Page 22 - Chiron Calling Spring 2017

SSgt Ide Equine Training Squadron Latest Equine Co-ord
Sat on my veranda in Episkopi, overlooking the Mediterranean, contemplating my next move. Triple P in one hand, jobs list in the other and a Keo on the table. One job jumped out at me which was so left of eld it was crazy and that was ETS SNCO, or as most of us have known it “the Estate Manager”. This was going to be a job that would de nitely be the opposite of what I have ever done in my Army career and as someone up for a challenge and wanting to get an understanding for all things connected to the RAVC I had to go for it. Talking to my wife about the job to which I was applying for she had no care where or what she only heard me say horses and was sold.
Triple P in, the wait begun to see if I was suitable enough to do this job, my predecessors have been Veterinary Technicians and most of them have been spur trained and here was me, my only experience with a horse was on a beach eating an ice cream when this gigantic beast came galloping over and stole my ice cream, (it was actually a pony and it strolled over but in my defence I was only 5). I got the good news a few months later via a posting order and informed my wife she seemed very excited by the news.
On arrival to the Defence Animal Centres Equine Training Squadron, I was met by WO2 RQMS Angie Speer to begin the handover takeover. She had a week to teach me what was needed to ful l the role. It wasn’t long before I was a little confused, but fuelled by strong black coffee I was determined to get to grips with it. Getting home that night my wife had taken an unusual interested in my day, she had also piled up all her British Horse Society books for me to help with my latest career choice. The rest of the week went well and I believe was made easier with the fact that the RQMS was just up the road if I needed her help and guidance.
So a few weeks in and I was getting to grips with the job, I must admit there was some late nights as I went through the process slow and steady to make sure I had got what was involved when casting a Military Working Horse (MWH) all the hard work paid off and in December I completed my rst rehoming all the way from receiving the information from the Unit to being there when the new owner loaded and took her away to their new home.
But throughout my settling in period I always knew the time would come when it was suggested that I should give riding ago. I’d been here a few months and was involved with The Royal Tournament (well in charge of the buzzer and timer for the Show Jumping), I’d seen the grooms out riding, watched the Regimental
Riding Instructors course.
“Yea” I thought “I got this”. SSgt Ben Moore and MWH Kibo
where the chosen Instructors. All I can say it’s not as easy as it looks, I wish I was 30 years younger and I have now retired from horse riding.
I’ve been responsible for nding homes for these amazing animals for the past 6 months; it’s a great job, completely different to what I have ever done before. Granted there was no 4x4 Gator waiting for me to drive and it is just as cold and wet as it was walking and training with dogs in the same elds which now for me house the MWH’s that are here on a break before heading back to work or are here enjoying the last few weeks of service before retirement. There are however some similarities between dog and horse, they have individual characteristics and personalities and they take some looking after come rain or shine 7 days a week. I’m glad I choose this job and I’m grateful to those that believed in me enough to have a Dog Trainer with no background knowledge with horses the chance to be Equine Co-ord.
Although my wife still asks if there is a horse suitable for her? To which I reply not yet, there may be a horse suitable for you. If you are thinking about rehoming a MWH please drop me an email via the new email address which is DATR-ETS-Rehome@mod.uk
20 CHIRON CALLING
RAVC Apprenticeship Awards – Celebrating Success
An apprenticeship is de ned as “a real job with training which would allow you to earn while you learn, whilst gaining a nationally recognised quali cation.” Essentially this is cheating at life; taking a wage whilst learning a trade.
So we thought it was time to recognise some of our best ‘cheats’ and invite applications from the intermediate and advanced apprenticeship programs to be considered for the award of Apprentice of the Year. Applicants were required to detail their achievements, explain what set them apart, what impact they had in the workplace and seek endorsement from their own chain of command.
A small board consisting CVO(A), Regtl Sec, Babcock Quality Manager and the Designated Of cer marked the applications. Mr Ben Cook from Babcock praised the high standard of all applications in comparison to wider Army apprenticeship work he has been involved with; a real testament to everyone involved in apprenticeship delivery.
Apprentices of the Year
The four nalists were:
CVO and Pte Hardy (Winner)
Macdonald QHVS, took the opportunity to thank units for supporting the program, championing their apprentices and assisting the training provider to achieve joint success.
Special mention goes to Babcock for sponsoring the lunch, RAVC association for the prizes and Regt’l Secretary for assistance in setting up the event.
By WO1 Blackmore
LCpl Grieg Pte Broomhall Pte Hardy
Pte Wiles
– Winner
– Runner Up
The nalists were invited to a low-key award ceremony at Robertson House in December 16. After lunch, presentations were conducted and CVO(A), Colonel