Kayla
Bardgett
 

Well-versed in horse training procedures.  As well as working at Breakaway Stables in Bermuda. While working there I have duties of training and schooling some of the clients’ horses as well as the school ponies. As well as, mucking watering and feeding in the mornings and night. Calmly approach every animal and situation with level-headed and experience-based strategies.  I have competed in all rings consisting of, dressage, equitation, hunters and jumpers, in the US and Bermuda. I have also competed in the jumpers in South America.

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WORK EXPERIENCE 

GROOM, Forget Me Not Farm LLC, Wellington Florida                                        July 2021 - February 2022

I was one of the grooms helping the stables while they are showing at GLEF in Traverse City, Michigan. I helped bring horses to the rider for shows,  as well as help get show horses to rings and set warm-up jumps. I also was given the opportunity to ride one of their sales horses at GLEF, 2021 - ESP Fall, 2021 - WEF, 2022.

STABLE HAND, Breakaway Stables, Ltd., Bermuda                                   November 2017 - Current

I have opening and closing duties which consist of mucking watering turnout and feeding, 27 horses and ponies, some of them are privately owned however we still take care of them, and some are owned by the barn and the others are fostered on behalf of the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals. If the instructor cannot make it to lessons or is ill, she will ask if I can instruct some of the lessons. The age group consists of riders from 5-50.   

• Daily barn chores – including opening and closing barn, preparing feeds, feeding, turnout, mucking stalls

• Horse Care – grooming, assisting with medical care, administering medications

• Horse Training - schooling horses on and lunging at home and shows

• Show Preparation - clipping, braiding, shampooing 

• Tack Care - cleaning saddles, bridles and other riding gear, fitting tack to horses

Camp Counsellor, Breakaway Stables, Ltd., Bermuda                                         July 2018 – Current 

When I am working at Breakaway Stables as a Camp Counsellor, along with two others, we work with around 20+ kids with ages ranging from 4-15.  The camp is normally half days starting at 8:00am through 12:00pm. Once all the kids arrived, we set them into groups based on experience around horses and riding. After we will do two groups at a time with about 7 ponies and horses and then do a rotation for the more experienced riders. After everyone has rode, we have a break and snack time and following that a group activity. The group activity changes every day, one day we will name the parts of the horse, saddle and bridle. Another day we might hobby horse competitions. On the final day of camp, we always like to do something fun with the campers like, pony races, apple bobbing, and cone weaving. 

Other Experience

Team IEC, South Carolina, USA                                                                           June 2018 - June 2021

When I came to the states for a portion of the summer, I would work with Wendy Arndt at Team IEC as a working student. When I was a working student, I would wake up early and go help with stable chores consisting of, mucking, waters, feeding, and turnout.  Once morning chores were finished, I would help Wendy with the horses that needed to be trained and schooled.  Just this past summer I also helped Wendy with some of her young 4yo horses in the round pen and getting them used to pressure on their backs and mouth.

Stardust Stables Ltd., Bermuda                                                                    October 2018 – April 2019

• Trained a green 6yo pony on volunteer basis including, riding him 3-4 days a week, lessoning him two of those days. 

• Competed in the large green hunter pony as well as the 2’6 pony jumpers which he was highly successful in both divisions.  

• Showing other people’s horses at shows – I would also catch ride people’s horses and ponies in either the hunters or jumpers. 

EQUESTRIAN ACHIEVEMENTS

Competed in Bermuda with experience in all four rings consisting of dressage, equitation, hunters and jumpers. 

2018/2019 Show Season

• Champion Junior Hunter; WINNER

• Champion Junior Equitation 15-18 Years; WINNER

• Champion Working Hunter over 15.2hh; WINNER

• Horse with the Most Points; WINNER

• Junior with the Most Points Regardless of Mount; WINNER

• Horse/Pony Rider with the Most Points; WINNER

2019/2020 Show Season

• Category A, 1.20-1.30 2020 FEI Jumping World Challenge winner; In a field of 47 competitors, I placed 5th. Ranking 1st in the region for competing in Category A, 1.20-1.30. Qualified for FEI Finals in Indonesia (August 2021) – ultimately did not attend due to competing opportunities in the United States.

• Champion Hunter Pony; WINNER

• Champion Junior Equitation 15-18 Years; WINNER

• Champion Working Hunter over 15.2hh, 3’9; WINNER

• Champion Open Hunter 3’7; WINNER

• Champion Horse Jumper Over 1.20m; WINNER

• Junior With the Most Points Riding a Pony; RUNNER-UP

• Junior With the Most Points on the Same horse; WINNER

• Junior With the Most Points regardless of Mount; WINNER

• In 2021 I received the National Junior Athlete Sponsorship with funding to compete in the states with Wendy Arndt. 

• Also I competed in the states, training with Wendy Arndt. In 2018 I competed on a borrowed horse showing in the high children's 1.10-1.15 in Tryon and placing reserve champion.

• As well as in 2021 competing at Split Rock Jumping Tour CSI3* also competing on a borrowed horse, showing in the low juniors 1.30-1.35. Also going to the Wills Park Equestrian Center to clinic with Dianne Carney over a three-day period.

• I am also on the SCAD equestrian team and in the ISHA I compete in the divisions, Open fences and Intermediate flat. I have also represent SCAD in the ANRC a prestigious three day event where riders must do a written test, a program ride, a derby phase and on the last day a medal round. In 2024 I placed 5th/9 in the National level (3').   

• In February and November of 2024 I represented my country, Bermuda competing in the Grande Caraibe in Martinique and then Suriname. This competition is on borrowed horses that we get to train on for one day before having two days of competition. In both competitions I competed in 'Elite' category (1.05-1.10). In Suriname I placed 8th out of a field of 22 and 15th the second day, achieving 11th place overall in the category.

SKILLS

• Strong work ethic – accustomed to early start and long days

• Friendly, positive attitude 

• Leadership 

• Multi-tasking 

• Seasoned and competent adult equestrian and competitor