Am I too old / the wrong sex?

C

Cloudhorse

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I've wanted to get this off my chest for a while, so here goes!

I'm a 34 year old male rider and I have been pleasure riding for many years, however last year I decided that I wanted to explore changing career to work with horses - probably starting as a groom.

However, in the last year I feel like most people who work in the horse world, don't want men in it! From tack store owners who've told me "men drive cars, women ride horses" (honest!), to surly female grooms who are rude and stare at me as if I'm some kind of leper for being a male and riding horses, it seems like nobody wants men around horses and it's an almost totally female-oriented world.

Am I just being paranoid or is there some kind of conspiracy?
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And the other issue is my age, again it seems like nearly everyone I see working with horses is female and in their late teens/early 20s. So even if I get qualified as a groom/whatever, is anyone going to employ me anyway?
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Well my YO is male, and has had a long sucessful career in horses varying from proffesionally jousting, exercising racehorses, working at a stud yard and various other aspects

Ignore them keep trying and you'll get to the right place in the end. If people dont employ you because of your sex they have a problem and there a plenty of yards around I know that hire anyone. A few yards around me have mostly male instructors/groom

Keep at it
 
i say go for it! there's only 1 boy that helps out at Mossburn against about 5 girls but we all get along and i know he gets stick for it sometimes but we don't mean it! that tack shop owner was out of order
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don't listen to her.
as for your age, i can't really say as i'm only 16 but i wouldn't think you'd have a problem getting employed!
 
honestly I know that this happens, and it's a shame because age and sex wouldn't sway me if i thought the person was right for the job. i think people could wonder why you were wanting to do a groom's job which is not generally particularly well-paid at your age, so I think you need to make it clear why you want to do this, and also alot of yards have shared accommodation and if there are already girls living there it is very difficult to expect them to share with a man. Keep looking, stay positive and cheerful when you speak to people and realise that not everyone out there is as narrow-minded as the people you have encountered so far! Good luck with the search.
 
How bizarre...
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I have a male friend, 40 years old (ish), and he doesn't seem to have any problems getting grooming/riding work, in fact he's been turning it down of late because he has too much on.

I see you're in Cheshire - if you're anywhere near the border of Staffs/Shrops, I could always ask him if he knows of any vacancies?
 
Our travelling head groom is a man - he drives the HGV, rides the horses, plaits etc and even rode in the evening performance at HOYS last year as we had 3 through to the championship. Go for it!
 
Thanks everybody for replying, it's appreciated!
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It has been on my mind a lot lately, because I know that to get qualified is going to take me a lot of time, and money, and as I work as well, it's taking up nearly all my spare time. So I didn't want to do all this, if it meant it all went to waste, in the end!

I realise I'm changing career late (well, I didn't realise 34 was late but perhaps it is!
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), but the desire to change work came about because I realised I was unsatisfied with what work I was doing and I wanted to do something that I loved doing, rather than something that just paid the bills.

Other people have told me that there is no money in working with horses, but I've replied that since I don't earn much now, it won't really make a great deal of difference! And at least I'd be glad to go to work in the morning!
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Thanks for the post about a potential employer - may I sit on that a while, until I'm a bit more qualified? As at the moment I'm not quite ready, but I would certainly be interested in future!
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I'm glad that not everyone is against males working with horses, that's always been one of the things that I've liked about equestrianism, is that it's not exclusive (or shouldn't be) and it's open to anyone young, old, male, female, etc. I have heard of one guy who still rides in his 80s!
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hi
i used to work on a yard with a male groom it wouldn't bother me at all in fact it was nice as there was non of the b***ching that can happen on an all female yard. i say go for it if thats what you want to do
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theres 4 or 5 male grooms and instructors at my yard-my instructor is a guy and he is absolutely amazing, he gets on any horse and they just look amazing when he rides them. he's so friendly as well and theres no b****yness with him or the guys-having men around makes me feel sane!!

keep looking, im sure someone will realise your potential and look beyond your age and gender
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Where i work (on a SJ yard and biggish stud producing sport horses and TB's) there is about a 50/50 split male/female and ages range from 17 to 40. i like working with males because there is so much less bitching (although the testosterone fueled method of breaking in is starting to wear thin
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!) and it is great to have a man about for a bit of extra strength for some jobs. I say go for it. If you are good at your job the equine world is desperate for some decent career minded grooms to drag it into 21st century

