Getting to grips with working at speed
As a new starter in the equine profession, you may find quite a few aspects of your initial work challenging.
One of the top difficulties of equine work our coaches have observed is that new starters may be expected to complete tasks at what most would call “industry speed.” The person requesting the tasks may not know your junior levels of experience. This can be particularly daunting, especially if your knowledge and skill levels are not currently at the required level.
This expectation to work quickly may cause you to feel under pressure. The best way to handle this situation is to speak up immediately if you need guidance on the task, seek clarification on exactly what you should be doing and highlight that you cannot complete the task in the time allocated if you know you are not skilled enough.
Make a mental note of the situation and aim to discuss it further with your coach as soon as possible so you can get help rectifying this skills gap.
Another issue our coaches see in all types of apprenticeships is that apprentices struggle to keep up with the academic elements of the programme.
Coach Alice’s top tips on handling academic tasks
- Spend time learning and getting to grips with equine professional terminology.
- Complete additional research and aim to offer more in-depth comments and analysis when completing module assignments.
- Use the online virtual learning environment (VLE) regularly and become a master of its workings. If you find it hard to work in the VLE, ask for additional one-to-one sessions. The VLE is a crucial tool in your learning process, so our coaches advise you to book time to work on it daily and weekly.
This mini-guide has benefited from contributions from Coaches Alice and Chloe, who are proud members of the Sheldrake Training Team.
Their bios can be found here.