Want to join a ‘whinying team’? Job opportunity for special equines
Know of an equine on a job hunt? Well National Trust Wales is looking for a very specific sort of applicant to fill a horsey role.
The organisation is seeking two working equines “happy to get their hooves dirty” to join its “whinnying team” and pull carriages around the Erddig estate near Wrexham.
So if he can think outside the box while keeping all four feet on the ground and is “chomping at the bit to do more”, then the charity’s HR (horse resources) department would like to hear from him.
Its current shire “employees” — Jerry and Claire (pictured, top) — are retiring after 34 years’ combined service.
Other responsibilities include tail-swishing, and the successful applicants can expect a competitive salary, plus “treats on special occasions”.
“There’s no place here for blinkered neighsayers who shy away from responsibility,” reads the advert.
“You need to be a natural leader. You plough your own furrow. You never follow the herd.”
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Rest assured: mucking out is not part of the job description.
‘Retirement tour’
Jerry and Claire have been touring Wales ahead of their retirement.
The “old married couple” visited Penrhyn Caslte, Plas Newydd, Chirk Castle and Powis Castle.
The pair have taken hundreds of visitors on carriage rides around the estate over the past 12 years.
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“They might be retiring but they are certainly not shy,” said Erddig coachman Medina Dicks.
“Visitors love meeting our horses and the carriage rides are a really special way to explore the Erddig estate.
“They’re like an old married couple and Claire is beginning to let Jerry take the strain on our tandem carriage rides.”
Aged 19 and 15 respectively, a National Trust spokesman said they need to find two new horses so they can make sure they are not asking too much of its “hard-working shires”.
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Lucy is an experienced news journalist, reporter and presenter. Since joining the Horse & Hound team in 2015, Lucy has reported from major global sporting events including the Tokyo Paralympic Games and multiple European Championships, as well as Badminton, Burghley and London, to name a few. She has covered current affairs and sports news across the full spectrum of equestrian disciplines and racing, as well as human and equine welfare, industry news and court cases.