HORSEMANSHIP Courses and internships
Q&A & Practical Information
HORSEMANSHIP
This experience is ideal for horse lovers seeking a hands-on, immersive connection with horses and daily farm life.
In your free time, you’re warmly invited to spend time with the herd, join us for relaxed walks with the horses around the property, and explore our extensive horsemanship book library.
Read more about our horse sanctuary, the type of work we do and meet the herd here.
HOW DO I ARRIVE AT YOUR PLACE FROM THE AIRPORT?
Fly into our only airport RIX in RIGA, 70km from the studio.
The BEST way to get to us from airpot is by booking BOLT taxi ride. Make sure not to take any random taxi, install the app BOLT and book the ride. It should cost you around 60eur for the 1hour ride (it’s about 70km).
By car: please simply enter LAIMA CERAMICS in google and follow through with your navigation app (Waze or google maps).
By public transport: Get bus to BAUSKA town. From there you should get local bus to KUKŠUKROGS. This bus is not so often, so check the schedule to plan your travel. From there it's 3km - we can pick you up with car.
HOW WILL I GET AROUND?
A rental car is the easiest way to get around, as we are located 7 km from the nearest shop. However, if you’re on a budget or don’t have a driver’s licence, you can still manage comfortably with public transport.
We usually go to Bauska twice per week, and you’re welcome to join us for a weekly grocery trip.
We also have bicycles available on site, which you can use to reach the closest village, Pilsrundāle, where the nearest shop is located (approximately 5 km away).
This setup allows for flexibility while still enjoying the quiet, rural setting of the farm.
Food / catering info
There is a shared kitchen on site where you can prepare your own meals.
The main kitchen is equipped with an electric oven, induction cooker, kettle, hand blender, two fridges, as well as pots, pans, and handmade tableware.
It’s a simple, functional setup, and we stock it with basic essentials such as spices, salt, and cooking oil.
Where I can do food shopping ?
We recommend the farmers market in Bauska for local seasonal vegetables, meat and fish. And Rimi shopping mall has everything else. There is also a small seasoning shop in Bauska.
The main shopping center in Bauska is hypermarket Rimi .
There are also amazing restaurants and cafes in 5-20min driving distance.
Aveņi (in Bauska)
Tornis (in Bauska)
Rezidence (near Rundale palace)
Baltā Māja (near Rundale palace)
My hope is that this information will make this position and the expectations that come with it as transparent as possible.
Committed to your own development
Above all, this means being willing and able to spend time on self-study, particularly around horsemanship and horse language. Personal motivation, curiosity, and an eagerness to learn are essential.
Respectful of the space
The studio and farm are both our home and livelihood. The mental, emotional, spiritual, and physical space we cultivate here supports our work and well-being. We kindly ask that you respect this space in all its forms.
Open and communicative
Living and working together relies on clear, honest, and respectful communication. Transparency helps us share the space harmoniously.
Open to feedback
We are invested in sharing knowledge and supporting your growth. We aim to communicate clearly about expectations and needs—through this descriptive webpage and by carefully reviewing your application to ensure a good mutual fit.
You’re welcome to explore some of our past participants’ testimonials here.
What to bring along?
Bedding and basic kitchen equipment are provided.
Please bring:
Wellington / rubber boots — the Zemgale region is known for muddy terrain
Season-appropriate clothing
Sleeping eye mask — the rooms are bright
Earphones — useful if you enjoy listening to music or podcasts while working
Comfortable gloves for outdoors
How many people work on-site?
There are four people at the core of the studio:
Laima — Potter and founder. Responsible for all design, wheel-throwing, most glazing and firing, as well as part of marketing (Instagram) and photography.
Oksana — Studio assistant, handling customer service and packaging.
Vēsma — Laima’s mother, managing bookkeeping and finances.
Krišjānis — Photographer and graphic designer, also supporting household and practical studio operations.
Horse stable helper — we usually have 1–2 helpers working in shifts throughout the week, typically 3–4 hours per day OR a combination of a workaway volunteer during the weekdays and stable helper during the weekend to do the daily feeding and mucking.
WHAT ARE THE TRAVEL OPPORTUNITIES?
The studio and farm are located 20 km from the town of Bauska and approximately 70 km from the capital, Riga. Public transport in Latvia is convenient, affordable, and reliable.
That said, the studio truly sits in the “middle of nowhere” — creating a peaceful, immersive bubble-like atmosphere. Exploring beyond the farm requires a conscious effort, which many guests find grounding and refreshing.
We highly recommend setting aside some time to explore this beautiful, nature-rich country during or after your stay.
The studio and farm is just 5min away from nr.1 top tourist location in Latvia- the gorgeous Rundale Palace as well as other lovely day trips in the local area.
Our top 3 favourites:
Kolka- where the open Baltic sea meets the bay
Kuldīga- the most beautiful, charming old town
Gauja National Park
Have a look here for more details.
Are there any dangerous animals in Latvia?
As we are surrounded by nature, ticks are present in the area and may carry tick-borne encephalitis and Lyme disease. Please check your body carefully after spending time outdoors, especially between March and October.
If you’re lucky, you may spot deer, foxes, badgers, moose, mice, and a wide variety of birds in the surrounding countryside.
If you’d like to learn pottery during your stay, you can also book individual pottery classes in addition to your residency or visit.
You can view and reserve all available individual pottery classes here.
Congratulations on making it to the end of this extensive page 🤍
If you have any further questions, please feel free to reach out to us via email.
We look forward to welcoming you here in Latvia.
Warmest wishes,
Laima & co