Working with horses

[dcp]

Hello, I would love to hear from people who work with horses doing whatever. What are the downsides to working with horses? And ups? Had an interview at college re doing a horse care course. It would mean giving up work and doing it full time. I am going to wait to see about the bursery as it may not be possible at all. I am not sure what to do give up my stable yet deadend job and get into a career I'm not sure I would be really good at? Oh confusion :)

[joey_olop]

The downside is the money-I couldnt survive on it so had to get a job in an office instead.

The job is very satisfying though & if thats what you want to work in & it makes you happy then go for it-money dosnt always make you happy :)

Good Luck.

[Pink's lady]

I seem to remember you're quite nervous working with horses? (not liking going in the field whilst they're playing etc ) To work with horses (as in hands-on) you need to be confident to work with all types of horses in all situations.

Are you still at the vets? I'd have thought that would have had as much scope for upwards and onwards as working with horses, unless you're lucky and a very talented rider.

[dcp]

It's a bit if a career change for me as I'm doing an office job. Often get asked to do horsey work but don't feel I have enough experience. Plus some situations make me nervous so it's not like I am the most confident person.

[dcp]

PL - I have thought about this before about a year ago. I would say I have gained more experience since then and have done the odd bit of riding etc for other people so feeling a bit more confident. I'm not sure whether sometimes it's lack of knowledge how to deal with a certain situation that makes me nervous. Current job is good but with no prospects.

[Pink's lady]

Why don't you see if you would get a week off sometime to go and get some experience before jumping in the deep end and doing the course?

That way you can see if you're confident enough working with horses in all situations and whether you will enjoy it.

[dcp]

That is a very good idea. I like your thinking so sensible!!

[mayoguinness]

What would you be doing with horses?? Training them??

[parsharainbow]

If the money is an issue you could always do what I do, I have a well enough paid job in the mornings to cover all of my outgoings and I work on a P2P yard in the afternoons, that way I've got enough money and I get to do what I enjoy :)

[Denbenj]

I have done both. I started of working with horses as a trainee when I left school. But sadly could not survive on £55pw for 6 days work!! I stayed for a couple of years but left to do work for my fathers company as a PA for a good few years.. Yes I could then afford to have my own horse but I spent all my day sat cooped up in an office, and I just love working outdoors. In the end I went back to horses as Groom earning above the minimum wage but still quite low ( about £6h) however I had my horse with me to..spent all day outside which is my cup of tea!.

However...If I didnt have my OH I wouldnt be able to do it now if I decided to work back with horses as With the prices of rent/mortgages etc I would never be able to look after myself let alone daughter/dogs/cats/horse/car/bills !

[raingodz]

This is an interesting thread. I am trying to decide what to do with my life, part of me would really like to work with horses before I get too old (now 34), but maybe it is just an unrealistic dream brought on by impending possibilities of a looming mid-life crisis. I have my Stage 1 exam next week, so I will see how that goes, then if I am able to get to stage 3 in the next year or so, also I think that some other qualifications, maybe in some form of NH and maybe a class 2 HGV licence could be useful. But I am changing my mind daily at the moment, I have only been seriously taking lesson for 19 months and there are so many more people who are younger, more experienced, better riders and better qualified than me it does seem like a pointless dream... as you see I just don't know what to do.

But as people have pinted out kids/cars/mortguage/food/bills/etc just never seem to let up to even give an idea that I could ever change job.

I have got as far as working for my RS (rather than just helping) which is a step in the right direction.

[quests_grace]

Hello DCP :)
I hope I can help a bit with this ...
I was in pretty much your exact situation. Im 23 and work with horses. I'm currently training for my BHS exams and doing NVQ's also as my initial aim is to become an approved instructor.
I only started my equestrian career 2 years ago (at 21), before which i too worked in a dead end (but well paid and very secure) office job in london. However the thought of working with horses never came out of my mind so i explored my options and took the bull by the horns and packed it all in to go train for my dream career :D scary yes, but i was no way gonna turn round wen im old and grey and wonder 'what if'. lifes too short in my eyes.
anyway, got a place at a yard in the south west and worked there as a trainee. passed my stage 1 and R&RS but the training was pretty much non-existent (amongst a few other things if anyones read my thread in here "where to train") so have now moved onto a yard nearer to home in the east of england where i am now also working my way through NVQ's as well as the BHS exams.
The money is poor yes, but that was my main sacrifice. I get food, accomodation and training plus a wage (£60 a week at this place but i have a friend at a different yard and shes on £200 a wk doing the same thing) so depends where you go, some places you actually have to pay THEM for this. The only other tiny snag was I had to say goodbye to my long term boyfriend, not easy but i guess that proved how much i wanted this. selfish? :confused: maybe.
anyway to cut a long ramble short i would say the money is a downer and if you hate being outside in the winter weather its not really a job for you. As for your confidence issues thats not really a problem cos the more you find yourself in those sort of situations the more you are able to cope. It sounds like rubbish but its true. I too didnt have much experience, didnt have ANY with regards to working with horses etc but thats changed :D
It just depends how much you want it, depending on the career you choose to go for at the end of it the crap wage will only last whilst you're training. sure you not gonna get paid what you do in a city job (as some of my friends cant understand) but personally i couldnt stand being cooped all day in my old mind numbing office job. :p
Also Raingodz, at the last place i worked there was a 31 year old lady there just starting out so you dont have to be 16 to do it! ;) :D again it depends what you wish to do.
If you wanna know anything else just ask :)
oh and i apologise for such a long post! hope u stayed awake :D

