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100 %
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19 Oct 2025
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Description
I have a small equestrian property in 'Lovely Leitrim' in the North West of Ireland. Just two horses, both rescues - not ridden often enough. There are always things getting in the way.
I also have a 3 legged tabby cat who spends most of her time in the house, so anyone who is allergic to cats may not want to come.
The area is very rural, wonderfully peaceful, fabulous in good weather and largely unspoiled. It is idyllic for those who like peace and quiet and wildlife. It is not suitable for townies who cannot live without cappuccino!
Birdsong is constant here, even in winter when everyone says they do not sing. This area still has red squirrels and pine martens as well as foxes, badgers etc. My land is deliberately wildlife friendly, but does need some tidying up. My husband died eight years ago and I have both arthritis and osteoporosis, so it is easy for things to get out of hand.
It is a farm so all the help is physical, but you do not need to be a weight lifter. Do not apply if you cannot keep up with a 5 foot, 71 year old woman with serious arthritis! I do not expect people to do anything I don't do myself.
I have a full sized riding arena, 2 stables with soft stall flooring and automatic drinkers, an all weather paddock with a field shelter fitted with normal rubber mats and direct access from the paddock to several acres of grazing.
I now feed haylage because both my horses have dust allergies. I use slow feeders in both stables and the field shelter. My horses have ad lib feed, so they must be kept topped up all the time and the newest haylage has to go underneath so they have to be emptied at least once a day. I also feed a small amount of sugar beet and chaff twice a day, with supplements in the morning.
The morning is the longest shift and starts at 9am, occasionally earlier, e.g. if the farrier or horse dentist are coming. It usually takes between 2 and 4 hours. The evening shift starts at 6 and takes up to an hour with 2 people. The first day will be long, because I have to show you everything. It gets quicker!
On a daily basis, stables need to be mucked out, edges dusted and the drinkers cleaned. The paddock must be cleared of droppings regularly. Water buckets must be kept clean and topped up. I also feed wild birds 2 or 3 times a day.
I groom my horses almost every day and pick out their feet at least twice a day. They are really good about picking up their feet but occasionally grumpy when groomed - they sometimes get sore spots or an itchy area. If there are any problems, I am happy to step in.
It is a rural area, so not the ideal place to meet other young people. You need to be quite self sufficient. Ideally, I like people to stay for at least 3 weeks because it takes a few days to get used to the routine.
I need help all year around but accommodation is in a caravan and Ireland is very wet, so you need to be hardy types to come in winter. The caravan does have heating, so you won't freeze! If you want to come and help you will need sturdy boots - preferably steel toe capped boots because horses are careless about where they put their feet, a hat with a peak like a baseball cap to protect your face, and waterproof clothing. Bring old clothes you are happy to get dirty, and some tidier clothes for days off.
I'm afraid pets are not welcome. I love dogs but my cat doesn't and she is very territorial, so other cats would not be able to stay either.
I am vegetarian and a lifelong non smoker. I am tolerant of smokers, but not indoors.
I have an electric scooter and an electric bike which visitors are welcome to use for exploring the countryside, and I would be delighted if people would use one to accompany me so I can hack out safely.
Wi-fi. I have broadband but it is only available in the house (or standing just outside). If you use a lot of data the best thing to do is buy an Irish sim.
IMPORTANT If you are not from the EU or UK please check Visa requirements. If you do not have the correct Visa for working here (even unpaid) you will be stopped at the airport! Only certain charities count as sponsors for volunteering in this country. Workaway does not count.
Please read the whole profile before deciding to apply, and do not ask me to book you in if you are not seriously interested and intend to come.
Types of help and learning opportunities
Gardening
DIY and building projects
Animal Care
Farmstay help
Help around the house
General Maintenance
Interests
Outdoor activities
Sustainability
Vegetarian or vegan
Pets
Farming
Writing
Music
Cooking & food
Books
Animals
Nature
Cultural exchange and learning opportunities
This would be ideal for people who want to experience rural life and enjoy being away from the hustle and bustle of towns. Anyone suffering from stress will be totally chilled out after a few days here. Leitrim is the least populated county in Ireland and even driving to the shops is a pleasant experience.
I would be delighted to help people to improve their English, either verbal or written. I am English, not Irish so my accent is usually easier to understand.
If you love horses but have little experience of caring for them, this is an ideal opportunity to learn.
You can also learn basic land management and DIY skills.
