Dressage - Work Experience

CentrestageSHS

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Hiya, I am currently studying at Brackenhurst doing Equine Science with my BHSAI at the same time. Over the summer we have to do a week's work experience. Has anybody else had to do this? I'm just a bit worried that not many people will want somebody for just a week??? Please let me know how people have treated you during work exp. I would love to know what to expect!!!
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Also does anybody know any decent dressage yards in the midlands (around notts) that may take a capable student on for a week?? Or a good dressage yard further away that has accomodation for a week? I would much appreciate any feedback whatsoever as I am a little apprehensive about the whole thing!!!!
Thanks everybody
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Give Peter Storr a ring, also try talland.
In fact give few of the midland based trainers a ring.
Its only a week so you can just grit your teeth if you dont like it. But if you find somewhere which is a professional yard you should get along ok.
 
I would go through the BD trainers database book, someone might be shorthanded and need an extra person and you can look by area (Central) I think in your case.

I think as with all work experience you will probably get all the crap jobs and have to work hard, certainly my son had too but at the end of his 2 weeks the yard offered him a permanent job.
 
I'm a third year vet student and have had to do about 20 weeks work experience so far at yards / farms / kennels etc. Basically you get treated as a dogsbody and do the jobs no-one else wants to do. Try and get a placement through a contact as you will prob get treated better and you end up having to work fewer hours!
 
Hiya, thanks for replying, I am not bothered about being used as a slave!!! I am expecting that, I would just like to go to somebody that I may be able to watch train at a higher level etc. Also to get any extra tips and meet some new people! I was thinking somebody that is at a high level but not necessarily "famous" I just can't think of anybody that would welcome a stranger onto their yard, I know if it was the other way round I would be a bit apprehensive, thats all! So if anybody knows of anybody that has had students in the past or is willing to accept one (even to do the crappiest jobs!!) please let me know!!!
Thanks again
 
Hi

I think you should get the BD list of trainers and contact some that are in your area, I don't think many would turn you down for a week, afterall, the help is very important!! The only thing that I would say though is that they are not all likely to let you ride, though you might some someone will.

You should expect to be busy, get to watch quite a lot and most of all, there is often a very good team atmosphere in yards.

Don't be worried, I am sure you will have fun and somewhere will take you, but remember that not many of them will be very "BHS" with all the BHS hesitations. I am sure many would be grateful for the help and you would enjoy it.

Di x
 
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Hiya, thanks for replying, I am not bothered about being used as a slave!!! ...................students in the past or is willing to accept one (even to do the crappiest jobs!!) please let me know!!!
Thanks again

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Hi well done for being a realist and I hope you get a placement soon and they value your willingness to muck in and reward you with some good quality experiences too.

It did make me laugh though - there is a showing 'expert' (loose term because she does seem very adept at ruining all the sucessful, expensive horses purchased by her parents) at our yard who elected to do her work experience at a sucessful, well known show horse producer.

She managed a couple of days and returned home because "Gemma* knows how to muck out and groom, what she really needed to learn was how to produce show horses". I had to shove my fist in my mouth to stop myself laughing when I overheard this comment - she obviously expected someone else to muck out while she did all the riding under instruction.

*name changed.
 
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