Another rant from me!

Patterdale said:
Why don't you seriously consider the working pupil route then?

You'll meet great horsey people, learn loads and get lots of riding. You also get paid in the majority of places, and if you want a career with horses it'll be a great start.

It'll get you away from home too ;)

I went to be a working pupil at 16 and loved it. I got my horse of a lifetime from the yard I went to aswell so who knows what could happen?
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I just might look into that! :D
Thanks Patterdale :D :D
 
Honestly, I was in a bit of a rut at 16, didn't know what to do as I didn't want to go to college and all I wanted to do was ride.
I got on the Internet one day, found a yard an hour from home that took working pupils, rang them up and I was there the next week.

2 years later after many ups and downs I left as a BHSAI and with a 4 year old that i brought on and he took me to event at levels I had previously only dreamed of.
My relationship with my parents improved dramatically once I was no longer living there, and I made friends for life.

If you want any recommendations of where to go, just ask :)
 
Patterdale said:
Honestly, I was in a bit of a rut at 16, didn't know what to do as I didn't want to go to college and all I wanted to do was ride.
I got on the Internet one day, found a yard an hour from home that took working pupils, rang them up and I was there the next week.

2 years later after many ups and downs I left as a BHSAI and with a 4 year old that i brought on and he took me to event at levels I had previously only dreamed of.
My relationship with my parents improved dramatically once I was no longer living there, and I made friends for life.

If you want any recommendations of where to go, just ask :)
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That sounds pretty awesome - I'd be so worried about cocking up :p but it sounds like such a good life lesson! I am looking up places now :D xx
 
What are your main interests with horses?
It's not just riding schools that offer working pupil positions, almost all top riders do too.

The most important thing is that you have a good attitude, always smile, work hard and really want to improve. That's what they're looking for. Even if you've only had 12 riding lessons in your life and can't jump more than 1'6 - it doesn't matter. You're there to learn and if you have the right attitude, you CAN'T really cock up ;)

If you're into eventing ill find you some numbers to ring :)
 
Its really heartwarming reading this thread - CT you do sound a smashing teenager (and happy birthday for next week!!) and it is great to see the caring people giving advice on here and also how you are responding. Go HHO! :) And good luck CT!
 
and don't every be worried about cocking up at your age! It might happen but picking up and moving on is just a lesson and you will certainly get more than one chance at stuff :D
 
ChestnutTinker said:
That sounds pretty awesome - I'd be so worried about cocking up :p but it sounds like such a good life lesson! I am looking up places now :D xx
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you never cock up.....just learn from the experience!!!! (and never do it again ;))

really consider the working pupil route! you might not get paid much, but if you ride well and work hard in the 'working' bit your dedication and commitment should be rewarded! and you will ride so many different horses that when you can indepentetly take on your own you will have a much clearer picture of what you want!...... who knows... you may find your perfect horse while working there and have incredible support to get you off the ground!!!
ive just accepted a position and although it will be my first proper time away from home i know that it is the right thing to do...ill come away from it different person, riding at a high level and all the time enjoying what i do!(even in the rain/snow!)
take your time to decide...but if a great oppertuinity presents its self grab it 'by the reins!' they are few and far between!!!!
 
Another possibility would be to join the army/cavalry, or mounted police even...just a thought. Probably working pupil would give you wider experience if you get on a good yard. Good luck with whatever you choose to do. My family could never afford for me to have a horse, and when I said I wanted a career with horses, they wouldn't let me go down that route either. They argued that if I had an accident and couldn't ride any more, I would need another skill to be able to earn a living. How I wish I'd stood up to them back then. As life has turned out, I was 40 before I could afford my own horse, and somehow falling off didn't have the same appeal as it did when I was 16!!! At least though, she was all mine, I worked hard to get the money to buy her and to keep her, and the sense of satisfaction, and achievement has to be experienced to be believed.
Tenacious - determined!!!!
 
Aw! You're all so lovely, I love HHO :D:D

Patterdale said:
What are your main interests with horses?
It's not just riding schools that offer working pupil positions, almost all top riders do too.

