Can anyone point me in the right direction? (Working student)

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mollywebster

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Hello!

I’m a 17yo in education and I’ve been really interested in a workaway type experience with horses in Europe- labour in exchange for accommodation. (I have the passports i need for travel, and it’s not my first time away from home)

I’ve worked part-time on a racing yard for years, and done two seasons at a horse stud (both weekend work/ w some overtime) so I’m comfortable handling horses and doing the associated work. I’d mainly enjoy some time to get more involved with horses and experience a new place. I’m not a particularly great rider, but it would be good if i had some opportunities too ride.

Something like a riding school, a bigger scale private farm, or a working yard would be ideal.

I’ve looked at Workaway and Worldpackers, and there are some opportunities I’d be interested in. However, you have to be 18 to create an account. Although I’ve been advised that hosts probably would not mind me reaching out to them explaining myself and providing parental consent, their contact details aren’t available on the websites. Many online ‘working student’ opportunities i’ve seen advertised are specifically for people studying equine studies at university and want to work professionally with horses. It seems like a good setup, but i don’t think i’m the target audience for those advert since i’m doing unrelated a-levels, and would be thinking about a 2-5 week time line instead of multiple months.

Does anyone have any advice, opinions or recommendations?

Tia xx
 
Wait until you are eighteen and pursue then. As a mom I can foresee and would worry about potential exploitation situations arising from you being a young woman in a foreign country…however there may be European HHO ers turning up later with contacts or suggestions.
 
There's definitely a lot of this sort of opportunity in Australia but I'm not sure of anyone in Europe unfortunately. I would suggest working somewhere in the UK first until you are 18. Showing yards are often looking for live in grooms and if you are lightweight there are often loads of riding opportunities on ponies. A lot of people turn their noses up at showing but it can be an excellent way to learn how to school, produce and turn out to perfection - skills that will get you far in any discipline. It would be hard graft but that's a career in horses! Sara Parrott and Craig Elenor were recently looking for a live in groom with riding if that would be something that would interest you.
 
In the UK we don't have the "work for accommodation, live off tips" type of jobs that are in the USA. Best to wait until you are 18, unless you can find someone willing to take you through family contacts or personal recommendations via a visiting instructor, for instance.
 
I'm Dun said:
Theres lots of FB groups for this sort of thing. Be VERY careful. There is sadly an awful lot of exploitation and you need to be so careful and ALWAYS have enough money to jump on a plane home.
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Yes absolutely this - I have no personal experience with Icelandic trekking centres but I would've thought that one benefit to that route would be that the UK Icelandic community is quite small, so it shouldn't be hard to ask around and work out which outfits are really good ones and which might be best avoided.

And as for any job, be really careful with the contract - get someone to check it over for you and make sure there are no ridiculous / exploitative conditions written in.
 
I am in NZ and host Workawayers from Sept through till April. There is plenty of opportunity out here but you would need to wait till you are 18. With workaway you work for 4-5 hours a day in exchange for board 5 days a week. You need to be very honest about your riding experience as some will say they are experienced but can hardly rise to the trot.
 
mollywebster said:
Hello!

I’m a 17yo in education and I’ve been really interested in a workaway type experience with horses in Europe- labour in exchange for accommodation. (I have the passports i need for travel, and it’s not my first time away from home)

I’ve worked part-time on a racing yard for years, and done two seasons at a horse stud (both weekend work/ w some overtime) so I’m comfortable handling horses and doing the associated work. I’d mainly enjoy some time to get more involved with horses and experience a new place. I’m not a particularly great rider, but it would be good if i had some opportunities too ride.

Something like a riding school, a bigger scale private farm, or a working yard would be ideal.

I’ve looked at Workaway and Worldpackers, and there are some opportunities I’d be interested in. However, you have to be 18 to create an account. Although I’ve been advised that hosts probably would not mind me reaching out to them explaining myself and providing parental consent, their contact details aren’t available on the websites. Many online ‘working student’ opportunities i’ve seen advertised are specifically for people studying equine studies at university and want to work professionally with horses. It seems like a good setup, but i don’t think i’m the target audience for those advert since i’m doing unrelated a-levels, and would be thinking about a 2-5 week time line instead of multiple months.

Does anyone have any advice, opinions or recommendations?

Tia xx
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Thank you everyone for your advice, it’s so appreciated❤️ I’ll keep my eye on this thread incase there’s any new ideas, but the general thought seems to be that i realistically have too wait till i’m 18. I’ll have a look at facebook too see if there’s any programs for under 18’s, and i’ll ask around friends of mine i know through horses.
 
I’m slightly surprised you managed to find positions in the UK for under-18s, I offered to work over summer at a few decent local places, and all declined due to insurance, but said that they’d be happy to have me at 18. I really would wait until you’re over 18, as any places, particularly overseas, that are offering jobs to under-18s may well be questionable.

I’m sure you’ll get there in time, just have a bit of patience!
 
Don't sell yourself short. If you're doing a job you should expect to get paid whatever your age and accomodation if the position requires.
I'm not sure if Europe has a minimum wage? Make sure you have a proper contract and riding/ medical insurance.
 
Loosehorse! said:
Don't sell yourself short. If you're doing a job you should expect to get paid whatever your age and accomodation if the position requires.
I'm not sure if Europe has a minimum wage? Make sure you have a proper contract and riding/ medical insurance.
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Oh yes, every EU country at least has a min wage
 
Loosehorse! said:
Don't sell yourself short. If you're doing a job you should expect to get paid whatever your age and accomodation if the position requires.
I'm not sure if Europe has a minimum wage? Make sure you have a proper contract and riding/ medical insurance.
Click to expand...

That isnt how it works for these sort of positions. They are holidays where people work for 4hours a day a few days a week for food and board. But you do need to be careful.
 
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I'm Dun said:
That isnt how it works for these sort of positions. They are holidays where people work for 4hours a day a few days a week for food and board. But you dont need to be careful.
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Hosts also need to be careful, it is a bit of a lottery, some are great ie 75% whilst the remaining 25% can be very lazy and disinterested, more than once I have asked them to move on.
 
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