Getting Stable Management Experience

[Mistertron]

I am very keen to learn more about horses and how to keep them but dispite being told i can volunteer at the RS, i keep bottling out. It's because the RS is always so busy with lots of people helping and i feel i would be in the way because i have no experience. Also i feel a little old as the volunteers are mostly kids and i'm 28!

Anyway in a few years time i would like to share a horse but certainly don't know enough at the moment to deal with a horse on my own.

What i was thinking was whether anyone had heard of a situation where a beginner could help someone out with their horse to learn what to do etc. Not necessarly ride and not share as such but just have like a mentor?. I don't know any horsey people so i dont have friends with horses so would also wonder where i could advertise? in the same places that people advertise for a share but explain it would be a little bit different?

Any advice on this? sorry if its a bit rambling.

[Teehee]

If you are having riding lessons at a RS, I'd ask them if there happen to be a nice person with a horse there that could let you help him/her with the other horsey tasks... I mean, if I had my ponies in a the RS and knew of someone who was interested in helping out... I'd be gladly to show the in and outs of owning horses... you'd probably have to keep in touch so that you know at what time that person usually attends their horses/ponies... but obviously the person I taught would also have to be kind and liked by me... So, as long as you are nice and willing... I'm sure you there's someone out there that will let you help out! :D

[magicalmac]

How about contacting your local livery yards, there may be people there who would love someone to lend a hand, also dont know your situation workwise, but could you help at your RS during the week when it would be quiter.

[sockonmyhead]

im in the same sort of situation as you (22, and feeling like a complete muppet next to the six year olds who know exactly what they're doing), so bumping up this thread!

[redcedar]

If any one is close to me and would like some hands on with my 3 then drop me a PM. It would be ground work / stable managment type stuff only and helping to bring my baby back in to work but i am always on the look out for a extra pair of hands :)

Also i am happy to answer any silly questions you might have over PM. We have all been starting to learn at one time or another and most of us still are :)

Don't feel silly being older and just learning. You will enjoy the experiance all the more :)

Helen x

[Mistertron]

If any one is close to me and would like some hands on with my 3 then drop me a PM. It would be ground work / stable managment type stuff only and helping to bring my baby back in to work but i am always on the look out for a extra pair of hands :)

Also i am happy to answer any silly questions you might have over PM. We have all been starting to learn at one time or another and most of us still are :)

Don't feel silly being older and just learning. You will enjoy the experiance all the more :)

Helen x

Thats a really kind offer but just a little far out for me :( especially as i have to share a car with my OH now. But thank you anyway :) and will certainly PM with silly questions as i when i think of them! lol :p

[Est]

Would I be close enough? I'll PM you with my exact location and details :)

[Abserd]

Feel the same way myself. I'm 31 and it's not too bad on a weekday evening when after a lesson the staff there are always happy when we can untack and put rugs on. Especially when it's dark, raining and cold and they're tired! But on a weekend when i've got more time, the yard is full of the youngsters helping out and i would feel in the way. Silly i know!

[ally37]

I am 37 and I know exactly how you feel,i now arrive early to groom the horse i am to ride and am sure my RI would be happy for other help but feel such an idiot keep asking is it ok if, can i do that for you etc etc but i suppose we just need to take the plunge here's to us wooses!!!

[Est]

For all you "older" work-experience wannabes ;) I did 2 weeks work experience at a local riding school... at the age of 29! I'm now 30, and therefore proof that you too can survive this kind of embarassment (and exhaustion!) and live to tell the tale ;)

Read about my work experience here (http://www.freewebs.com/elicampane/myworkexperience.htm) and then phone some local schools and ask if you can help out! If I can cope, anyone can :D

[Sammii]

I did like a mini 'mentoring' course at Barleyfields! I learnt LOADS from it. Go on, go and help out - you wont regret it :D
I'm going there for a week from the 9th - 14th (or it could be the week after actually)...because my school does a week's enrichment week course there, and i'm going as the co-supervising adult, so get free riding :D
Talk to Fiona or Adam, they would both be glad to help :)
xx

[vonandiz]

I am also 30 and know an embarassingly small amount about how to look after a horse - I don't even know how to tack up. Two weeks ago I decided to bite the bullet and asked the gaggle of teenage girlies who help out at my RS if I could put my horse back in its stable and what they wanted me to do before this - they said yes and then looked shocked when I said I didn't know how loose the girth should be or how to twist reins and put them through the bridle - so they showed me and seemed happy to share their knowledge. Now I'm aiming to learn one teeny new thing each week. Long term I think a few stable management type courses will be the answer for me.