Help
I need help with horse care (and training) which is a 365 day a year job for me, and with land maintenance which is very weather dependent. I need people who will be flexible about helping - i.e. help out like crazy when the weather is right and chill out when it is not. Some days may be 8 hours, others 3.
You can take 2 days off a week - either together or split up - or 1 full day plus some afternoons. Please let me know what you prefer for your time off, I am happy to be flexible.
Some people just look after themselves all day, chilling out in the caravan or going off exploring, others help me in the morning, then I take them in the car sightseeing once the horses are done. I will be too busy to cook on your days off so you will need to fend for yourselves in the caravan. There is a bus stop in Dromahair, 4 miles away, and I can drop you off and pick you up from there on your days off.
The main help is looking after the horses, cutting grass, collecting droppings, repairing fences, trimming hedges and brambles, controlling weeds, leveling the riding arena, and repairing fences and gates (horses are vandals). Also some exterior painting / fence treatment. There is a lot of DIY work around farms!
Experienced riders would be great as I need help with training my ponies. Cleo is the world's cutest pony but full of mischief and a bossy madam who currently has mild laminitis, Eanna is a gentleman, but can get nippy when excited. He has been backed and is incredibly responsive, but has not been ridden much and needs a lot of gentle handling and training.
I ride very gently, with low contact - closer to Western style, so if you want to ride you need to be able to cope with this. NB I cannot guarantee riding, the other work takes much longer, and my horses are not suitable for inexperienced riders.
I have lots of equipment to make the tasks easier - an elderly tractor, new Quad, mini dumper, scythe mower, strimmer/brushcutter, hedge trimmer etc. and I can show you how to use everything.
If you love birds and wildlife, you will have a fabulous time here.
You do need to be able to get up in the morning. If you can't be ready to work by 9am, please do not apply. There is always time to snooze later. Also, the work is physically demanding so you need to be reasonably fit.
Languages spoken
English: Fluent
French: Beginner
Accommodation
Visitors will sleep, and eat breakfast and lunch in a caravan behind the horses' paddock which gives privacy and chance to chill out.
The caravan is very comfortable with heating and a shower, but please do not waste electricity or gas. It is very expensive and environmentally unfriendly. It has a roof over it with an overhang facing the fields so you can sit outdoors in warm weather - or if you need to smoke.
The caravan will be spotless when you arrive and I would appreciate it being left that way. It makes it quicker to prepare for the next helper. There is plenty of storage space so please keep it tidy.
It has gas, electricity and hot and cold water with a fridge, full cooker, electric kettle and toaster. The toilet is a chemical one that you need to empty regularly, or you can just use the flushing toilet in the stable block. There is also a radio, bluetooth speaker, DVD player, hairdryer and basic binoculars plus USB chargers. I provide towels, facecloths and soap / baby bath for showers.
I provide lots of food but not meat or fish. I am vegetarian and many of my helpers are vegan so I do not allow meat or fish to be cooked in the caravan. I will provide vegetarian options but if you are desperate you can buy cooked meat /canned fish for sandwiches. Most people are very happy with meat substitutes. I usually cook an evening meal in the house for us to eat together but am not offended if people prefer to cater for themselves.
Just tell me what you like to eat and I will make sure you don't go hungry. I will wash and dry your clothes, towels etc in the house. The caravan doesn't run to a washing machine!
For those who enjoy films I have hundreds of DVDs and a home cinema (projector and screen). You can borrow DVDs to play in the caravan as long as you handle them carefully.
What else ...
Public transport is limited here but I can take people reasonable distances for sightseeing if you do not have your own transport. Manorhamilton (10 miles away) has a theatre, cafes, pubs, and grocery shops and Sligo with it's lovely beaches and great surfing is only 17 miles away.
You can get a bus to Sligo from Dromahair, which is only 4 miles away, and I am happy to drop you off and collect you from there on your days off.
I can collect travellers from Collooney railway station (just before Sligo) or the bus stop at Collooney but not from Dublin. A previous helper discovered that it is easier to get from the airport to Drumcondra by bus, then take a train to Collooney. The train leaves from Connolly station in Dublin but there is no direct bus from the airport to Connolly.
Sligo is a nightmare for meeting people so make sure you get off at Collooney. If on the bus you need to tell the driver to stop or he will go right past.
