A rant.

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moodymare123

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So besides leaving school in september i have been look around at what i could do when i can leave, i wanted it to be horse based , but looking through apprenticeships they say that they would want someone who went to pony club and is currently jumping 1.30 courses!! what?! if my parents had the money i would of been able to have those sort of luxuries, but i did not. to be able to get up there do you really need the money from the start?! or just trial and error? so fed up.
 
I wouldn't have thought that was the norm, most wp positions start with much lower expectations of experience. Admittedly it was years ago, but when I was a wp I found the opposite problem, once you got to that level there were less opportunities that still involved a high level of training, rather than just being a groom who got maybe 2hrs instruction a week. There always seemed to be plenty of wp positions that would train you through nvq/bhs 2&3 but far less still offering loads of training beyond that.
 
That seems really bizarre.. from what I gather, that's definitely not the norm when in comes to groom / working pupil postitions etc
 
i know, i really feel as though im missing out on horses just because of the finance side of things, surely there is a way to build yourself up..
 
Where are you looking to do an apprenticeship? Like with what college?

When I was debating it I was going to go through Reaseheath or Myerscough.

Reaseheath : http://www.reaseheath.ac.uk/subjects/fe-equine/courses-equine/horse-care-apprenticeships/

Entry requirements

Apprenticeship

No formal requirements
Six months prior work experience in the industry is an advantage
Advanced Apprenticeship

3 GCSEs at Grade C or above or equivalent
For both programmes you will need to have some experience of handling horses and riding and be enthusiastic and committed
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Myerscough: http://www.myerscough.ac.uk/?page=c...iceship in Equine - Dual Equine Qualification

Entry Criteria
To be eligible to undertake the DEQ Apprenticeship you must be:
· Aged 16 or over.
· Employed full-time within the equine industry
· Entry on to the DEQ Apprenticeship is subject to interview and an initial ride and vocational skills assessment with a member of the Horse Power training team.
Click to expand...

I think you're looking in the wrong place/ above your abilities.

Also, I never did pony club and I never asked if i had gone to Pony club.
 
moodymare123 said:
i know, i really feel as though im missing out on horses just because of the finance side of things, surely there is a way to build yourself up..
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College is free. If you have low income there are subsidised travel passes. I don't understand where you're coming from tbh.

I'm considered to be from a "low income" family and it was never an issue when applying, in the end I ended up going to do A levels instead but I don't know where you're getting the idea that they are against you because you're not as well off. :confused:

The colleges that I looked at do entry level courses aswell.
 
not if i wanted to accomidate, which i would have to which isnt a problem, but its the whole being able to have the luxury with horses (no transport ect.) i dont think theyre against me at all its just what i read for what theyre looking for :-) and thankyou heatherann i will look into it more ! its just wether they arent too far!
 
moodymare123 said:
not if i wanted to accomidate, which i would have to which isnt a problem, but its the whole being able to have the luxury with horses (no transport ect.) i dont think theyre against me at all its just what i read for what theyre looking for :-) and thankyou heatherann i will look into it more ! its just wether they arent too far!
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Accommodation is a luxury not a must so it's not the college's fault if you can't do that.

I've never owned/loaned or payed for a lesson simply because I couldn't afford it. Anything I've learned is from grafting and being repaid in lessons. The colleges certainly didn't discriminate against me for that.

The only reason I didn't go for it was the travelling as I travel badly and couldn't be dealing with such a long journey to the college. (Plus my dad said he would chuck me out if I didn't do A levels) :mad:
 
it is a must for me as it is the closest college i am able to go too (1 1/2 hours away) and that sounds like me too i have a fab pony but no lessons except with hard graft in return which is rare. and thats all i read in what they are looking for in the one i looked at :-)
 
That sounds like an odd situation you've found there, op, certainly not the norm. In my experience employers looking to take on a trainee are desperate for the ones who actually have a shred of understanding of what working with horses actually involves. Don't let chippiness about other people's finances hold you back. You're only wasting your own time going down that path. No employer wants a spoilt princess who only wants to jump. Hard working, determined and dedicated yard staff are worth their weight in gold and employers are usually way more interested in that than how much your daddy's spent on ponies and how big your lorry is. If you want it go out there and get it. Good luck :)
 
Look on yard and groom there's normally loads of working pupil positions providing accommodation training and able to keep your own horse
 
Most yards look for a wp who is maybe lacking in experience but making up with willingness and enthusiasm to learn. My first position was at an int' SJ yard and although I had done pc they never asked about it. I learnt loads although I wasn't looking to compete there horses just groom and gain experience from watching them compete, I did warm the horses up tho and there was plenty of riding. Go on yard and groom and have a good look. Most yards offer accommodation and you would probs have to be willing to move away from your current area ( I moved to the other end of the country )
 
thankyou guys, i am acting non optimistic and non apprecoative of what i am, but seeing girls my age going to bluechip,poys ect and me just keeping my fingers crossed that someone will offer me a lift to a show can make me feel little dispaired sometimes! every now and again ill have someone pay me to ride or bring on there horses, so would that class as experience???
 
i am willing to move but not until i have my driving license! ah i would love to be able to do what some have you have said to of experienced! would kill to be able to ride at a good level!
 
I wouldn't go down the college route tbh. By the time I was about 21 or so I knew plenty of college leavers who'd done hnds etc & were my age who were starting out further behind than I was at 18. They might be ok if you have private opportunity alongside, but if you are looking to work on pro yards in the future I'd really recommend starting on one as a wp. On a good yard you'll learn more in 6mnths than you would years at a college, & the quality of the horses is far superior. Plus ime yard work on colleges gives a very false impression as to what is expected on a real working yard.
 
Yes, A-levels would definitely be best bet. That's what I did, & I had to give up working with horses when I became a single mum, & although I had only horse jobs & pt bar work as experience, good a-levels gave me more opportunity than just gcses.
 
Deffo a good Idea to get your a levels. I didn't and sometimes I do wish I had have got some quals to fall back on. I always say to people keep horses as a hobby and get a job that pays decent money but sometimes you do have to follow the dream as you will always wonder what if. If it makes you feel better I was the kid who's family had no money and when all my friends where turning up to pony club in a big lorry I was on a scruffy naughty pony who I had to hack to the rally's on, but when they found out scruffy little pony could jump they let me hop a lift to the team comps. I was so jealous looking at my friends on there smart ponies with all the gear but looking back it did me a favour. Taught me to appreciate what I have and work hard to make it better. Good luck with whatever u decide to do :)
 
A great many racing yards still take youngsters with no experience whatsoever - it's not a cuddly life down at the bottom and bear in mind you may NEVER progress but as most yards appreciate staff that work hard and do as they are told - you could be sitting on something world class next year.

All you need is - enthusiam and Percy Veerance. Oh - did I mention a good sense of humour?
 
moodymare123 said:
i know, i really feel as though im missing out on horses just because of the finance side of things, surely there is a way to build yourself up..
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You don't have to be rich to train to work with horses. Keep looking for apprenticeships. Reaseheath and Myescough do run apprenticeships based on yards, so you wouldn't have to live at or near the college. Give them a call :)

It's also worth sending your CV to your local riding stables etc as they often take on working pupils to do the BHS exams :)
 
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