How to get experience when budget is tight

holly011

holly011

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Hiya,

I'm based in Brighton and after not knowing what I'd like to do as a career, I've decided I'd love to be a groom, as I enjoy basically all aspects of horse care (even filling haynets!)

However, I rode when I was a kid and am only just getting back into it, and obviously any jobs want experience with horses. I do have some experience of course, having been around them and ridden for 4 years when I was younger, but obviously things change, you forget things etc.

Anyway, I've started riding lessons again but 1. they're expensive
2. it's normally just about riding, not looking after horses

I've looked for work experience, apprenticeships, volunteering, loans etc. in the area but can't find anything as there's none of the first 3, and loans want more experience.

With no local horsey friends, I'm feeling a bit stuck.

Does anyone have any ideas?
 
I'd check out the RDA too. Even if they are in the next town, some groups would like a volunteer for a day and some allow volunteers to ride to keep the horses tuned up or for hacking. For that, I think it'd be worth a bus ride or two to a nearby town.

I'd also look at volunteering at a show/riding club. You can learn loads and they can be pretty friendly.

I'd advertise for a share. I know me, and others, who'd love someone to come and help. I'd not be bothered about being paid. I have an underused horse who is semi retired but who still enjoys a hack including a blast through the woods or in the stubble. In return, I'd love for someone to come do some mucking out, come to shows, take photos etc.
 
Good suggestions from @Red-1 sometimes just a reliable ‘pair of hands’ can be really helpful and you’ll learn a lot. I wouldn’t worry too much about being paid, the experience you could get and skills you’ll acquire could be worth more in the long term than money in your hand.
 
Some riding schools take on young people for training and they take the exams either for the BHS or Asociation of Riding School. Some may even provide accommodation. You could go to the BHS website and have a look.
The other route is via a university type course at an equestrian College such as Merrist Wood.

But if you have started lessons at a school, surely you can start by helping out there?
 
Where are you based? You might be better looking at apprenticeship. The British Thoroughbred Retraining centre posted something on Facebook the other day about looking for apprentices, they are up near Lancaster I think .

ETA sorry it literally says you’re based in Brighton 😅 I would look at local charities, the big ones may do apprenticeships and the smaller ones are often looking for some casual volunteers.
 
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I think there is an RDA group at Chesnut's Riding centre just outside Brighton. I don't know much about it but have driven past the sign for it plenty of times!

Even if they can't help directly, they'll probably know somewhere that can :)
 
There are a fair few racing trainers near Sussex downs. Give one of them a ring and enquire if they take on staff to be trained. It's professional and you will be insured, properly paid and hopefully they will train you. It will depend how much you want to ride but that might need to be done in spare time.
 
holly011 said:
I don't think the local RDA groups are active anymore but I can check! And I've never heard of an urban farm but I'll definitely look into it, thank you :)
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Both Long Furlong and Mid Sussex RDAs are based at Chestnuts Riding School. There is a stud or two around Brighton that you might find paid experience at too.
 
I would have a look at your local RC or PC page. From there you will perhaps find yards that you have never heard of or people looking for help with things.Helping at shows also creates contacts.
A word of caution, unless they are going to offer you proper training or say and agreed so many hours work for a lesson expect to be paid. There are lots of people even 'professionals' that will take advantage of you. You need to know they are good employers, that they have insurance and have H&S standards in place. You should be paid not less than minium wage.
My first job was as a groom at a very smart yard. I had to leave because I had glandular fever which I was very ill with, and when I claimed sick pay they had not paid my NI contributions.
 
Red-1 said:
I'd check out the RDA too. Even if they are in the next town, some groups would like a volunteer for a day and some allow volunteers to ride to keep the horses tuned up or for hacking. For that, I think it'd be worth a bus ride or two to a nearby town.

I'd also look at volunteering at a show/riding club. You can learn loads and they can be pretty friendly.

I'd advertise for a share. I know me, and others, who'd love someone to come and help. I'd not be bothered about being paid. I have an underused horse who is semi retired but who still enjoys a hack including a blast through the woods or in the stubble. In return, I'd love for someone to come do some mucking out, come to shows, take photos etc.
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The RDA group that I support does evening sessions, so we need volunteers 5-7.00pm and it isn't unusual for a volunteer to be asked to ride in a session if there is a space, it's good for the horses.
 
