Have i got a good reason to be annoyed?

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FinalFurlong

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Okay i wont give all the details just the basics.

I help out at a racing yard in weekends (currently finishing a-levels) and have plans to work in racing. So normal riding for 8 years, riding racehorses for 6 months.

When one of the stable lads went to racing college, i got most of his rides and rode out 4 horses including the ones that buck and muck about around the roads. Finally went on the gallops after a few weeks of properly riding on the roads. Said stable lad screamed like a wuss first time he went on the gallops and when he gets taken off with he screams like a wuss and gets scared. He has been there for 2 years and only stopped this about a month before he went to racing college

Went on the gallops, everyone including trainer said i did a fabulous job (stayed calm etc) and just needed to get my butt in the air more. Same day i fell off a 2yr old who always spooks in one place as said stable lad used to hit her for no reason there (trainer himself said that). Fall was my fault as i let my hands go up but i learnt from that and the never had any troubles with the horses since.

Stable lad has now come back and ive gone backwards. All the horses i previously rode i dont ride anymore bar one around the roads. This has gone on for months and i havent been on the gallops since he came back. I haven't done anything obviously wrong bar that one fall (nothing wrong that i can see anyway and i usually beat myself up for minor errors)

I now ride one horse on the roads who is the ride of the stable's amateur jockey except he rides her on the gallops. She is a lot stronger than the horse who i rode on the gallops

Trainers friend came up the yard and asked if i had been on the gallops yet, i said yes about 2 months ago. He asks have you not been on since and was quite surprised that i hadnt and said 'well they are holding you back' and left it at that

People have asked the trainer why haven't i been put on the gallops since as every time a horse has bucked/spooked with me ive been given praise for my nerve, handling of the horse and staying calm. Also i did not think my first time on the gallops was that catastrophic (i didn't scream anyway)

He has told others there is 'no horses' which im struggling to believe as we havent had any new horses or horses leave, the only thing that has changed is the return of said stable lad who got kicked out of college but then let back in and was supposed to go to another yard but couldn't last the week.
Said stable lad and trainer are good friends but its not like the trainer dislikes me.

Am i just being selfish?! :confused:
 
There are obviously not enough horses for 2 of you is what I think the trainer means by no horses. Is the friend who said you are being held back a trainer? Maybe see if you can secure some rides/ work there as he clearly rates you if he thinks you are being held back.
 
I agree, he has some rank on you.

Whether its justified or not he will have started at the bottom same as you

Keep plugging away and sooner or later you will be recognised. If you kick up a fuss its not going to go down well, keep it businesslike and professional

Tricky one though x
 
Tilda said:
There are obviously not enough horses for 2 of you is what I think the trainer means by no horses. Is the friend who said you are being held back a trainer? Maybe see if you can secure some rides/ work there as he clearly rates you if he thinks you are being held back.
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No he's an ex-jockey. I just feel really bad that the stables amateur jockey who is an amazing rider is not able to ride one of his favorite horses round the roads because of me, but stable lad still gets to ride all of his and he isnt as good as amateur jockey
 
does this stable lad have a higher position at the yard than you?

it is difficult really and i feel your frustration but is it a simple case of you had his horses while he was away and now he's back?

keep you head down, work hard and take every opportunuty to get rides and get yourself noticed, you'll find the cream usually rises to the top!
 
Springy said:
^^ this

once you have been to BRS then these shouldnt be a problem at all and you will be able to shine :)
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I am hoping so!! I have always known kicking up a fuss wouldn't do any good im just very impatient and i really want to progress but i havent got the right to say anything so just gotta keep my head down and get on with it

Trainer has said he thinks one of amateur jockeys horses could be fine for me to ride on as 'he wants me to have a chance' Again i feel mean that amateur jockey will miss out on rides because of me as he deserves them more than stable lad he works twice as hard
 
lula said:
does this stable lad have a higher position at the yard than you?

it is difficult really and i feel your frustration but is it a simple case of you had his horses while he was away and now he's back?

keep you head down, work hard and take every opportunuty to get rides and get yourself noticed, you'll find the cream usually rises to the top!
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From a progression point of view ive been told im doing so much better than him as i went on the gallops before him and i have never screamed on a horse or been taken off with

However he has been there two years compared to my 6 months!!!
 
FinalFurlong said:
No Im more fearless on horses than i am with people! :o

The fact that other people have been asking him (people that have the guts and the right to) is whats making me think i may have a reason
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..then I think you need to ask. He might be completely unaware of how you are feeling about the situation.

Get it 'straight from the horses mouth' as they say, second-hand info is never as good as hearing it first-hand.

Good luck!
 
Don't worry about politics - in the world of work you can never work them out - as long as you get paid the same why worry - keep your head down a smile on your face and keep your moans to here.

Learn everything you can for where you are.... you never know what is around the corner.

Have fun, don't rock the boat, bide your time you will come out on top
 
annabel2009 said:
Do you get to ride if he is away racing or on a day off?
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He hasn't been away racing yet, but when he was at college and head girl or the amateur jockey went racing i always got their rides shared between me and the staff left (there are four of us in total including stable lad)

I have rode more horses in the yard than him, he never rides amateur jockeys horses though those are the ones i mainly ride
 
DragonSleighBells said:
..then I think you need to ask. He might be completely unaware of how you are feeling about the situation.

