Are we too old to help?

[Coventry celt]

What do you rekon to Grown ups who help at Riding schools?

Ok, so at 23, I realise some of you would consider me little more than a nipper myself, but I'm older than your average horse mad teenager. But after getting back into Riding in January, I asked this week about helping at the Riding school where I have lessons, on a saturday.

Now I'm having second thoughts. I'm a Brownie Guide leader, and have helped at GirlGuide camps, so i have no problems being aroung kids (like they don't annoy me or anything - i think they're quite fun!)
But will they think I'm some kind of wierdo? maybe a little bit special/touched/tardy?? (no disrespect meant, I just don't know how to say that without it being all wordy) or maybe they'll think something worse?? (like...a certain guy with a ranch and a bad nose job?)

I just want those things that came naturally years ago to be natural again - knowing how to put a bridle on, without hanging myself in it, leading a horse, picking feet out, mucking out - maybe learn a little more....I'm a little eccentric, maybe, but I'm no wierdo!

Who thinks I should just forget it and stick with my old people riding lessons in the week??

[Pink's lady]

Won't worry about it - there's loads of places where there are adult helper. And you'll find most of the 'kiddy' helpers are 14 or 15, which isn't all that big an age gap.

You'll probably find you'll get more out of it than someone younger - the staff are usually happier giving older helper the responsibility.

Only problem you'll have is with 'clique' (sp?) groups of girls looking down on you and being snotty :rolleyes:

Go along and enjoy yourself - no-one will think you at all weird

[stormandsummer]

:eek: No i would suggest you get stuck in and help at the yard, your not old at all, i started helping my local yard when i was 30 and i loved every minute of it :D Still do.......... bank holiday monday i was helping out with the pony club show, and i had a ball of a time :D I even got entered for the last team race as a kid pulled out, so i tacked up my 15"2 loan horse and had a right giggle and i came first :p but i declined first place as i was only there to make the numbers up, however i did get a rosette for being a good sport :rolleyes:

most yards would welcome a sensible adult to help out. Not sure i qualify as sensible though LOL :rolleyes:

[Bay Mare]

At 23 you're still a youngster! Go for it if you want to do it. I started back to riding when I was approaching 40 and used to work at my RS at weekends and on my days off. Nobody thought I was weird, well, except that they thought that I was friends with the YO and had been put in to spy! Once we sorted that out everything was fine :)

[ANN H]

Go for it. They'll probably appreciate having somebody a little more mature than the kids! I started back riding at about 40 and used to help at my RS. There was a lady there who was in her sixties who used to help at weekends. Just enjoy it and try not to worry about what everyone else is thinking.

[Peanut]

At the riding school/livery where I keep my mare there are helpers/workers of all ages (probably 14 - 50). If I need someone to babysit my youngster for a few minutes while I do something, I only ever ask the more mature and responsible people.

Any good riding centre I am sure would be delighted to have you.

[Shirl]

Im 31 and I help out at the RS where I ride. Dont worry about feeling silly just get in there and do it.

I find the younger kids look to me for assistance (even If I dont know the answer! and even tho theyre all there more than me!) None of them have ever look ed down on me or been cliquey against me, Im always offered their chocolates and sweets!

[Afellpony]

As a mature person myself, it wouldn't worry me at all if a group of young girls looked down on me and was snotty. When you get to a certain age, you have all the confidence (and more) in the world. I might pity someone being snotty but it wouldn't bother me at all. Their problem, not mine!!!!

[Mehitabel]

we love adult helpers. we are overrun by kids who are enthusiastic but too young to be of much use, and have a real shortage of people who, for instance, we can ask ot go and supervise a bunch of kids poo-picking, or send up to the field alone, or can go as a spare for the instructor on a walk-out.

[notpoodle]

i offered to help one at my first yard. i got some VERY funny looks, so decided not to bother in the end :rolleyes: motive behind offering to help was that i didnt know anyone at the yard ... that never really changed :(

[nutkin]

We would love some adult help at our yard.We deal in horses but also do lessons and hacks and it is difficult to find enough mature helpers that are capable of riding a variety of horses that are willing to help out.

