Trump Turnberry equestrian manager encourages Lantra apprenticeship

Caroline von Linden of Maybole, South Ayrshire, had a lifelong wish to work with horses as a teenager, but an ongoing back problem nearly put an end to her dream.

Now 42, the qualified Equido instructor and Yard Manager at Trump Turnberry’s new equestrian centre is well on her way to has achieving all that she wanted.

As a child in Germany, Caroline’s enduring love of horses led to her washing her dad’s car to earn enough pocket money for pony rides.

However, a back problem meant working in the equine industry was not realistic at the time, so after leaving school, Caroline settled on a career in hospitality, eventually coming to Scotland to work in South Ayrshire.

Shortly after arriving, Caroline was introduced to the world of Equido, a horse training and management discipline developed by Ross Dhu Equestrian in South Lanarkshire.

Caroline said: “I’ve always been drawn to horses and from the start was interested in finding a gentler method of training and managing them.

"Horse training these days often demands quick results, with little time given to the needs of the horse, but I knew there was a better way.

"Equido is about working with the horse to find a more natural and meaningful connection.

"It lays the foundation for a better understanding between horse and person, which leads to better outcomes.

"It also encourages us to seek change in ourselves before expecting change in the horse. You could say Equido is an evolution of horse whispering, and I was hooked from the start.”

In 2010 Caroline took a leap of faith and started her journey to become a fully qualified Equido trainer.

One of her proudest achievements was facilitating the introduction of the discipline to Equitana, the world’s largest equestrian sports trade fair.

Fast forward 12 years and Caroline is now Yard Manager of a burgeoning equestrian centre at Trump Turnberry Hotel.

With Caroline at the helm, the farm belonging to Trump Turnberry Hotel is now being developed into a first-class equestrian centre offering hacking, tuition, clinics, as well as a range of livery services.

Caroline is responsible for the welfare of 11 horses, making sure they are in good health and fit to carry out their duties, and oversees seven full and part-time grooms, ensuring all day-to-day tasks are carried out to the highest of standards.

Caroline said: “It has been amazing to be part of the growth of what we hope will become one of one of Scotland’s top equestrian centres.

"With the help of Lantra Scotland and local colleges, we aim to start offering a Modern Apprenticeship to enable equine trainees to learn skills on the job while studying for their qualifications.

"I think for those considering a career in the equine sector, now is a great time to get involved.

"There are so many different areas available, from equine sports to livery management, training and instructing."

For more information on the programme, visit https://www.scotland.lantra.co.uk/and https://www.turnberry.co.uk/horse-riding