, diplomas, or college courses. Include first aid certifications and any specialist training in areas such as nutrition, physiotherapy, or saddle fitting.
BHS Stage 4
Advanced British Horse Society qualification demonstrating high-level competence in riding, stable management, and coaching.
BHS Accredited Professional Coach
Recognised coaching qualification allowing holders to teach riding at approved centres and freelance.
Equine Science Degree
University-level study covering equine health, nutrition, breeding, and management practices.
Equine First Aid Certificate
Practical qualification in recognising equine emergencies and administering appropriate first aid.
Frequently Asked Questions
What should I include on an equestrian CV?
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