[Mistertron]

I'm pleased to see its not just me feeling this way :D .

[Nazdaq]

I was the same, glad to say after today I learned LOADS of the basics! The gaps in my "have not done" list now are pretty much common-sense things that I know the theory of but just have not done in practice....all thanks to Pibstar!! :D

Wonderful mini-geek meet that it was, with THE BEXT HACK I HAVE EVER BEEN ON to follow....I am pretty chuffed. It gets a step-by-step breakdown with a big thread of its own tomorrow...(if people are interested that is!)
:D

So to answer the question Mistertron, get an NR mentor to show you the ropes.

P.S: VERY VERY sorry, no pics of me riding or ear shots becuase I chickened out of it....we do have pics of Pibstar though, will let her decide if they are fit for posting. :)

[numrx]

I felt the same way not long ago. :D I was thinking about volunteering or possibly trying to work at an RS and somehow remarkably I had the oppurtunity to volunteer at a therapeutic riding organization with my church, the place is called Equest (www.equest.org) (course it is a bit too far for you :D ) . Go to there web site and get an idea of what these kinds of places offer.

I would go on the internet and do a search for a therapeutic riding organization near you.

Lol, BTW, can someone tell me what an OH is? (someone used that term in this thread)

[jroz]

I got into horses by volunteering and that was only about 5 years ago. I started out at a therapeutic riding center, first grooming, and leading horses. Then I learned how to tack them up for classes. Eventually I learned about turnout, cleaning stalls, feeding, bathing, etc. The more you do, the more you get comfortable with. It helps to learn from good people too.

[Est]

numrx - OH is "other half" (you'll also come across DH or "dear husband" - but this term of endearment is usually granted only if they have done something extra special like authorised a large horsey purchase, or done the mucking out ;) :D )

Nazdaq - great to hear about your mini geek meet! I can't believe you refused photos for us :eek: :mad: :D Are you guys going to meet up again? Details of your hack please! Are you doing another thread?

[Libbyo]

Volunteers always welcome to come and help me with my crew. There is ALWAYS long reining to be done as well as grooming, etc. Sence of humour and big capasity for tea is all thats necessary.

[Nazdaq]

Est...putting another thread up in general section now....:D

[Abserd]

I'm pleased to see its not just me feeling this way :D .

Ditto that too! I have learnt how to untack by basically helping out after evening lessons, jsut to put the saddle and bridle away and put the headcollar and rugs on. Did this by asking the girls (and 1 boy) and also by just watching them. I've not dared to ask to tack up and they always seem so busy. But the RS does run Adult Progressive Riding which includes stable management. Will think about starting that, maybe later in the year. Glad i'm not the only one who feels this way:o (There's a similar thread about RDA volunteering in disabled riding if anyone's interested.)

[jenmac_85]

I am 21 and just before I got my boy I spent 3 months working at a local Livery/RS/Competition Yard. I worked all day Friday and Sunday plus the occassional Wednesday afternoon.

I just kept telling myself that it was for something I loved. I worked mainly with the RS horses (It was one of them I eventually bought) and found it was great to be able to take responsibility to full mucking out, feeding and grooming. I was also extremely fortunate in that the YO was able to begin my BHS stage training. Although I dont work there any more I feel I couldnt have got a better start with horses.

I also felt that I was in the way. Asking extremely stupid questions like 'Will this headcollar fit this horse' (Yep, and 3 months later I was entrusted with my own horse - would make you cringe) but I found that most people were patient. I think if you show you have a genuine interest, people are generally happy to share their knowledge and help you get experience.:D

Is there a quieter time that you can go to the RS and help out. Even being 'assigned' an RS horse to look after.

[laceyfreckle]

just like to say i have a 13.2hh confidence giving pony if anyone wants to lend a hand with her, i don't mind teaching stable management, long-reining, general bits and bobs etc, even the odd ride in it for you....and if you wanted to help me drive her would be a bonus! Need to be enthusiastic thouh and have a good warped sense of hunour! I am in colchester, essex

[Mistertron]

Thanks for everyones replies and there seems to be lots of kind offers for people around the UK (and the states!) to get some experience. Just wanted to say that i have also posted this topic in the 'Ideas for new features' part of the forum and more people have replied in there also.

Hopefully people can match up and it would nice if the newbies (like me) then posted about their experiences on here :D