Good luck, let us know how it goes
 
My mate is male I believe! He has been adored by girls in horsey yards for years. He treats them really badly but they all love him. He's not even good looking
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Thankfully I'm more like a sister to him and can tell him how it is! He's now 33 and still the same as when he was 7! He works in racing. Don't give up
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Some of us out here really don't care what sex you are it's how you are with us and the animals that matters. We have a really sexy farrier who also runs his own yard - wonderful eye candy!
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One problem is often accommodation but this works both ways.
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Just go for it.
As for age, well, it's always cheaper to employ younger people. I have recently had to change career due to too many injuries (remind me why do we want to work with horses?) and at nearly 43 it was incredibly hard to get an "office job". I have just started with a local firm of vets who seemed to find my list of injuries quite amusing!
Bottom line ............... you won't know if you don't keep trying!
 
My eldest (son, 6) adores riding. He's been for a couple of proper lessons at RS but now refuses to go back as there were no other boys. It did put him off a bit. He loves the pony mags, but they're so pink and girly. He can't enter many comps as the prizes are all for pink stuff. And hardly any of the features have boys in them.
I bought him some brown 1/2 chaps, thinking that he would think they were cool. But when they arrived they had irridescent bits on them!! he refuses to wear them now. It's actually quite sad
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. They just don't make riding stuff aimed at boys, or pony stuff.
BUT he takes his riding and pony care seriously. He loves that pony to bits and spends hours grooming him and planning rides etc.

I think that men should make their mark and tell the world that riding is a unisex pastime. Alot of our top riders are men, and they're not all gay or girly. (I've already been told I'll turn my son gay by allowing him to ride).
 
Yes, I had similar experiences when I was at school, and people knew I was into horses, it was assumed I must be gay or something! Why?? If riding horses is "gay" if you're a man, then does that mean the entire Norman invasion force in 1066 were gay? Maybe some were, but...!
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It's true about the clothes issue, though.

Trying to find riding clothes / footwear that is either for men (i.e. not pink jodhpurs or chaps with bright pink stars on!
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), or the right size, can be a real nightmare, sometimes.

The tack shop owner who told me that "women ride horses", was being defensive I guess, when I asked if they had some size 9's in a particular Ariat boot! I got told they only keep stock up to size 7!
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lol, you try getting an educational dvd or book that doesnt feature little girls on fluffy ponies dressed in pink!
My son doesnt even understand what gay means, but he does understand that it doesnt seem to be the 'done thing' for boys to like ponies, which is a shame as he should be proud of what he enjoys and so many boys are missing out on what could be something 10x better than a playstation or the cartoon network.

Years ago, only men worked with horses, it's funny how things change.
 
I think if you explain to people the reasons for wanting to work with horses now then it will be easier to get a job. I always want to know people's reasons for applying before I will even think about appointing someone.
 
I think it may be down to your age, and not having worked with horses before. You see, a lot of people have gone into it from leaving school and have worked on many yards, gaining experience in all fields.

I suppose when you say you have ridden all your life etc, but have nothing career wise to back it up, they dont give you a chance. It may seem odd to you, as the working hours are long, conditions of employment sketchy and pay quite poor. In your mind, you would think they would be begging you to come and work as you are willing, eager, fit and strong.

Also dont forget, that yards dont have surplus cash and so will quite often look at younger people who they can pay less.

Racing yards take on a lot of men, but the problem there is your height and weight.

Another consideration before you venture into working full time with horses is that it can take away the pleasure of horses and can be difficult to find the time for your own.

I think you need to adopt a different approach when looking for work, convince them that you are capable, keen and hardworking, that you are dedicated and try and get it through to them how much you want to do this. Try and get the decision maker to listen to you.

Personally I would never want to work on a yard, I have many friends that have and they dont always get treated very nicely (racing yards).
 
Thanks Filly190, I think you probably have a point there.

I do sense a lot of bewilderment from the people where I ride, as to why I would want to work with horses, and at "my age", so maybe it does make you jaded after a while?!

I have been asked several times why on earth would I want to do this, so maybe it's not as good a career option as I would like to think.

I guess I can carry on learning and studying in any case, after all, more knowledge about horse care doesn't hurt. Then at least if there is no career at the end of it, I've still achieved something worthwhile that I can use in looking after my own horse!
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