Is it hard work?
A job like this is without doubt hard physical work. My entire body ached the first month. However, you quickly adabt and I have noticed that my arm muscles have grown a bit. Even though it is hard work, it is very rewarding and you quickly fall into the rutines.
What have you learnt?
I have learnt so much. Besides the many new things related to riding, I have also learnt a lot about breaking in the young horses and educating the older horses so they can perform better. I have also learnt a lot about feeding different types of horses. Horses that should gain weight and horses who should lose weight.
Have your riding skills improved during your stay?
It is always hard to say about yourself, but I have certainly gotten better at breaking in the young horses and working with the different gaits. I have gotten new tools to use in situations where something challenges the horse. I have learnt to ride many different types of horses and create a training plan for each horse. It is fun to find yourself in a place like this where many different horses come through.
Is there something that you still hope to learn?
I hope to get even better at educating the young horses. Other than that, I hope to learn more techniques to train the older horses.
What does a typical day look like?
We take turns with feeding the horses in the morning. After that, the day starts at 8. We start with mucking, turning out horses and cleaning the stable. After finishing that, we start riding the training and commission horses.
During the day, we also ride our own horses as well as training horses. At the end of the day, we take the horses back into the stable and feed them. We also make sure that the stable is ready for the next day. During the week there are other activities like mucking out the fields, managing the indoor arena and bringing in forage.
How long will you work there?
I am here until August this year. I love it here, and I learn so much. But I also think that there is a long way from Aalborg to my home town sometimes. However, I do not regret coming here. It has been a step towards moving away from home, and you learn so much about yourself when your normal circle of friends is not around.
What do you hope to learn from your stay?
I hope to evolve as a rider and learn things that I can use in the future. Besides that, I hope to learn more about running a business with horses.
What is your best advice to those who would like a job like yours?
If you want to try working with horses full time, I think that you should do it. I have considered it for many years and I needed to try it. Of course, it is important that you do some research about the place you consider working for. In addition, I recommend finding a place with good colleagues because you spend a lot of time together.
Has something surprised you about the job?
I knew the place beforehand, so nothing has really surprised me. Maybe how much hay so many horses eat compared to our 10-12 horses at home.
How long have you ridden?
I have always had access to horses, because my mother had horses long before I was born. In a way I have always ridden. In the beginning I sat on a garden cushion. When I was old enough, I started riding on my own, and I have done so ever since. I rode my first competition when I was 8 years old on our homebred horse, Trana. That was when I really got excited about the sport because I found out that it was possible to do other things than riding around at home.
Why did you fall for the Icelandic horses?
We have always had Icelandic horses at home. Icelandic horses are known for their two extra gaits – tölt and pace, and that is a big reason for me not seeking other breeds. Their mental strength is amazing and they are very versatile. One day you be riding competions or a wild canter in the forest, the next day a small child can be riding around on the same horse. In addition, I think that the Icelandic horse is very beautiful with its long hair and many different colours. It does not bother me that most of them are not taller than a meter and a half.
What have you achieved with your horses?
Through the years, I have had different competition horses, but I have had the biggest experiences together with our mare Ondrun af Bøgegaarden. She taught me to ride pace and together we learnt how to run fast. In 2018 we became Danish Champions in speed pace and in 2019 we were selected to represent Denmark at the World Championships for Icelandic horses in Berlin. There we achieved a fifth place and another two Top Ten placements. That is without a doubt my biggest achievement. In 2021 I rode my last season on Ondrun, which we finished by becoming Danish Champions in the five gait combination.
What goals do you have for the future?
Of course, I would like to become World Champion one day, but my primary goal is to keep evolving as a rider and learn more about riding, but also about the horses. I also have a couple of young horses on the way, and I am very curious to see what’s in store. It is always fun to work with horses that you have watched growing up on the field.
Where do you work now?
In october last year I moved to Aalborg in northern Denmark to work for Rasmus Møller Jensen (Icelandic horse trainer). During my sabbatical I have also ridden and managed our own horses as well as worked part time at other locations.
How did you get the job?
At a former show I had spoken with some of the staff and asked around. At that time, they did not need employees. A few months later when I had forgotten all about it, they were in need of an employee. Before I knew it, I found myself in Aalborg with all of my things.
Why did you choose the job?
I chose the job because I was doubting what kind of education I should get and what my future should include. I had just decided to say no to a course and I was looking for a job.
I had not thought that the job would be with horses in Aalborg, but I decided to take it, and I have not regretted it at any point. I also agreed to it because I knew that I was a good place to work and because I would get a great colleague.
Nanna Lanzky Otto is 22 years old and born and raised in Holbæk in Zealand, Denmark. She finished high school in 2019, and now works with Icelandic horses at Rasmus Møller Jensens stable. Together with her Icelandic mare Ondrun af Bøgegården she became Danish Champion in speed pace and in 2019 they were selected for the Danish national team to represent Denmark in the World Championships for Icelandic horses in Berlin.
By Bettina Stecher
nanna lanzky otto
Is it hard work?
