Being a trainee isn’t only doing manual labor. It also means interacting with customers and learning how to approach customers, what to say, and when to say it. As a trainee, we take kids under the age of 8 on pony walks for about 20 minutes around a pond and around horse arenas at Garrod Farms. 

The first time I took a pony walk, I went with a supervising trainee and I didn’t know how to talk to the customer. That was mostly because I was extremely new and didn’t know things like the age of the pony or even what breed they were. I took a couple more pony walks on my first day and over the course of those pony walks, I became more and more comfortable with talking to customers. 

When you are with a customer, you have an obligation to be kind to the customer and answer any and all questions they may have. Over the course of the first two weeks of being a trainee at Garrods, I learned how to talk to customers and learned how to engage with them in a way that was enjoyable for the both of us and for the toddler on the pony. 

I received my first pony walking tip on my second day at Garrods when I went on a walk with a family and their young son. Throughout the 20 minute walk, I asked the customers if they’ve visited before and how it was. I also initiated conversations by telling all about Pumpkin (the pony on the walk). They also asked things about Garrod Farms in general, like how many horses we had and how many were females and how many were males. 

At the end of the walk after the young boy’s parents had taken pictures, the father handed me a $10 bill and thanked me for taking them out on the pony walk. I didn’t even know if I was allowed to accept tips, but I felt extremely happy, not just because of the tip, but because knowing that customers enjoyed your work makes you feel proud.

Being a trainee has been a great experience, because not only do we work with horses, but we also work with customers. Interacting with customers of all ages has been a great experience and has taught me valuable lessons. It has taught me to be more confident and how to deal with customers who may either be scared of the horses or have any other problem. Any time someone enjoys the work that you do and tips you for it, it’s a memorable experience, and my first tip is a moment that I’ll never forget!