Where do I start?!!!

[Sapphire]

Hi peeps,

I'm hoping someone can give me some sound, non-fussy advice!
I've decided to go back to my original career plan (after going through so many 'I'll do that' things, a nail technician and nun being just a couple). However, I am at a complete loss as to where one wee 18 year old girl starts! And to make matters much much worse, I missed my GCSE's, all of it! But that's not to say I'm thick or anything, I'm intelligent.... well so I've been told, and when it comes to horses I soak anything up like a sponge! I just LOVE them and everything about them.

Some background info: I've worked at 2 riding schools, had my own horse and shared one, and have looked after some peoples horses. I'm a sucky rider, I can't canter, I bounce too much you see! But I want to improve, I'm always driving to improve. I'd say this is the biggest thing working against me, I can't ride, but I want to, don't get me wrong on that!:D

The first thing I thought I should do is go and work at a stable again and get rid of all the rust! I don't want to teach.... unless I got some strange talent for it (which I haven't), I'm more into grooming/training horses, breaking and schooling, and I love being around foals! So I guess I'd be looking at a stud or a competition yard? I just need some training/experience to get on foot on the ladder, because quite a few yards like to take on a trainee and train the person themselves.. so I don't really need qualifications pouring out of my ears as such.

My other concern: I'm into the more natural horsemanship (not PNH or Monty Roberts, more Michael Peace) type handling and the classical riding than straight BHS (Heathers attitude to riding I'm a huge fan of), but so many yards seem BHS this and that.... and I can just see the people not really liking me in their stables because I don't believe in their principles.... so any ideas on that? Is there any chance of me finding a classical type yard to work on? Or am I creating a stupid illusion that I might get lucky? I am being too hopeful?

Thanks

[Wally]

Trouble is to be able to train and school you need to be a reasonable rider yourself.....that takes time, patience and practice.

Probably the best thing to do is start at a yard as a working pupil, or go to college. Get in touch with your local agricultural college and they'll tell you what is on offer and where. You'll have to pick your courses though as some of the BHS courses are so dated and stuck in the past, most examiners probably won't have heard of mike Peace or Monty Roberts!


It's chicken and egg syndrome, you won't get a job unless you hold relevant qualifications OR you can prove, by demonstration you are good enough. You cannot get the qualifications without the on the job experience.

Having said this there is work for non riding folk who just want to look after, groom turnout and manage horsey establishments. Parelli does correspondance courses I beleive, you can study and read up on horse phsychology and maybe study that as an off shoot of animal psychology.

A friend started off as a sports massage therapist, upgraded her skills to horses and is now in great demand on competition yards to massage horses!

By the way you can take your GCSE's any time you want, night school etc. It's a good idea, you'll find it may be the difference between you being accepted on a course and someone else getting the job.


By the way, make sure you soak up the right things, question, ask, look and make sure it makes sense, if you don't feel it is right then it probably isn't. Ask and ask again, if you are not given a satisfactory answer ask elswhere...then make up your mind.

[liz--y]

if your in wiltshire how far are you for lackham collage chippinham, manybe you could appley to start in september. you would have to start on FD the 1 year course though

[Hareer]

Ifyou love horses and are dedicated there are plenty of good jobs out there.
Many competiton yards have openings for non-riding grooms as the like to ride the horses themselves.
I have been to college and been a working pupil and have found both beneficial. Most employers are willing to train someone with the right attitude, although you may have to comprimise on the methods they use as every person has there own way of doing things. I have worked for several people and have learnt something from all of them, it's just a matter of taking from the job the bits you agree with.
I wish you luck and if you do go a head as a trainee groom make sure you don't just take the first job offered, some vacancies are a lot better than others!!

[Sammys Mum]

If your interested in Natural HorseManship there is a Monty Roberts course. Its about 10 weeks I think. Learning everything, join up, how to deal with horses in all situations and everything like that, its alot more than that but I'm not exactly sure on details. In the end you get a certificate saying you've done it and its a qualification. You could then do it as a business. Helping troubled horses. Its what I'm going to do!