A little more information
Internet access
Limited internet access
We have pets
We are smokers
Can host families
Space for parking camper vans
There is room on my yard for a small van but it is not totally level.
How many Workawayers can stay?
Two
My animals / pets
Eanna (pronounced Ayna)
Bay gelding. 14.3hh.
Sweet natured, timid, very gentle but nips when excited. Loves to play. Prone to get too close.Cleo
Skewbald pony. Dominant mare. Beautiful, clever,
a real character. Brave and bossy.Tabitha
3 legged tabby cat
Chat with Workawayers who've visited this host
Feedback (26)
Val was patient and kind and always open to show me new things. I learned a lot about the horses as well as farmwork in general during my stay, and the rural area allowed for some cool wildlife spottings as well. Together, we got some stuff done on the… read more
Her English is totally fluent and she has absolutely no German accent, so there were never any misunderstandings about what I… read more
She was here for a month, worked extremely hard and did everything I asked of her both willingly and very well. She is really good with horses (and cats) and it was a joy to have her here.
Unfortunately we were both only able to ride a couple of times during her visit, mostly because one of my cats was… read more
She not only helped with the horses but with several DIY projects - including replacing steamer pipes and taking the stable mats out (several times), trimming them and putting them back.
She vacuumed the walls and roof area of both stables too, which is not… read more
Photos
Chat with Workawayers who've visited this host
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Accuracy of profile:
(5.0)
Cultural exchange:
(4.7)
Communication:
(4.9)
Val was patient and kind and always open to show me new things. I learned a lot about the horses as well as farmwork in general during my stay, and the rural area allowed for some cool wildlife spottings as well. Together, we got some stuff done on the… read more
Her English is totally fluent and she has absolutely no German accent, so there were never any misunderstandings about what I… read more
She was here for a month, worked extremely hard and did everything I asked of her both willingly and very well. She is really good with horses (and cats) and it was a joy to have her here.
Unfortunately we were both only able to ride a couple of times during her visit, mostly because one of my cats was… read more
She not only helped with the horses but with several DIY projects - including replacing steamer pipes and taking the stable mats out (several times), trimming them and putting them back.
She vacuumed the walls and roof area of both stables too, which is not… read more
Eanna, my gelding was being difficult about being groomed because he has a sore area, so he can be very intimidating - especially for beginners, but as they gained… read more
Through this review, we would like to thank her once again for this wonderful… read more
The tasks were varied, even though they often followed a fixed daily routine. I was particularly impressed by Valerie’s patience and the way she explained everything step by… read more
She runs her farm on her own, she likes things done well. She really… read more
She had warned me that her English is limited, and we had to resort to Google translate a few times in the early days but once she learned the vocabulary for horse related work we managed very well.
She is a really hard worker and amazingly strong - she… read more
She isn't into horses and wanted to concentrate on DIY and gardening but she also helped with picking up poop and filling hay boxes and the steamer on a daily basis. She was here at the most important time of my year, when I collect my annual hay supply, which is really hard work and… read more
They worked incredibly hard and did far more every day than I asked them to do. They are wonderful company too, so it was a pleasure to have them here. It is just a pity that they could only come for three weeks.
Harry was not used to horses, so after helping with the… read more
She is very mature for her age and learned the ropes here really quickly. It helped that she has looked after horses before. She didn't need supervision once she knew what to do and on the second day she was already getting on with things without being asked.
She is a bit of a… read more
She is a fantastic person with a lot of determination who cares deeply for her animals and the beautiful nature that surrounds her.
She helped me with my limited English, she was very patient with me, and I am very grateful for that.
She always… read more
She is a very good rider, which was great for me as I am trying to train one of my horses and I am very breakable, so cannot take any chances. She was not afraid of falling off and taught Eanna to canter under saddle, despite the fact that he bucks when cantering!
She was willing to do… read more
They didn't have much experience with horses when they arrived and both of mine can be challenging in their own ways, but they learned fast and coped extremely well. They worked quickly once they got the hang of things and didn't need to be reminded what to do. They… read more
We… read more
They both have excellent English (having an English Dad helps). Emily has a slight German accent and is not 100% fluent, but is very close. Alicia is totally fluent.
