New horizons
AFTER seven years working as a PA for a consultancy firm, Claire Stevenson was made redundant in April last year, her security and income dashed. But not one to sit and dwell on the negatives, Claire brushed herself off and trotted straight to the yard where she keeps her horse to ask for a part-time job.
“I keep my horse at Dynamo Stud and they very kindly gave me two days a week, organising the arena hire, running the Facebook page and helping with their new holiday-let business,” explains Claire, who was also offered one day a week on a freelance basis with her previous employer. “I never imagined being self-employed because I found the idea frightening, but I’m really enjoying the diversity.”
Previously, Claire spent five days a week sitting at a desk, whereas now she spends two days at home on her PC “getting all my paperwork done” and two days on the yard.
“Physically it’s been fantastic,” says Claire. “With the arena hire,
