As you walk across the grounds toward the stables at Country Club, a sense of peace washes over you. The horses stand calmly in their stables, surrounded by beautiful trees, the sun beaming down, and even the occasional paddymelon hopping by. It’s easy to see how working here could become addictive!
I met with Darian, the Stable Manager, to gain a deeper understanding of the stables and the incredible horses that call this place home.
- Darian, tell us a little about the stables:
All of our horses were born and bred by the Farrell family at their stud in NSW. The exception is Scout, who was born and bred here in Tasmania.
Our job is to guide guests on rides, care for these amazing animals, and simply spend time with them. It’s a cool job, though not without its challenges!
- Have you worked with horses your entire life?
I had a horse when I was a kid named Tommy. I learned the riding basics on him, steering, going, and, of course, falling off and getting back on. I still remember the day he rolled on me; I was so scared! As he started going down, I took a dive. My mom told me to get back on, so I did, and despite the scare, he was a lot of fun.
I worked at other properties across the state, including Bellevue, where we have 23 retired horses. That experience gave me a strong foundation and a great relationship with the horses, which helped when I started working here. I’d say Bellevue taught me a lot and opened so many doors for me in the horse world.
Would you like to meet our horses? We can start with Fiesta, who, if you can believe it, loves green cordial.
- How do you find out a horse likes green cordial?
One of the girls was drinking green cordial one day, and he showed a lot of interest. Ever since then, it’s been a running joke, he’s also a big fan of biscuits. I remember chewing on one, and suddenly, he was all over my pocket, like, “Give me some!” I gave in, and now biscuits officially count as dessert.
Gabby, our other horse, is also a biscuit lover, and Pony, I found out a few weeks ago, has a taste for Bananas.
- Can you tell us about the dynamics of the horses and their relationships with each other?
The herd hierarchy is always shifting. For example, Pony is the boss of Legacy, our small brown horse, and Legacy is the boss of Tinkerbell, but Tinkerbell is the boss of Pony. So just because one horse is in charge of another doesn’t mean they’re at the top of the whole group; it’s a constantly changing dynamic.
I’ve noticed a shift recently. Gabby and Margarita used to be best friends but now, Margarita seems to be bonding more with Prim, and Legacy is loving Gabby. Something’s changed, but who knows what, it’s just classic horse drama!
- What's your favourite part of your job?
Honestly, some of the best moments happen when nothing is going on—when the horses are just out in the paddock, we've finished feeding them, and I’m simply walking around. They’ll come up on their own, and I’ll say hello, give them a little scratch. There’s no pressure, no stress—just being with them. That’s pretty special.
On the riding side of things, I absolutely love taking out customers, but what really stands out to me is helping someone who’s truly nervous. You can see it—the shaking hands, the tension, the fear. But by the time we’ve done a lap around the track, they start to relax, and when they get off, sometimes they’ll say, “Oh my God, can I give you a hug?” They’re so proud of themselves, knowing they just checked something off their bucket list. That, to me, is incredibly rewarding.
It’s the same when working with our Reclink and our connection programs. We work with disadvantaged youth and disability groups. Watching how the horses interact with them is nothing short of incredible. You’d think that in an unpredictable situation, things could go wrong, but the horses just know. They pick up on the energy, becoming so gentle and kind, forming this deep connection that’s truly second to none.
No matter where these kids end up in life, they might forget my name, but they’ll never forget the horse that made them feel, and I’ll never forget them either. That, to me, is something truly special.
As I left the stables, I felt both refreshed and inspired. Darian and her team do exceptional work, creating a lasting impact on our stables.If you’re ever at Country Club, be sure to book a trail ride with this amazing team—it’s an experience you won’t forget!
If you want to learn more about working at the stables or about our current roles, Click Here.
