Going back to working with horses, would you?

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Ziggy_

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Its eighteen months since I left my old job as a groom and I'm missing it like crazy. I'm wondering if anyone can suggest what my options are to go back to working with horses.

The problem is that I have my own horse and have no intention of parting with her, so I'll need either
a) a job that pays at least minimum wage (no apprenticeships!) and has vaguely sociable hours so that I can afford to keep her at livery and see to her either morning or evening
or b) be able to move her to the yard I'm working on. I'd be hesitant to do this as she's very happy and settled at her current yard and I'm always wary about getting too tied in with an employer - you hear so many stories of things going wrong and being left jobless and your horse homeless and its happened to me once before!

When I did it before I loved the job and the horses and for this reason accepted the long hours and terrible pay - this time I'd like to be taken for less of a mug! Does this sound realistic or is a 60 hour week for £100 the norm in the horsey world? Would it be better for me to study and gain qualifications and get a job 'higher up' the ladder ie an instructor or similar?

Any thoughts welcomed on how to go about getting back into horsey work. I don't have formal qualifications - I have 'most' of an NVQ level 2, have owned my own horse for a few years, have a years work experience as a groom and am a pretty decent rider. My current livery yard is an approved NVQ training centre so it might be plausible for me to finish my NVQ while still working at my current job.
 
I eventually found a horsey job with 'proper pay', I have worked 70+ hour weeks for £50 before!
When I was looking for a new job, employers seem to focus on BHS stages in applicants. I have none btw but still found work.

My advice would be to try to find large organisations colleges for example that are looking for staff. There tends to be a decent rate of pay as well as more sociable hours than competition grooming.
 
Hi, I used to work on a full livery and riding school yard, to give you an idea of what I got, I was paid £500 a month, I had my stage 1 BHS exam, and got £100 monthly pay rise for extra stage I worked through. I was able to keep my horse's there with a stable and that included feed and bedding, and I used to live in a static home with my dog as well!
I loved it, I worked hard and I wish I had never left.
Ive looked about for jobs since but no one pays more than about £100 a week, as they all want trainee's, and some said they would allow you bring your horse and live there as well.
I had it so good with my old yard, dont know where abouts you are but if you would like to work in surrey, call sally at Bridleways Equestrian in Great Bookham, and ask if she's looking for anyone, she really looked after me and was great to work for.
Good luck
 
not as a groom or instructor - they are expected to work *gasp gasp* weekends!!!!! ****

*dies in a corner somewhere of shock****

only joking - to be honest I find the pay for horsey jobs mostly rubbish and the hours expected seemed to have this offset of "oh they do it because they love it" - no its becuase everyone needs money to live and it's nice to combine it with something you enjoy. Go for a job that you will both enjoy and will challenge you and give you a "ladder" to work up....otherwise you'll be left feeding and mucking out with not much money for the rest of your life.

My vote is with do some studying and figure out what you really want to do - longer term -
good luck
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[ QUOTE ]

When I did it before I loved the job and the horses and for this reason accepted the long hours and terrible pay - this time I'd like to be taken for less of a mug! Does this sound realistic or is a 60 hour week for £100 the norm in the horsey world?

[/ QUOTE ]

Well it's not the norm in my horsey world! My staff work civilised hours, and get paid above NMW - and get decent coffee breaks/lunch break - lunch, tea, coffee and lots of chocolate biscuits provided! (Maybe I'm the mug if there are people out there who will work for less than £2 an hour!
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I don't have staff with own horses at present - but when I did they kept horse here on d.i.y. livery for £25 a week including unlimited good quality haylage and bedding!

Don't currently have a vacancy though! I seem to have people queuing up at present (wonder why??
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nope, wouldn't go back to horses.

could never afford to run my 3 horses and have a mortgage etc.

i liked working with horses but don't fancy getting to 50 years old and realising i have no equity in a house, still renting and will be living off just a state pension.
how would i be able to run my horses on that?
 
Employers should be paying at least the national minimum wage unless the person is on a formal apprentice ship with all the training that entails and giving statutory rights such as holidays. I know the yard where I kept my horse did pay over the NMW even for the inexperienced staff and I have a friend in racing who has a mortgage and time to keep two horses at DIY livery. There are jobs around you just have to find the right employers and those who do not employ on the right terms shouldn't get any staff! Good luck I am sure you can find something suitable.
 
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