The most important thing is that you have a good attitude, always smile, work hard and really want to improve. That's what they're looking for. Even if you've only had 12 riding lessons in your life and can't jump more than 1'6 - it doesn't matter. You're there to learn and if you have the right attitude, you CAN'T really cock up ;)

If you're into eventing ill find you some numbers to ring :)
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I really don't know, I love horses, I love riding. I just find horses relax me and I get on with them a lot better than I do people. I absolutely adore jumping although i've never done cross country (would love to give it a shot) :p

Thank you so much for your PM chuck, you're a star!! xx
MizzPurpleKitten said:
Gildersome isn't actually that far from us at all (I used to keep my horses in New Farnley just outside of Gildersome!). Will drop you a PM in a bit X
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Sounds good! I look forward to it :)! xx
tobiano said:
Its really heartwarming reading this thread - CT you do sound a smashing teenager (and happy birthday for next week!!) and it is great to see the caring people giving advice on here and also how you are responding. Go HHO! :) And good luck CT!
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Aww bless you so much, you're really lovely :):) (Thank you - i'm excited :p )
You're right, HHO is absolutely fantastic and I love coming on here. Everyone is lovely! :D
ester said:
and don't every be worried about cocking up at your age! It might happen but picking up and moving on is just a lesson and you will certainly get more than one chance at stuff :D
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:D:D That's brilliant advice!
TandD said:
you never cock up.....just learn from the experience!!!! (and never do it again ;))

really consider the working pupil route! you might not get paid much, but if you ride well and work hard in the 'working' bit your dedication and commitment should be rewarded! and you will ride so many different horses that when you can indepentetly take on your own you will have a much clearer picture of what you want!...... who knows... you may find your perfect horse while working there and have incredible support to get you off the ground!!!
ive just accepted a position and although it will be my first proper time away from home i know that it is the right thing to do...ill come away from it different person, riding at a high level and all the time enjoying what i do!(even in the rain/snow!)
take your time to decide...but if a great oppertuinity presents its self grab it 'by the reins!' they are few and far between!!!!
Click to expand...
Again, great advice. Thank you for taking the time to post :)!!
Superhot said:
Another possibility would be to join the army/cavalry, or mounted police even...just a thought. Probably working pupil would give you wider experience if you get on a good yard. Good luck with whatever you choose to do. My family could never afford for me to have a horse, and when I said I wanted a career with horses, they wouldn't let me go down that route either. They argued that if I had an accident and couldn't ride any more, I would need another skill to be able to earn a living. How I wish I'd stood up to them back then. As life has turned out, I was 40 before I could afford my own horse, and somehow falling off didn't have the same appeal as it did when I was 16!!! At least though, she was all mine, I worked hard to get the money to buy her and to keep her, and the sense of satisfaction, and achievement has to be experienced to be believed.
Tenacious - determined!!!!
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OHH! Tenacious :p yeah... ;) I knew that... :p
I wanted to join the mounted police a while ago and had my heart set on it, although my phobia of sick soon stopped me wanting to join the police :p

Thank you for your imput though chuck xxx
 
If I were you (and I think this is where the internet helps) I would chat to as many people as possible, those that have been working pupils and those that have done other things and get some feedback on the good and bad bits of their jobs/training what they would do differently/good places to go etc. I think quite a few in Comps have done working pupil placements in a range of places and am sure would be happy to advise if you fired some ideas off them :).

Ps I find horses relaxing too, not quite so much when my mother dumps 2 weeks worth of moans about my dad and my sister on me during our 2 hour hack though :rolleyes: mums who'd have 'em eh!? Makes it nice to be back in a quiet flat 2 hours away though :).
 
ester said:
If I were you (and I think this is where the internet helps) I would chat to as many people as possible, those that have been working pupils and those that have done other things and get some feedback on the good and bad bits of their jobs/training what they would do differently/good places to go etc. I think quite a few in Comps have done working pupil placements in a range of places and am sure would be happy to advise if you fired some ideas off them :).

Ps I find horses relaxing too, not quite so much when my mother dumps 2 weeks worth of moans about my dad and my sister on me during our 2 hour hack though :rolleyes: mums who'd have 'em eh!? Makes it nice to be back in a quiet flat 2 hours away though :).
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Aw hehe :D
I shall ask around and see what people think :D
 
I see in H&H that Stonar school are looking for an apprentice - that sort of thing would be ideal perhaps? They know how to enthuse and train the young there!
 
It's in Wiltshire.

I don't necessarily mean go for that one but a similar sort of thing would be good. There are a number of schools with horses and somewhere like that or a big well known institution will have experience of youngsters and how to nurture them
 
WelshD said:
It's in Wiltshire.

I don't necessarily mean go for that one but a similar sort of thing would be good. There are a number of schools with horses and somewhere like that or a big well known institution will have experience of youngsters and how to nurture them
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Don't worry about it, every bit of advice is being taken on board :)
 
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