Elzabeth Magdalena Pickard

I'm an open-minded and energetic individual, who is well motivated, ambitious and a hard worker. I strive to learn as I believe that every new day presents itself with new information and situations that can contribute to my knowledge and experience. I’m eager to apply my knowledge learned and experience obtained in any given situation.

Given the opportunity to become part of your team, it will give me the chance to grow more, where I can make a difference and help with solutions as an individual and as a team player. This in turn contributes to my personal growth and to the growth and success of your organization.

My love for horses and farming started when I was very young. Started with riding lessons before I started school. I also helped with the sheep on my uncle's farm in Namibia. At a very young age I started with Showjumping and Equitation. I was in the FS & NC Showjumping and Equitation team in 2004 and Free State USA/SA team for Equitation in 2005-2006. Have been schooling my own horses since I can remember. I have had training in dressage and showing (done a couple of shows with my old horse). Didn't always take a groom with to shows did my own grooming, filling hay nets, etc. I was schooled and backing of horses for clients which I am still doing. Learned from the vets where to inject IM, SK and IV. Also learned how to treat cuts depending on how bad it is and where it is. I was graded in show jumping on 1 meter, open equitation, open showing and novice dressage.

In 2010 after passing grade 12 I was a working rider for Callaho Warmblood Sport horses stud. There I learned how to work with foals and where to inject them if needed as well as backing and schooling horses, helped with feeding and making sure the water is clean, also helped with the injured and sick horses. I also prepare horses for auction and how to turn them out. Help to collect stallions with an AV.

From 2011 to 2016 I studied education and when I received my degree I was a teacher from 2017 to 2020 but still had my own horses therefor was always drawn back to farming and farm work.

In 2019 I worked for H.R. Truter stud as stud and farm manager, but sadly the stud owner retired. This was a thoroughbred stud where I had to take care of all the admin. I had 10 workers under me when I started there. I had to arrange for feed that need to be delivered and that were mixed every day. Helped of load the feed if needed. I worked full-time was off on Sunday but was always on call. There I learned to drive a tractor with a trailer to help -out with daily work, cleaned stables and helped with the grooming if needed.
When I started the previous person didn’t handle the foals, therefor they were on the wild side. At 6 months we started halter training them which was a challenge. Got them to the point where you could “tick grease” them in the field.
There I learn how to work a center pivot on planted grazing, made sure it did not get stuck and move it from 1 pasture to another. Connecting water pipes to the pivot and the pump when needed. Learned how to pull a horsebox. The daily meeting was held when the boss and I went on an out-ride. Worked with the dentist and the farrier as the yard could not stand still while they were there. Worked alongside the vet and did follow up treatments when needed. Assisted with live covering and estrus observation. Doing the preparation for instence washing the stallion’s penis.
For foaling season had to check and help to get the stables ready. Checked up on the mares during the night to see if any of the mares in foal may need assistants or had a foal who’s naval needed to be disinfected. In one case the foal was to lazy to stand up and to weak to find the nipples so it had to pick him up ever 2-3 hours and assisted it to drink. I had help to deliver one foal because the mare thought laying with her butt against the wall to foal is a good idea.
I always made sure that the basic medicine was on standby. I had to treat the boerbokke and help look for their young. Did the non-surgical castration of the young males as well as assisted the neighbour by herding the cattle on horsesback.

I started working part-time for Adelt Warmblood stud as stud manager and work rider after finishing at H.R. Truter stud. Backing and training young horses to be sold. Helping with treatments and injections if needed, also learned new ways to treat injuries. Assisted with shows held at the stud including building courses and rising jumps between classes.
I did the agriculture course at Rothman Livestock Training Service to broaden my horizon. All of the following I had practical experience in.
The following is applicable to cattle, sheep and goats:
Artificial ingemination
Pregnancy Awareness and Ultrasound
Calf and Lamb Rearing
Semen Collector
Nutritional management
Stockman’s and Husbandry course
The following is applicable only to cattle:
Embryo Transfer
Dairy Farming and Management
Beef Farming and Management
The following is applicable only to sheep and goat:
Farm Management and Production

Feeding the horses
Grooming
Backing and lunging of young horses
Work rider