[Floob]

to Raingodz- we have just had a 60+ yo gentlemen start as a ride leader where I work. He has only been riding for 2 years and is not a natural, still has balance issues etc. but he is doing really well and he is an amazing DIY person. Sorts out all the leaks and drainage and handmade new tack racks for the horses.
So really you have quite a few more years to realise your dream

[raingodz]

Also Raingodz, at the last place i worked there was a 31 year old lady there just starting out so you dont have to be 16 to do it! ;) :D again it depends what you wish to do

to Raingodz- we have just had a 60+ yo gentlemen start as a ride leader where I work. He has only been riding for 2 years and is not a natural, still has balance issues etc. but he is doing really well and he is an amazing DIY person. Sorts out all the leaks and drainage and handmade new tack racks for the horses.
So really you have quite a few more years to realise your dream

Thanks both :) I do hope I can manage to sorth something out, it would be so great.

[bexj]

Same dilemma! Well paid, highly stressful job, want to jack it in for a career with horses, but like Raingodz (and I'm a couple of years older) feel so far behind. Can't afford to not earn anything while studying, live in a city too so equine opportunities are thin on the ground. My plan (this week) is to continue with my stages, and hopefully get to stage 3 in the next 2 years. Save hard to get shut of debts, then move out to the sticks. I'd really like to work in a trekking centre, or something similar, or work elsewhere in the equine industry, maybe equipment supply, or something. Have sales experience and business analysis exp as well as people management.

Can't help thinking many employers would rather employ a cheaper younger member of staff though.......:confused:

[Floob]

bexj- that's true, but some will always be understaffed and will take you.
Others are fed up of getting unsuitable younger staff who do not work as hard, in the case of my boss she's had 4 in quick succession. (all older than me mind you, but still)
However many would choose a hard working under 21 yo to an older person of similar ability, just because they don't have to pay as much

[quests_grace]

well i managed to bagsy myself a nice job and im over 21 :D

[dcp]

Thanks for the replies. Still thinking about it. It's confidence thing that's making me think twice. For instance today a horse was hopping on 3 legs and I thought it was going to come down on me and I got really nervous because I didn't know how to handle the situation I suppose. Anyway helping at p2p this week so see how I get on with that.

[eml]

My best ever employee was a woman in her 30's who had never seen a horse before!

She was so committed that it made up for all her lack of skills. She got the other younger staff so organised that everything ran like clockwork.

Money was not an issue...not sure why but she was paid dirctly by the Local Council...I think it was when the area was specially funded to make up for closed coalmines:confused: .

Unfortunately after getting her NVQ2 she went back to her old job in insurance admin ...:( Yes money could not be matched.

[NZdressage]

Well, I will tell you about my job and past jobs and I hope it helps you on your decision.

I'm 17 and have worked with horses for a few years, my first job was in a busy racing stable after school, it was a great job and the horses in general were good, well for racehorses any way! Mucking stables, feeding, putting them on the walker, brushing them on rainy days, preparing them for work, that sort of thing. I enjoyed this job alot, the money was good for a school girl, but you wouldnt be able to live off it. It was 5-6 hours in the morning (in school holidays) and then 1 in the evening.

My next job was at an arabian stud, I didnt enjoy it as much the hours were long 7am-5pm with 1 hour for lunch and it was difficult to ride my own horses. I often had to get my mum to saddle my horse so I could ride it during my lunch hour and then I would ride a second horse after work (sometimes before work). The horses were very unpredictable, esp the colts. I would say you would have to be very experienced with horses for this job. And it was quite boring!! It involved schooling newly broken horses, lunging, feeding, mucking out, grooming, handling, pretty much everything! I worked there for only 1 and a half months as I got my job I have now.......

I currently work for one of NZs top dressage riders and I really enjoy it. We are developing a very big equestrian centre that will have 2 40X80m indoors arenas, a cafe, 4 outdoor arenas, a tack shop, stables, xc course etc etc. The job involves schooling young horses, preparing the horses for work, and general stable chores. When the centre is more established I will also be the head junior riding instuctor and I will have my own grooms. Its a great job as I'm learning so much and I have the opportunity to travel overseas as well as develop as a rider myself. I get lessons on my own horse and the riding school horses, including a GP level horse. I'm planning on being in this job for a while as I get on really well with my boss, and I really enjoy working with the horses of this level.

I hope this kinda answers your Q and wasnt too long and boring. If you have any morew Qs just PM me.