Page 12 - AEF-AlbertaBits_Winter-2025

By Areeha Mahal
THE GRIT
BEHIND
THE GLORY
A barn helper’s life is all about the
hands-on hustle
Photos supplied
AT ROYAL T EQUESTRIAN in Grande Prairie, the
work day begins before the sun rises. Horses nicker
softly from their pens, hay dust catches in the cold
air and the quiet rhythm of the barn comes alive.
For barn hand Taya Sutherland, that sound — the
steady shuffle of hooves and rustle of feed — is the
heartbeat of her day.
Sutherland’s connection to horses began before
she was old enough to hold the reins. Her father
played polo for years, and though she initially kept
her distance from the sport, horses were never far
from her life. It wasn’t until she signed up for the
Government of Alberta’s Green Certificate Program
— a high school initiative that pairs students
with agriculture work experience while earning
academic credit — that she found herself drawn
into the barn world.
“I would show up on days where they probably
weren’t expecting me. They definitely couldn’t get rid
of me at the time, I was what you call the barn rat,”
she laughs. “I got a lot of self independence through
that, I got my horse, I started achieving goals in my
riding … just by taking those first steps into joining
the barn and just being in the atmosphere.”
These days, Sutherland helps run a lively barn,
caring for around twenty horses. Her mornings
begin early, between 6:30 and 7:00 a.m., checking
on each horse, making sure they’re fed and healthy,
and preparing them for the day’s lessons or turnout.
She ensures that every horse receives the right
feed and supplements, checks their health and
well-being, and maintains pens and arenas. While
she focuses on the morning routine, another staff
member handles the evening chores. Through it all,
Sutherland emphasizes that the work is as much
about listening as it is about labour.
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Alberta Bits Winter 2025