A job like this is without doubt hard physical work. My entire body ached the first month. However, you quickly adabt and I have noticed that my arm muscles have grown a bit. Even though it is hard work, it is very rewarding and you quickly fall into the rutines.
What have you learnt?
I have learnt so much. Besides the many new things related to riding, I have also learnt a lot about breaking in the young horses and educating the older horses so they can perform better. I have also learnt a lot about feeding different types of horses. Horses that should gain weight and horses who should lose weight.
Have your riding skills improved during your stay?
It is always hard to say about yourself, but I have certainly gotten better at breaking in the young horses and working with the different gaits. I have gotten new tools to use in situations where something challenges the horse. I have learnt to ride many different types of horses and create a training plan for each horse. It is fun to find yourself in a place like this where many different horses come through.
Is there something that you still hope to learn?
I hope to get even better at educating the young horses. Other than that, I hope to learn more techniques to train the older horses.
What does a typical day look like?
We take turns with feeding the horses in the morning. After that, the day starts at 8. We start with mucking, turning out horses and cleaning the stable. After finishing that, we start riding the training and commission horses.
During the day, we also ride our own horses as well as training horses. At the end of the day, we take the horses back into the stable and feed them. We also make sure that the stable is ready for the next day. During the week there are other activities like mucking out the fields, managing the indoor arena and bringing in forage.
How long will you work there?
I am here until August this year. I love it here, and I learn so much. But I also think that there is a long way from Aalborg to my home town sometimes. However, I do not regret coming here. It has been a step towards moving away from home, and you learn so much about yourself when your normal circle of friends is not around.
What do you hope to learn from your stay?
I hope to evolve as a rider and learn things that I can use in the future. Besides that, I hope to learn more about running a business with horses.
What is your best advice to those who would like a job like yours?
If you want to try working with horses full time, I think that you should do it. I have considered it for many years and I needed to try it. Of course, it is important that you do some research about the place you consider working for. In addition, I recommend finding a place with good colleagues because you spend a lot of time together.
Has something surprised you about the job?
I knew the place beforehand, so nothing has really surprised me. Maybe how much hay so many horses eat compared to our 10-12 horses at home.
How long have you ridden?
I have always had access to horses, because my mother had horses long before I was born. In a way I have always ridden. In the beginning I sat on a garden cushion. When I was old enough, I started riding on my own, and I have done so ever since. I rode my first competition when I was 8 years old on our homebred horse, Trana. That was when I really got excited about the sport because I found out that it was possible to do other things than riding around at home.
Why did you fall for the Icelandic horses?
We have always had Icelandic horses at home. Icelandic horses are known for their two extra gaits – tölt and pace, and that is a big reason for me not seeking other breeds. Their mental strength is amazing and they are very versatile. One day you be riding competions or a wild canter in the forest, the next day a small child can be riding around on the same horse. In addition, I think that the Icelandic horse is very beautiful with its long hair and many different colours. It does not bother me that most of them are not taller than a meter and a half.
What have you achieved with your horses?
Through the years, I have had different competition horses, but I have had the biggest experiences together with our mare Ondrun af Bøgegaarden. She taught me to ride pace and together we learnt how to run fast. In 2018 we became Danish Champions in speed pace and in 2019 we were selected to represent Denmark at the World Championships for Icelandic horses in Berlin. There we achieved a fifth place and another two Top Ten placements. That is without a doubt my biggest achievement. In 2021 I rode my last season on Ondrun, which we finished by becoming Danish Champions in the five gait combination.
What goals do you have for the future?
Of course, I would like to become World Champion one day, but my primary goal is to keep evolving as a rider and learn more about riding, but also about the horses. I also have a couple of young horses on the way, and I am very curious to see what’s in store. It is always fun to work with horses that you have watched growing up on the field.
Where do you work now?
In october last year I moved to Aalborg in northern Denmark to work for Rasmus Møller Jensen (Icelandic horse trainer). During my sabbatical I have also ridden and managed our own horses as well as worked part time at other locations.
How did you get the job?
At a former show I had spoken with some of the staff and asked around. At that time, they did not need employees. A few months later when I had forgotten all about it, they were in need of an employee. Before I knew it, I found myself in Aalborg with all of my things.
Why did you choose the job?
I chose the job because I was doubting what kind of education I should get and what my future should include. I had just decided to say no to a course and I was looking for a job.
I had not thought that the job would be with horses in Aalborg, but I decided to take it, and I have not regretted it at any point. I also agreed to it because I knew that I was a good place to work and because I would get a great colleague.
Nanna Lanzky Otto is 22 years old and born and raised in Holbæk in Zealand, Denmark. She finished high school in 2019, and now works with Icelandic horses at Rasmus Møller Jensens stable. Together with her Icelandic mare Ondrun af Bøgegården she became Danish Champion in speed pace and in 2019 they were selected for the Danish national team to represent Denmark in the World Championships for Icelandic horses in Berlin.
By Bettina Stecher