Experience life and explore the outdoors in Bratya Daskalovi, Bulgaria

Infos

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  Description

  I am German, have lived in Bulgaria for 15 years now ( 7 in Sofia and 8 in the village - prior to Bulgaria I've lived in the USA (on and off), 9 years in Paris and 22 in Amsterdam), former Project Manager with large US company, since 10 years working as freelance translator. I started a small trail riding stable in my village 6 years ago with 3 horses and 3 ponies but due to the Corona crisis I had to restructure at the end of 2021 and have sold the big horses.
  
  
  I am still offering pony riding for children AND I am busy training the ponies to eventually pull a small cart. This means lunging them and working with them on long reigns and also do walks with them like that. If we are 2 people we can do a lot more ! :) Since I am not retired but working as translator, language tutor as well as voice-over artist, I could possibly need help bringing the 3 ponies out to grazing in the morning and back to stable in the evening, mucking out their stable/house paddock, grooming the ponies, possibly taking one or two of the older (small Shetland) ponies out on walks with children on pony-back.
  
  A 7-year old Welsh-B pony mare still requires more training (lunging,other ground work, taking her on walks)- she has been backed but needs more work. Any proof of experience in horseback riding or equestrian certificates would be great! To actually ride her, you need to have the necessary experience, you shouldn't be too tall and have the right weight ( 65 kg max).
  
  Especially in the spring there is always a lot of work in the garden as well and grass has to be trimmed regularly underneath the fences around the grazing fields. Year round new fences may need to be put up and horse poo needs to be removed from the grazing fields on a daily basis. There is always something to do - sometimes also a little handy work for small repairs or rearranging storage rooms. Don't worry, you won't be overworked as I also want to do things myself - I need the exercise :) I do like it when volunteers take the initiative and "see" things that they think need to or could be done :) If you can cook that would also be great - I love to cook and bake but sometimes simply lack the time due to translation projects I'm working on - we could then take turns in cooking :) . I currently have 6 dogs of which 2 are rescues, waiting to be adopted in western Europe - they love to be taken on walks and be groomed and of course get lots of attention (! :)) AND 1 cat as well...I used to be a performing singer/songwriter - no time for much of that anymore and I also live too remote...
  
  I may also occasionally need "farm-sitters" so that I can get away to visit family in Germany or just have a break.

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  Types d'aide et opportunités d'apprendre

  Jardinage

  Bricolage et construction

  S’occuper des animaux

  Aide dans une ferme

  Cuisine/repas pour la famille

  Aide à la maison

  Entretien général

  Home sitting
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  Echange culturel et opportunités d'apprendre

  Travelers would experience life in a very small but nonetheless "international" Bulgarian village inhabited by ethnic Bulgarians, Roma as well as a few other foreigners ( UK, NL, GER).

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  Aide

  I need volunteers who enjoy working with ponies: grooming, lunging, taking for walks and lead the ponies with little riding guests on pony walks. Also help with riding lessons on the ponies or when kids come to do free riding on the ponies. These last two things have not happened in the past 4 years but I am really hoping that it will pick up this year! I would love to find a volunteer that is "petite" enough to ride my 6 year old Welsh-B pony "Della". So you should not be too tall and not weigh more than 60-65 kg to ride her. And of course, as mentioned above, help with feeding, watering, taking them out to their day field in the morning and bringing them back in at night.
  
  
  Besides the work with the animals there are always things that need to be done on my little farm. Setting up new pastures for the ponies with electric fencing, trimming grass and weed below the electric fencing, lawn mowing and such.
  
  PLEASE BE AWARE THAT IN THE SUMMMER MONTHS JUNE, JULY, AUGUST, due to the heat in the daytime all outdoor activities are best done BEFORE 11:00 in the morning and AFTER 19:00. Thus best be prepared for early rises around 6 in the morning! :) You can then chill during the hot hours of the day - either in the garden by the little pool or in your cool room or in the kitchen :)

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  Langues parlées

  Allemand: Courant
  Anglais: Courant
  Français: Courant
  Hollandais: Courant
  Bulgarian: Intermédiaire

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  Hébergement

  Room in my house. In the summer or other seasons, weather permitting, I also have plenty of room for camping in a tent on my property.

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  Autres infos...

  Buses do run from and to Chirpan, the closest little town ( 30 km), though not very often. The village is great for just relaxing when you're not working, or want to go hiking, mountain biking or fishing in one of several fishing lakes in the vicinitiy. Chirpan has a couple of museums, a brand new paleanthology museum and one for a famous Bulgarian writer (House Museum PK Yavorov). Ruins from Thracian and Roman times can be found in this area. Beautiful Plovdiv is at 50 km and Stara Zagora at 30 km distance.

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  Informations complémentaires

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    Accès Internet

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    Accès Internet limité

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    Nous avons des animaux

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    Nous sommes fumeurs

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    Familles bienvenues

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  Possibilité d’accueillir les digital nomads

  Good wifi connection - need it for my work as translator and online language tutor as well :) There are several options as to where to set up the digi nomad office in the house,

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  Espace pour garer des vans

  The space would be outside my property but right next to it.

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  Combien de volontaires pouvez-vous accueillir ?

  Deux

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