Dillema

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BobbyMondeo

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I was offered a working pupil place at an event yard near Basingstoke. It is a really great yard i would be able to take my horse and the livery would be paid for. However i live in Southampton and it would take me about an hours commute to get there as it isnt a live in position and obviously a lot of petrol they have said i would get a small wage of £50 a week seeing as i would be taking robbie, would be £100 if i didnt. It would be a really fantastic oppertunity but i just dont know if i would have the money to actually get there each day and pay for things like the farrier for my horse. I am really torn because we both love our current yard, its perfect for us.

If it was you in this position would you do it or look for something else?
 
I think you need to look at all your outgoing costs first, do you have to pay rent or bills. When I was younger my parents helped me out by me living with them but did not have to pay them bills as I done a year at equine college then took on a WP but could not afford livery on this wage. Also how much will your petrol cost per week, will this leave you enough to cover your horses shoes and any vets bill and other things you will need. I would really look into everything in fine detail to see if its viable. Good luck hope you can work it out for what you want :D
 
Southampton to Basingstoke is a long way to drive everyday, I wouldn't want to commute that distance, it will cost you a bomb in fuel and wear your car out!

You either need them to provide accommodation or stay where you are, you would not survive on £50 a week :o
 
Agree with annaellie - you should try drawing up an excel spreadsheet showing your daily, weekly, monthly & annually outgoings for literally everything you spend, including MOT, tax, insurance, shoes, supplements, tack repairs, emergency vets bills, food (for you!), new clothes etc etc etc.

Try to be as accurate as possible, and then multiply by 12, 52, 365 whatever to get an annual spend. Then, put your incomings at the top (£50 pw) multiply this by 52 and deduct what you worked out your outgoings as.

This will give you an estimate of what you will have left to spend on petrol over the whole year. Take into account that petrol prices could well rise by 20p over the next couple of years.

If I'm 100% honest, my gut tells me that £50pw is unlikely to cover it, unless you can get your parents to help you out a bit.
 
I dont pay rent because i live with my mum still and my dad gives me money for my horse so i would still have that for food ect. I just dont want to pass of a really good oppertunity and i have been looking for something for so long! Being pestered by my mum to get a job or atleast do some kind of work. Its really hard =(
 
There's better options out there.

Look on yard and groom for yards nearer you which offer a better wage, accomodation and own horse option :)
 
I know there will be some people who will disagree but.....

Maybe you should view this as the training opportunity that it is... people go to Uni and College and do not get £50 a week, so if you really want to do it then go for it.

You might end up i debt, but as long as it helps you meet your long term goal then I think it's worth it. - Just be clear about your objective is in taking the position and how long you expect to stay/what you hope to achieve from it.
 
I have been lookig for ages. On yard and groom and other websites. Its difficult for me because everyone wants BHS exams and NVQ's which i dont have. Have had so many rejections just based on this. Its not really fair beause i would be perfectly capeable of doing the job advertised..its just so frustrating
 
I've still found experience is more important than a letter or number written down on paper.

Don't rule out them just because they say that. If you do have the capability, then try...they'll have a ride assesment and other things on interview so can make up their decisions themselves :)

How many people that think that they have Stage *#* or NVQ *#* so they should get a top yard job etc is unbeleivable nowadays. Experience over qualifications anyday [as long as it's not an insurance thing]

Good luck :) What places are near you? I'll keep an eye out x
 
Well i live in central Southampton at the moment so anything is going be a long drive. Ive tried all the local stables but nothing has come up. I dont really know many yards round here though.
 
Who is the position with? PM me if you prefer.
I was a working pupil for several years for an international 3day eventer. I was only on £50 a week. But it was live in and i kept Lucy there. It was a great expereance and i lurnt so much it was worth the low pay for a few years and it was a good name to have on my CV. Although £50 a week does seems alittle low to be honest if it's not live in.
 
I would research all the potential yards about that would be of interest to you (commuting distance, reputation - you could post on here for people to tell you their experiences and the best event yards in the south to work for as WP).

You can then write a nice, keen and enthusastic letter to them, with a cv outlining your experiences and ask if they have any working pupil vacancies. I wouldn't mind betting the best people to work for never advertise their vacancies, and if you're proactive and keen they're more likely to want you than someone who sits at home whining nothing suitable/affordable is ever advertised.:D Go for it - those that don't ask don't get!
 
Ginger_Nut said:
Well i live in central Southampton at the moment so anything is going be a long drive. Ive tried all the local stables but nothing has come up. I dont really know many yards round here though.
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Have you tried Quob, they often have working pupil places.

I think its too far personally, money aside you will be knackered. As for the employers I'm surprised they'd take someone on who lived so far away, hardly accessible in an emergency, although for £50 a week .........................

they're laughing.
 
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