Any advice appreciated :)

[**Star**]

I'm 18 and have reached a bit of a difficult time in my life. I work 9-5 Mon-Fri as an administrator in a mortgage broker on apprenticeship wages but I really want to work with horses. My sister has her own yard and I have broken in numerous youngsters there as well as always being around horses anyway.

Unfortunately family circumstances (recently divorced parents, mum out of the scene - with all the £££ in her pocket) mean that I am trying to help my dad and older brother out with the house as much as I can, and its starting to feel like I have to give up on my dream.

I have scoured the internet, facebook, trade-it and even the post office window every day for any jobs more suited, and have been offered an interview as a weekend groom, which would be amazing if I could get it for the money boost if nothing else!

My only question is - do people think that this will really go anywhere? It is a non riding position and I'm not sure how it will help me in the long run (a lot of people can shovel *****). Are there any exams/courses people know of that will help me? I have looked at BHS exams but alot of my friends have taken these and still struggled to get any work. Just so confused and worried I could be making bad decisions that will effect my life for a long time.

Sorry for the essay. Don't really know if it has a point just needed to get this out! Lol.

 

[ChwaraeTeg]

Hello Star,
Don't give up on your dream and don't give up on your regular income either.
If you have the stamina, it might be worth trying the weekend equine experience,
as long as you have time for yourself, it might be a start . Hopefully, time will tell.
Teg

 

[Copperpot]

Well you are only 18 and whilst I appreciate you have to help your family, follow your dream!

You have the rest of your life ahead of you. The weekend job may lead to something else. Life is too short too have regrets!

 

[HaffiesRock]

I have to agree. If I could go back 10 years to being 18 again, there are a lot of things I would have done differently. Following my dream rather than doing what others wanted me to do would be one of them. x

 

[Dubsie]

My advice is take every opportunity, and exploit each opportunity to your own advantage. So your apprentice job - make sure you take up any offered extra training. Ensure you pass to the best of your ability any exams / training. Do every task with a smile (you can mutter about it later). Be known as the willing capable one. That person who you didn't really know too well in the front office might have you earmarked for a good job when they move on - all the time ensure you keep up a keen and willing presence, you never know when you might need it. I got a fab job offered me by the boss of a previous boss when he moved on - I didn't really know him, but he'd certainly heard of me and wanted me on his team!

Likewise go to the interview for the groom job positively and make sure you get it. Even if you find it IS just ***** shovelling, make a point of shovelling to your very best ability to the standards they require, work hard and never moan. If you impress the people you work for, then they may be the key to your next post or at least a good reference for it (re moaning - if there's a need, you can do that after you've left).

When you've gained the experience there, then you can scout about for something that pays better or is more suited to what you actually want to do eg working in a breaking yard.

 

[Magnetic Sparrow]

Echo those above, go for the weekend job if you can. Any experience - even ****-shovelling gives you a better chance when you go for the next job, and proves that you have commitment.

I couldn't help noticing that you 'help you dad and brother out with the house'. Please don't forget, especially if you are working two jobs, that men are in fact perfectly capable of all kinds of domestic duties!

 

[Shay]

Good luck with your interview. Working with horses is a slow - and not lucrative! - process.

Do re-visit the BHS series though. It will take some serious work - if you can find a position as a working pupil somewhere that would help. But if you want to work with horses long term it is really well worth getting up to at least AI. A lot of people have stage 1 - 3 and struggle to find work as those are really only stepping stones. You would need at least your PTT to teach and your stage 4 for yard management etc.

Boring though paper qualifications are they are a real fall back. If you have your PTT / AI even if you do nothing else with horses you can still teach and that will bring in a weekend income at least!

If you really can't face BHS it might be worth looking at your local pony club branch. A pony club A test is also well thought of - but with only 11 or 12 people passing that each year you would need to be sure you were joining a branch capable of training you to that level.