[Berry]

I don't know what it's like with you but at my RS the majority of paid workers are in their 20s so there's a lot of 'older' people around the yard.
If you do lessons midweek then could you help out sometime during the week? That would be a kid-free zone.
Are you allowed to tack up/untack your own horse at your lesson? At my RS they just leave you to it and you can groom the horse or whatever if you come a bit early (and can find a brush somewhere!) Even asking if you can do that sort of stuff with the horse you ride at the lessons would be good experience.

Edit - ps. I am 20 - do I count as a 'mature rider'? Just started riding last year and loving it :)

[joosie]

we love adult helpers. we are overrun by kids who are enthusiastic but too young to be of much use, and have a real shortage of people who, for instance, we can ask ot go and supervise a bunch of kids poo-picking, or send up to the field alone, or can go as a spare for the instructor on a walk-out.

Like me :D I'm nearly 21 and the next oldest Saturday helper is 13, so the head girl gives me jobs that I can do unsupervised which frees her up to keep an eye on the kids!

When you're a bit older and know what you're doing you are a great asset to any yard, and in my experience the kids look up to you rather than down on you. They tend to come to me for advice when the head girl is busy. On my second Saturday there, there was a new helper who took one look at me - talking to a little group of 12-year-olds - and assumed I was in charge :cool:

[Peace]

I'm 45 and regularly help out at my RS. I've wondered the same as you, if people wouldn't think I was either a) some kind of weirdo, or b) pining after the company of little ones that I perhaps couldn't have myself.

Truth is, I find most children incredibly annoying, but serious horse kids I like, so maybe I do it partly so people won't find out I'm your basic child-hater.:D

At shows, I'm always the only non-parent other than the YO and her daughter. I go to watch Quanah, but since his classes are always in the afternoon I generally spend mornings helping out with the short-stirrup division.;) The kids actually seem to love having an extra adult around.:)

It really is a good way to develop skill at things like tacking up, etc. so it almost becomes second nature.

Go for it.:)

[Wally]

We had folk a lot older than you wanting to come and help out, rather have someone over 20 than under 20 personally.

[Coventry celt]

i offered to help one at my first yard. i got some VERY funny looks, so decided not to bother in the end :rolleyes: motive behind offering to help was that i didnt know anyone at the yard ... that never really changed :(

When i asked, the head girl asked me if my hat was too tight!
(I did have a big hat-mark on my forehead, tho!)

[Bertie]

I helped at my local RS every other sunday - although have missed a few weeks recently but the YM is really grateful of my help, I don't get paid or any free tuition but I don't mind she is often grateful of help with walk outs for little kids etc having an extra adult along especially with the tiny tots and wen they require leading in lessons etc.

Not getting anything back apart from personal satisfaction doesn't bother me because it means that if I wanna slope off for a ciggy break or at lunchtime go home I can, it's all on my terms :D

[caraid_alba]

i dont think that you are to old ....... :p i started to help out when i was 47 and i am not only older person there to do so.. its great fun:D

[Skib]

It all boils down to insurance doesnt it?
I wish you luck because it depends on the school.
My first lessons were at a place where you could call in and watch lessons, or be invited to meet livery horses by their owners at weekends.
They were very busy at weekends. So, if you were a regular client whose face was known, and had done their BHS Stage 1 course (as I had) they were only too glad to ask you if you could put away a horse or go and fetch one.
It wasnt exactly working. But I really liked that and miss it.
At the yard where I've ridden for the last three years clients are not allowed to do anything unless in the presence of a staff member, and "staff" seems to include child helpers!
Yes, I hate finding an (apparently) eleven year old child at my shoulder eager to lead out my horse, and surprised to learn that you know how to tighten your own girth?
Yes, I did ask when I (illegally) untacked a week or two ago. And was told that it was not my competence which was in question. But that I wasnt qualified.
This is why I shall buy my own horse or find one to share. Children it seems are allowed to learn on the job. But adults not.

[Coventry celt]

Skib, that sucks! It sounds like you've found a really friendly place, there!!
The lady I asked at the place I go to was cold, but not THAT cold!! I honestly think that most places wouldn't be so bad, and certainly, if you decided to share a horse, most owners would probably give some of their new spare time to make sure their horse is being looked after properly!!

