SEEKING HELP AROUND HORSES FROM END OF FEBRUARY ONWARD!
Hi, I am Nicola owner of the farm and Veterinarian. I work 7 months in Italy on horses and 5 months in Laos on elephants. I am in Italy from february to september and in Laos during the winter months. The farm is a 85 hectares property with a stone house from the 17th century. 35 hectares consist in horse paddocks. Located in central Tuscany at 15 kms from the coast and 200 mt. of altitude we have very mild winter end fresh summer due to the sea breeze.
The farm manager is Tommaso and when we have helpers around horses the work is going to be shared with him. He lives at the farm with his wife Nina end daughter Oana, while my two kids, Nicolò and Giulia, are grown enough to frequent the boarding school in Florence.
At the farm we provide mantainance and reproductive services to brood mares owners. Colts born at the farm are usually moved to the auction or training center when 20 months of age. Artificial insemination and birth assistance are routinely provided as part of the breeding services.
We need help mainly about horse feeding and when we are lucky enough to get somebody skilled with animals we also need youngsters handling (essentially grooming and halter leading). Working hours are tipycally 4 a day 6 days a week but can be also 5 a day 5 days a week. Because feeding is done twice a daily using a small 4 wheel tractor we need basic driving skills. Mucking out can be requested in spring as mares are taken in barn to give birth, but during the rest of the year horses are running out in the big pastures. On project, gardening and renovation can also be part of the volunteer work.
Accomodation can be in a private apartment with independent kitchen or inside the main house depending by the number of helpers and personal preferences. I usually don’t host more than two volunteers at time except for well defined projects in which more than 2 people are needed. If accomodated inside the main house the helper should contribute in meal preparation and reordering.
Food is tipically mediterranean and italian style.

Tuscanian coast

Horse help: feeding, training, moving, grooming, mucking out
Garden: vegetable garden, fruit garden, planting, seeding, growing.
Farm: fencing, building, restauring, fixing, trimming, cleaning, painting
House. help in the kitchen, grocery.

Italian, English, Romanian

Indipendent apartment with bathroom and kitchen, private room with bathroom, shared room with bathroom

You can move from the farm independentely using our bikes if you are fit. Motorcycle hiring can be available on site. Me or somebody of the staff moves from the farm almost every day, but you should adapt to our schedules. The area is great to visit. The sea is at 15 min by car, surroundings are full of art and hystory with ancient settlements of roman and etruscan, the very famous wine area of Bolgheri is nearby.