LEC said:
There are a fair few racing trainers near Sussex downs. Give one of them a ring and enquire if they take on staff to be trained. It's professional and you will be insured, properly paid and hopefully they will train you. It will depend how much you want to ride but that might need to be done in spare time.
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If you’re still under 19 there is paid for industry training for new entrants to racing and there is also training for older new starters. Perhaps speak to local trainers or the British Racing School in Newmarket about career options and training.
 
honetpot said:
I would have a look at your local RC or PC page. From there you will perhaps find yards that you have never heard of or people looking for help with things.Helping at shows also creates contacts.
A word of caution, unless they are going to offer you proper training or say and agreed so many hours work for a lesson expect to be paid. There are lots of people even 'professionals' that will take advantage of you. You need to know they are good employers, that they have insurance and have H&S standards in place. You should be paid not less than minium wage.
My first job was as a groom at a very smart yard. I had to leave because I had glandular fever which I was very ill with, and when I claimed sick pay they had not paid my NI contributions.
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Yes my first job I worked from 6am to 7pm 6 days a week, not paid by the hour just the same amount each week. Owner would turn up, usually very late to take lessons and I had to get 11 horses ready for the 9am ride and had to explain that she was running late. No mobiles in those days either. I was exhausted. The more I did the more she expected me to be there. And then she would have 2 hour lunches with these women whilst I was teaching. No help given. She would go on holiday and leave me in charge book people in without telling me and was totally disorganised. Plus we had these parents randomly drop kids off that needed supervising, these were like 8 year olds, she said that was fine. Total mismanagement.

Learnt how not to be taken advantage of.
 
honetpot said:
A word of caution, unless they are going to offer you proper training or say and agreed so many hours work for a lesson expect to be paid. There are lots of people even 'professionals' that will take advantage of you. You need to know they are good employers, that they have insurance and have H&S standards in place. You should be paid not less than minium wage.
My first job was as a groom at a very smart yard. I had to leave because I had glandular fever which I was very ill with, and when I claimed sick pay they had not paid my NI contributions.
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Very sage advice. Sadly, it's still happening. There's a pro yard that has been found by HMRC to not pay staff minimum wage recently.

Don't get me wrong, I loved my time working in the industry years ago but the bad employers are pretty terrible - I was lucky on the whole but it shouldn't be down to luck whether one is paid a legal wage.
 
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I would also say that under 18s are very difficult to insure and are often not allowed to work in the proper, professional places that actually provide fair working conditions. If you’re under 18, be extra cautious if you’re offered an actual job, even volunteering. If you do get offered an opportunity, please learn the signs of lameness and pain in horses. I’d say going down the share route is best really.

I know this because I offered to work at a few places, the only place where insurance wasn’t an issue ended up being nasty for want of a better word. The horses were mostly lame, kids falling off left, right and centre, bad working conditions. I quit within the day.
 
honetpot said:
I would have a look at your local RC or PC page. From there you will perhaps find yards that you have never heard of or people looking for help with things.Helping at shows also creates contacts.
A word of caution, unless they are going to offer you proper training or say and agreed so many hours work for a lesson expect to be paid. There are lots of people even 'professionals' that will take advantage of you. You need to know they are good employers, that they have insurance and have H&S standards in place. You should be paid not less than minium wage.
My first job was as a groom at a very smart yard. I had to leave because I had glandular fever which I was very ill with, and when I claimed sick pay they had not paid my NI contributions.
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OP, do you drive? Brighton isn't the best area for horses tbh - Lancing Equestrian offer apprenticeships if you could get there
 
I have volunteered for RDA at Arundel- I know that is a bit further from Brighton, but really easy to get there on the train. They have volunteers who groom and tack up the horses as well as help lead. As someone else said, there are a couple of other groups local to you as well.
Also, my riding school in Worthing runs some BHS courses- expensive, but could be a goal to save for- maybe you could see if any schools more locally to you do this. I also agree that asking to volunteer at your school is a good idea.
Good luck!
 
My daughter is registered with Haddon Training, they are very good but she has not had a good experience on the yard she was initially on. There were no concerns about the horse's welfare but
 
I echo the sentiments above about being taken advantage of! For my first job as a newly qualified AI in 1998 I was paid the princely sum of £135 a week for working 45 hours a week as a groom/junior instructor at a riding school, including a lot of teaching. I've just worked this out in today's money £225 a week or about £5.50 an hour - absolutely shocking!! 😵
 
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