Both are riders and have looked after horses before, so I didn't need to teach them much.… read more
While she was here, not only did she help with all the basic routine for the horses and cut grass, trimmed brambles etc. but she insisted on cleaning my car for me (a job I really hate) treated two lots of wooden doors with wood preservative, cleaned a drain and helped… read more
She taught me a lot of things about horses;
She helped me improve my english speaking skills;
If I helped her with morning work on one of my two free days a week, she would than take me sightseeing, which is… read more
I had a great time at Vals… read more
It was great for me that she already had experience with rescue horses so I didn't need to teach her much. She picked up my routine quickly and didn't need to be asked to do anything, she just got on with it. She doesn't need any supervision and I… read more
As a volunteer, you can expect to be incredibly well attended to - Valerie offers to pick you up from the station, has a wonderfully comfy caravan… read more
She was always cheerful, worked hard and was good company. She had a bit of trouble with the equestrian vocabulary because there wasn't much time to learn it… read more
It helped that he was well used to handling… read more
She has good English, maybe not perfect but we had no problem communicating, she is a really hard worker and very keen to learn. The only problem I had was stopping her from rushing off to do a job before I had finished… read more
She is a really hard worker and willing to take on any job. She did not have a lot of experience with horses before, but was very confident and capable, even when my horses were being challenging (as they all can be). She rode Eanna, who has been ridden… read more
Chiara in particular is very fond of… read more
She came at a difficult time because one of my horses has developed asthma and I was starting to steam hay and figuring out how much to use. We had to shake it first to remove dust and one round bale was so full of thistles that it… read more
Valerie is a strong and unstoppable woman and she is also a great cook. I learned so many things from her.
She also had a lot of patience due to the fact that I didn't speak English very well.
The work is not too hard, but like any job, it requires people… read more
here I tried substitute food for the first time, but since I could not do better than she did even tho… read more
They were only able to stay for 11 days because I already had people booked in, but in… read more
He was a quick learner, picked up my routine in no time and got on with the jobs without being asked. He didn't waste time and did everything both quickly and well. I would have been delighted to host him for longer, but already had other… read more
She worked quickly but did everything well and was great fun to be with, just wonderful company all the time. I was so sad to see her go and wish she… read more
He also helped me to back Eanna, which meant leading him around while I lay over his back, then sat on him… read more
Despite never having been around horses before, she coped really well - although getting to grips with equine vocabulary was… read more
The horses are very peaceful and quiet and Valerie always make sure to comunicate when she needs a bit of privacy.
Highly recommended… read more
Unfortunately it was winter, so apart from the routine horse work there was little else we could get on with, so I can't really say how many other skills she might possess. She picked up my routine… read more
It was our first time taking care of horses and we love it. Valerie's horses are perfectly groomed and always pretty!
Valerie is very kind, generous, friendly, lovable. it was great to stay with her although we stayed in the caravan, Valerie… read more
When they came here, they had no experience with horses but they filled hay boxes, picked up droppings, filled buckets, mixed feed and after a few days, groomed one of my ponies.
They also did some weeding on my riding arena, treated fence posts and a shed gate with… read more
While they were here (just two weeks) they did so many major jobs that I was staggered. The first big job was helping me to move 16 round bales of hay (300 kg bales) which meant pushing them off the lorry,… read more
Despite this, she was always cheerful, worked very… read more
She is upfront, which is awesome, so she'll always tell you what she thinks. She was also very forgiving with the mistakes I made, and they were quite a few. She is a godess of cooking so you'll love to eat her dishes, and even though I'm not vegetarian I didn't miss meat that much because… read more
Despite the fact that they had to quarantine for two weeks… read more
Leonie has a lot of experience with horses which was perfect for me. I didn't have to teach her anything, just told her what my routine was and left her (and Anna)… read more
We stayed with her for 3 weeks and it was such a lovely experience! She is very caring and so friendly, always there to have a chat.
We loved her cooking so much it's incredibly good (especially the chocolate-coco-cream!!!).
But that's not the only reason why we would recommend her.… read more
My only problem was getting in touch with him because he has to rely on free wifi.
He did a lot of the heavy work which I cannot do, like chopping wood and moving large stones and was very good with my mischievous pony and the cats - even though I… read more
I immediately felt like at home. Val is so kind, she did everything for me to feel good, and it was definitely the case!
I loved to work with her to look after the kittens, the horses and the birds. We were busy enough with all the work and that's why I… read more
She has been a delight to work with. She is cheerful, bubbly, chatty and eager to help. She fitted right in and feels like family or a very good friend. I will miss her when she goes.
When she came, she told me that her English was poor. In fact, she was… read more
