Grooms work- is this normal?

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chaps89

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I've been casually looking for grooms work for a while, but being fussy as to what I'm looking for.
On Sunday I went for an 'interview' at a dressage yard who also buy horses from Germany/sales etc, produce them and sell on.
I use the term interview lightly. I'd asked before-hand if it was to be a ridden assessment as well and assured yes. I got there, spent 2 minutes with YO and about 10 minutes with the trainer then was left with the other staff, with little direction as to what to do.
I asked if we had set horses to focus on/look after- nope, it changes every day. Also the staff were all new- the one who'd been there the longest had only been there for 3 weeks.
Staff aren't allowed to bandage or do turnout- manes, tails etc, or to lunge/ride un-supervised (I can understand this to a point, but if it's a training/WP position, surely this is a vital part of it?)
So I drove 3 hours each way to groom 2 horses and that was pretty much it. They didn't really ask me much and certainly the 2 ladies in charge didn't see me doing anything.
They are also being horrendously vague when I ask about how much training, wages etc which is why I went to visit on Sunday- to try and get some more specifics.
It's a very quiet yard- 14 horses with 3 or 4 staff and when I asked about riding (all the horses, bar one schoolmaster, are green competition horses) I was told if I was good enough I would ride once a day on the young horses and help with their education. So to test my riding I am going down for a 2 day trial this weekend.

But it all seems slightly dis-organised? And the grooms don't seem to carry much responsibility. Is this 'normal' practice?
You couldn't fault the standard of horses, the tidiness of the place and no-one was snobby (which I have to admit I was expecting!) Plus the YO/Trainer are at very high/top level standards so what training I did have should be good.

So yeah, those who have done groom/WP work before and could relate their experiences it would be appreciated.
Sorry it's a long post!
 
The first yard I worked at sounds very similar to this - I was basically a gofer - go fer this, go fer that...

Anyway, I plugged away, proved I knew what I was doing, and quickly rose up the ranks. I rode the youngsters, and soon got trusted to ride unsupervise, and even hack out the competition horses (talking £100k+ horses).

What would worry me however is that all the staff are new - do you know how long the old grooms were there for? Make sure you get everything, wage, accomodation etc set out in writing before you start. Make sure you are happy with the accomodation they offer you - a friend of mine ended up living in a stable for two weeks until the other groom moved out!

Sometimes yards are a little disorganised, but it doesn't mean they are bad places to work, you just have to get in step with the others there. The best thing is to go with an open mind and see what you think after your trial.
 
It sounds too vague for me to want to persue. You need to have it in writing what they expect from you and you expect from them. Otherwise you will end up mucking out and chucking out and that is about all.
 
I've not worked as a groom but in general any employer that is vague about employment condisitons, job spec and salary and has a high turnover of staff, is an employer to be avoided. The conditions you did find out about sound pretty dissapointing for you as well.
 
hi, i worked as a WP for a year , then groom for 4 years. in every yard i worked at i was assigned up tp 4 horses to look after, ride , keep tidy etc. then there is a clear routine & the horses get to know you . it also makes the yard easier to work as you each know what you are doing each day. sounds a very disorganised yard. maybe go to a few other interviews to get a feel of what you are looking for? good luck.
 
Trouble is, I haven't found anywhere else suitable/I like the look of. (Anyone know of anything?!)
I don't want RS and I'm not competitive enough to work on a competition yard or as a mothers help to PC kids (Tho I have done house help/groom at a RS in the past).
It was really the chance to work with young horses that I wanted as well as being able to learn dressage which would be my preference.
Staff turnover was mentioned to me on the phone- the lady said staff usually only stay for short periods of time to learn the ropes then move on to setting their own yards up or onto being a groom on bigger competition yards.
From the sounds of it the current staff are only riding the schoolmaster atm, which is good if they deem me good enough for riding the younger/sale horses but not so good if I'm not!
I wouldn't mind doing as you did Zoe, starting the way at the bottom and working up, but I'm not sure if they do let or expect staff go to sales with them or take horses on as an almost sole responsibility.

