Profile information
Host is looking for help immediately
Host rating
100 %
Last replied
17 Apr 2024
Reply rate
97.2 %
Usually responds within 11 days
Feedback
19
Email verified
Badges (2)
Details
Description
Hey all you lovely people,
Come join our crazy family for a while.
If you’re looking for a place to call home please get in touch, we need a hand in May for a few weeks or longer :)
We need someone with horse experience, we have fit competition horses. You must love animals, don’t mind doing a spot of DIY and be sociable and friendly ;))
We are a Friendly British family living on beautiful Vancouver Island, we have a small horse barn with 4 horses, 4 dogs, 2 cats, 5 ducks and 5 chickens.
Becky & Molly (daughter) ride & compete horses (eventing, show jumping, dressage) Becky has competed up to advanced in the UK and is a BHSII (Coach) Mat is a civil engineer, loves to cook and has a food truck... Island Grown Pasta Co AKA IGP.
Mat & Becky have 2 kids, Oliver, who is 20 and Molly, 16…
We are a pretty laid back family, and enjoy meeting new people.
We need an extra pair of willing hands who can help with the day to day running of our little farm, as well as some help with reno's, some small building projects outside. So, if you're handy it would be a huge bonus :)
There is always stuff to do here ;)
The horses are a priority and there could be some riding … depending upon experience....
Molly and I are preparing horses to compete FEI eventing this coming season so, horse experience is preferable.
This opportunity is for someone who wants to join our family in all aspects, MUST BE SOCIABLE, TALKATIVE & positive.
Get in touch, we'd love to hear from you. :)
Types of help and learning opportunities
Gardening
DIY and building projects
Animal Care
Farmstay help
Creating/ Cooking family meals
Help around the house
General Maintenance
UN sustainability goals this host is trying to achieve
Cultural exchange and learning opportunities
You will be handling horses daily ( we have 4/5 so you must be comfortable around them, and want to learn what it takes to care for them.... we prefer you have some horse experience …we can teach you how we do it.
You will be part of our family for a while so you must be sociable, friendly and be prepared to pitch in.
We all do our bit, we love it when you become part of what we do here, it's a lifestyle not a job and if the horses or other animals need something they get it :))
We have made some life long friends hosting "workawayers" and would love to meet you!!
Help
Would you like to experience life on our small acreage, there will be opportunities to improve your equine knowledge/care, you must have experience of handling horses, caring for them and not be afraid of them :))
You will be expected to help around the house and barn and care for the horses, including the DAILY chores of mucking out, filling hay nets, feeding and keeping the barn and paddocks clean and tidy, pitching in whenever and wherever is necessary, whatever the weather.
There is the “possibility” of some riding as we are getting a couple of horses ready to compete at FEI this season, so keeping horses fit is a must. Really beneficial if you can ride!
We also have some outdoor reno's, & building stuff going on, so it would be helpful if can put up a fence :)
You'll also help to keep the house clean and tidy.... just like you would at home!
Oh, and walking the 4 dogs (Harry, Mavis & 2 crazy springer spaniels, is always an option, feeding the chickens & ducks is also a daily thing :)
We ask volunteers to generally do about 5ish hours spread out throughout the day.
(But we don't watch the clock) if it needs doing we do it... that's animals for you ;))
Applicants need to be flexible, pro-active, have an eye for detail and be sociable. You will get out of this experience what you are willing to put in :-)
Languages spoken
English: Fluent
Accommodation
You will live in our beautiful house, shared bedroom, bathroom …. there will be time to enjoy the local area.
Fully found (but buy your own beer.... :-)
What else ...
We live in a beautiful area, 10 mins from the lovely little town of Qualicum Beach and the ocean, lots of beautiful hiking spots. Coombs is 15 mins away, Nanaimo and Courtenay are 30/ 40mins away.
Get in touch, we’d love to meet you.
A little more information
Internet access
Limited internet access
We have pets
We are smokers
Can host families
How many Workawayers can stay?
Two
Hours expected
5(ish) hours a day.
Feedback (14)
pros :
- the place is beautiful and this is a super site to live. We can see it's a realized dream. Everyone is super friendly and they welcome you in the family. Becky will train you to learn different tasks and she's super patient and clear with you. Also she's always polite when she's asking something. She always thanks us for… read more
Feedback
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Accuracy of profile:
(5.0)
Cultural exchange:
(4.0)
Communication:
(4.3)
pros :
- the place is beautiful and this is a super site to live. We can see it's a realized dream. Everyone is super friendly and they welcome you in the family. Becky will train you to learn different tasks and she's super patient and clear with you. Also she's always polite when she's asking something. She always thanks us for… read more
Smiley was always willing to put her hands to whatever needed doing, she was fantastic to have around and always got the job done. She became part of our family very quickly and I can't say enough good things about her.
Smiley we miss you and… read more
The work wasn´t too hard and I had quite… read more
The property and house are lovely and it was amazing to see it go from snow covered to mud and then to warm and green.
I loved learning about horses and spending time getting to know their different personalities.
It was… read more
Awesome and welcoming family. If you want to learn something about horses or you would like to improve your knowledge, this is the right place for you.
Becky, Matthew and the kids are very nice to stay with. The work is definitely fair and you will learn a lot.
Thank you so much for all these wonderful memories.
I miss you… read more
Molly misses jumping on the tramp' with you ;-))
We miss you too and look forward to your return in the summer
We rode almost everyday and Becky gave me few lessons too.
Thank you so much, I miss you and I'll try to come back this summer
I hope to return next year and hopefully Becky will carry on teaching me to be a better rider :P