Get it 'straight from the horses mouth' as they say, second-hand info is never as good as hearing it first-hand.

Good luck!
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I am tempted to subtly hint about it as to be honest i am getting ever so frustrated and fed up about it!

I am coming to the point of thinking that when he says he wants me to have my chance, well he obviously can't want me to have it that badly otherwise he would let me ride the horse i originally rode on the gallops again on the gallops (said horse is easiest racehorse ever)
 
Is he full time versus yourself just working weekends? Could the trainer feel that they need to get their.monies worth out of him and perhaps not realised that you are that keen to ride?
 
EnduroRider said:
Is he full time versus yourself just working weekends? Could the trainer feel that they need to get their.monies worth out of him and perhaps not realised that you are that keen to ride?
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He is full time and me saturday mornings (he doesn't pay me im doing it purely for the fun of it and to learn, its more of a helping out thing which is how he started off but before me)

I think he is as he has always said im keen (and i sound like a jockey when he asks if im nervous and i say no i dont get nervous) and he gets people who have the right to tell him saying how keen i am. The ex jockey who said he's holding me back never says stuff for the sake of it and im quite shocked he said it
 
I think there lies the answer. the lad will be riding the horses daily on gallops, The trainer isn't going to hand them over to you to ride when you are just there one morning a week. lad is senior to you as he is full time paid and you are part time unpaid. Just bide your time, don't make a fuss and i am sure he will recognise you are keen and a hard worker.
 
festnuttyfairy said:
I think there lies the answer. the lad will be riding the horses daily on gallops, The trainer isn't going to hand them over to you to ride when you are just there one morning a week. lad is senior to you as he is full time paid and you are part time unpaid. Just bide your time, don't make a fuss and i am sure he will recognise you are keen and a hard worker.
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Agree, this is it. They will not jock off a full time employee for weekend staff. Think about it, would you?!

It sounds to me as though your competence has been noted all round! Also, "ex" jockeys in my experience can be very bitter men...he may have ulterior motives, he may well be dissatisfied with his own lot. Anything he can stir up, he will. It is not reasonable for you to expect to turn up on a Saturday, and the lad (however much he struggles) who has ridden all week to be told not to ride, because you are. The boss simply cannot do that and nor should he.

Don't be used as a pawn by someone with a grudge. Keep doing what you're doing, working hard and doing well, and you'll get your chances. Throw a strop now and demand to ride out when you are there, and you may well find yourself out on your ear. Which, with how very competent and suited to the job you sound, would be a huge shame.

Think forward to when you have completed your training and are looking for full time work. A glowing reference from and long stint with the yard you're at now, could do you the power of good and give you the pick of the bunch when you're in the stable lad's position, and looking to do it full time.

Don't get too full of yourself now! Show your maturity. Put up and remain keen, do everything asked of you and more. If this really is your dream job.
 
I agree with those who say that you being a saturday volunteer and him full time employed will be the likely reason why. I'm ao a bit concerned about their insurance and the legality of you riding their horses out at all :o

Howver, I don't think it is just either keep quiet and hope or throw a strop. Whatever happened to being a civilised human being and politely talking to your boss? About how much you enjoyed and are grateful to have been allowed on the gallops, and expressing an interest in doing it again in the future if the opportunity came up again.
 
All staff under a certain age (cant remember off the top of my head) have to go through the BRS or the NRC (or the Scottish one) to become staff iirc. As such, this lad (however annoying it is for you to watch) is going to get more to do than you, its not nececcarily a failing on your part (believe me, 99% of head lads will soon let you know if you arent doing something how they want it done!!!!) Plus, as the others have said - hes paying the lad - hes not paying you, theres no point paying someone, then not having them work !! Im not sure insurance wise how he would stand as well - that could have a bearing on it.

You will probably find that things change if you go there full time when youve finished at school and done your BRS course - if they dont, then Id be looking to go somewhere that you are able to do more.

Its difficult in small yards,not that many horses means limited opportunities for people to ride etc - though you do tend to be appreciated more, even if you arent told all the time, things get noticed much more than you think they do. (well thats my experience of them anyway - Ive worked in some of the biggest and small yards as well !!)

Sit tight, work hard and keep smiling - your time will come. Theres no harm in asking the head lad if they know why you arent riding so much any more, but dont make a song and dance about it, it wont do you any favours.
 
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If it helps, I'm insured! I see all your points. I am not expecting trainer to hand all the rides over to me, I just think instead of giving me amateur jockey's ride round the road why can't instead of me riding am. Jockeys horse I can ride the one horse I can hold on the gallops. I'd rather ride one horse on the gallops than 5 on the roads. Don't know if its worth pointing out that when stable lad (a year older than me only difference is that I am doing a levels and he isn't) still got to go on the gallops even when he screamed like a wuss.
But I do see all your points though!! Thanks
 
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