Think I will go down this weekend- nothing ventured, nothing gained- and be clear about what I want as she is difficult to pin down on the phone (then again, she was at the interview too. Can see it might be an expensive trip again!) And I'll see how the yard runs for a whole day rather than 2 hours as well as the accommodation etc.
What do I ask for wage wise? I'm not expecting mega £ don't worry but do need enough to fund my [economical[ car and horse.
It would be live in, whether the horse joins me or not depends on how I get on (they have space and it would be the right kind of yard for him). No talk has been mentioned so far (tho a previous ad on yardandgroom said dependant on experience) I've ridden young/problem horses before and done turnout as well as usual yard jobs, I'm just not up to speed as I've not worked in a prof. environment in a long while, and in terms of riding schooled horses/more advanced work than basic lateral movements I'm not trained (but eager to learn).

Thanks
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Sounds quite good possibly. Try and talk to one of the other staff when you are there next time. If theres only 14 horses and 4 staff, you're not going to be overworked and it looks as if you might be able to do as much as you are capable of, ie if you show you are good, you will be allowed to do more.
 
I'm just worried there might not be enough to do?! (No doubt I may well soon change my mind on that front.) It was nice and leisurely tho but I kept expecting to be shouted at for doing nothing
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But yes, hopefully I would be allowed to do more if I showed willing/enough capability.
She did say their philosophy is they treat staff well in the belief that if staff are happy and being given enough training etc, then they would work harder and look after the horses better. Which is promising.

I did try to talk to the staff when I was there on Sunday but seeing as they'd not been there long I suspect they were still very much finding their feet too.
There's no head girl or hierarchy, everyone does everything which I suppose is favourable in as much as it should stop b*tchyness, but equally makes me wonder if there is room to 'go up the ladder' as it were.
 
If what the owner says about the reason for staff turnover is true and you are looking for a long term job then this is the perfact place to become the competant one - the 'go to' guy if they find they have someone they can trust they may start allocating the plum jobs
 
It depends what you yourself are wanting.
A steady life doing what you like doing and it'll probably suit, but if you want to progress it sounds as if you'll be looking again soon enough. I'd guess that is what's been happening.
some people like to stay at a certain level, others want to learn more and reach higher platforms....
Working with other grooms and without too much pressure of a huge amount of horses sounds interesting though?
A friend has a job available in the Derby area, but its to work basically alone caring for drivers and hunters, and that doesn't always suit people. Some are able to work on their own inititive, others are definately not. But for someone who likes a routine, nice equines, friendly boss, and summer weekends away I think its a cushy job!!
Variety is the spice of life, i'll give anything a go once!
 
Haven't read all the replies but I have been a groom for the last 5 years, working in 3 different places.
When I went for my interview for my current job 19 months ago I talked to my boss for a bit about what I would have to do. As I had fab refs from old job for a well known eventer and breeder, my boss wasn't worried about what I could do, then we walked round the yard to look at the horses.
I started working there 2 weeks later (working notice at old yard) and am still there.

14 horses between 3-4 grooms sounds lovely.
 
Duggan- reason I want the job is the riding aspect, I can muck out stables and make horses look pretty at home
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Sole work doesn't bother me, I've looked after a yard of horses before, plus I like being able to get into a/my own routine (which is what worries me about this job- I hate not knowing what I'm doing!) but never hunted or driven so should imagine your friend would be looking for some-one with experience in that area? I'd give it a bash tho, with the right support
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zoe- will bear that in mind thankyou, always good to know of some-one who comes with a recommendation to work for!
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(The greys on the for sale page are particularly scrummy!)

Spoke again last night to confirm going down this weekend whereupon she needed to check there is in fact some-where for me to stay. Tad scatty, think the weekend may well be interesting! I will do an update post to let you all know how the trial goes, thanks for the input so far!
I'm hoping the weekend will allow me to pinpoint things down and get a proper feel for how they work, because as has been pointed out, it could potentially be a nice easy going job with good opportunities for the future.
 
If you're in a position to try it, why not? It might be the best thing you've ever done! On the other hand.... it might not! But you won't know unless you try!

I said I would help someone out short term as they had been let down by their 'groom' and here I am 2 years later, mon to fri work, four horses, now in our own place, can ride any of the 3 big-uns whenever I want, drive the shetland too (they let me break him to drive) and my son rides him too. I can also compete and have been taught how to drive the lorry!

So, a job might not seem ideal at first, but you never know what will happen, chase your dreams and give every opportunity a chance
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