And surely, if you've done your stage 1, then you're qualified, or at least more qualified than the eleven year olds??

[Skib]

To clarify - The yard I go has good hacking, nice owner, and I am very happy riding there. Just because of insurance I am not allowed to touch a horse there.
And I did not actually take the Stage 1 Exam. A class of us adults did an excellent 16 week caourse but none of us took the exam. And my curretn yard accepts I cannot, because the test includes lifting bales of hay so that candidates can demonstrate they are able to do it safely. But at 66 years old with a damaged back, I cant even lift supermarket shopping in from the car.

You are right, your post reminds me that I ought to sort something out for myself.

[domane]

I just want to add that it's a sad world we live in when a 23yo is having second thoughts about being round children in case they are thought to be a weirdo!!! :(

What is the world coming to???

(ETA Trouble is, I would have the SAME worries too!!!!)

[Berry]

I don't think that's really fair about the hay bales, surely if you are physically unable to do that then they are sort of discriminating against you? I am not saying you are 'disabled' (just normal for your age!) but I'd be interested to know the BHS view on people with any sort of disability and if they make allowances for that? I think it should be enough if you can tell someone how you would do it. They should be trying to encourage all riders :)

[Trewsers]

Truth is, I find most children incredibly annoying, but serious horse kids I like, so maybe I do it partly so people won't find out I'm your basic child-hater.:D

Go for it.:)

Echo that one!:p :D Seriously tho, I do get lots of pitying looks - I still think some of the yard are convinced I secretly pine for kids of my own.....:D (which of course I don't!!!)

[LizH]

I help at my RS and I'm 56 - I have sometimes thought people might think it odd but then I think , well , if I had my own horse I'd be doing all these things as a matter of course and no-one would think anything of it! Plus, I'm learning skills which I'll need when I get my own horse ( not long now :D :D :D ) . Why should age be a factor in doing something we love ? You go and do it , life's too short not to :)

[horse__obsessed]

I think adult help would be appreciated at our yard.... too many little 12yr olds trying to help but making more work:rolleyes: Thank God I work on sundays:D

Minimum age for helping is supposed to be 14yrs. I started at 11yrs:p but I had already helped at a RS.

Need more older people!

[Crazy Mare]

I'm 30 and I help out at my riding school and really enjoy it.

I've found that there's a good mix of ages around the yard but although I wasn't sure what to make of the youngsters at first (I'm another one with no kids and no intentions to have any :D ) they've been polite and helpful to me so far.

Have a go and let us know how you get on.

CM Xxx

[Coventry celt]

I just want to add that it's a sad world we live in when a 23yo is having second thoughts about being round children in case they are thought to be a weirdo!!! :(

What is the world coming to???

(ETA Trouble is, I would have the SAME worries too!!!!)

I definately wouldn't have gone if i Wasn't involved with Guiding (and subsequently hadn't done any of the child safety training/safe from harm stuff, and been through the CRB checks) because I'd have nothing to back me up if something did happen
On the one hand, it's good that we can listen to a child who's genuinely being abused, but on the other hand, it's very easy for a kid to take a dislike to you and cry "witch", and I've seen Both sides of it happen to people i knew.

ANYWAY, back on topic - I went down to help out today, and it was OK. I enjoyed being around the horses, and helping the little kiddies out. The older ones took no notice of me - but that's just normal - they would have done the same if I was 16!
The staff were very....um....quiet. But then I didn't expect them to take much notice of me, either! No free rides or money at the end of the day, but that was fully expected - and I didn't go to get paid!
Now, knackered, and I have loads of work to catch up on, but nevermind - was worth it! :)

[ajhainey]

They might warm to you, adult helpers are like goldust so it's in the staff's interest to be nice and ime kids are very friendly once they get used to you (as long as I remeber to treat them all like adults and not like kids ;) )

aj xx

[Tharg]

Well done for going, they should soon warm to you as they realise an adult helper can be a lot more reliable and have more common sense and dare I say manners than a child.