Eventing Yard

[Charlie.]

Hi i'm 14 and am from Preston. When i am either 16 or 18 i would love to work at an Eventing yard. I was just wondering if i would need any qualifications, or if i could just go? and if there was a certain age i had to be. Thanks Charlie

 

[ajn1610]

Hi Charlie, do you just want the experience or are you looking for a career in horses?

If you want to work with horses full time, some qualifications such as your BHS exams or a college qualification would help but the most important thing is experience really.

If you went for a working pupil place a rider would probably invite you for an assessment day, to see how you are around the yard and have a look at your riding.
What you get to do in terms of riding would depend on who you are based with and how good you are but most of the day is likely to be yard chores.

As for age you'd be subject to the normal laws about working hours etc but once you've left school I can see no reason why your age would be an issue (I assume you are in full time education still?). A lot of yards would be happy for an extra pair of hands during the holidays which would let you gain valuable experience while you are deciding what you want to do. Try contacting any riders based in your area and having a chat.

Working on a yard can be amazing but there are a lot of people who'll work you like a dog and give you very little in return. Make sure you go in with your eyes open and a clear understanding of what you'll be getting in terms of pay/keep/riding/training in return for your work.

Good Luck