Is it possible to be a paid work rider?

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fasteronmyown2legs

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I see lots of racing yards wanting a work rider, however im 6ft and just over 11st! I know race jockeys weight more like 7/8 stone, would there ever be a reason for a race yard to need someone my size just to exercise the horses?

Failing that, are there many opportunites to make a living work riding normal horses? Ive been riding a year now and still have a big passion for it, though feel at 21 i'll never be as good as those that have ridden from childhood?
 
Some NH yards do have larger riders riding work and pay them to do so but if you have only been riding a year I suspect you will need to get some more experience before any will take you on and pay you, you are unlikely to be up to riding work on a fit racehorse for some time, there are very few people making a good living from riding, most have worked through the ranks doing all the normal yard duties you need to prove you are talented and dedicated before you get rides.
You would probably be best to ask your nearest NH yard if they require any extra help at weekends, many do as staff may be racing or having a day off, then see whether it gives you an opportunity to ride out, probably walking not riding work until you are able to show your capabilities, it will do no harm to ask and you never know where it will lead.
 
fasteronmyown2legs said:
I see lots of racing yards wanting a work rider, however im 6ft and just over 11st! I know race jockeys weight more like 7/8 stone, would there ever be a reason for a race yard to need someone my size just to exercise the horses?
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Yes, they're called stable lads/lasses & grooms. Not an enjoyable job really - think 4am starts, long, cold days, dealing with hyper TBs who have been in a box all winter and who do their best to kill themselves -and you- on a daily basis. You'll spend about 70% of your time shovelling horse crap and the other 30% trying not to get bucked off.
 
It is possible - your height notwithstanding, or indeed your age to start riding. But it does need to be an absolute passion otherwise the very basic pay and challenging work conditions are pretty tough.

If this is something you are truly passionate about don't stop considerations at race riding. If you can get some basic equine qualifications, BHS for preference, and get some voluntary work experience behind you then look for working pupil / groom positions. If you are committed and determined you can make a living that way. But there is a lot of competition. And I doubt you would be able to avoid the Groom element and just ride I'm afraid!
 
SpringArising said:
Yes, they're called stable lads/lasses & grooms. Not an enjoyable job really - think 4am starts, long, cold days, dealing with hyper TBs who have been in a box all winter and who do their best to kill themselves -and you- on a daily basis. You'll spend about 70% of your time shovelling horse crap and the other 30% trying not to get bucked off.
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Not entirely true. I start at the civilised time of 7.30am, I haven't mucked out a stable since Xmas, they only try to kill themselves once a week and only 4 out of my 5 horses tried to deck me today lol!

Riding work is HARD! You need to be quite fit, have very good balance, nay fear, a good sense of humour and most of all the strength of will to make it through to the other side no matter what!

You can make a decent living from work riding but not in NH yards. In Newmarket, Middleham and the Curragh are the main places to just ride work but they are flat yards and you need to be exceptionally good. Even if you had spent your only yearriding in a racing yard you still wouldn't get a gig as a work rider as they want years of experience.

Sorry to burst any bubbles but that's the reality of it.
 
Shay said:
If this is something you are truly passionate about don't stop considerations at race riding. If you can get some basic equine qualifications, BHS for preference, and get some voluntary work experience behind you then look for working pupil / groom positions. If you are committed and determined you can make a living that way. But there is a lot of competition. And I doubt you would be able to avoid the Groom element and just ride I'm afraid!
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You don't make a living working with horses. You scrape by month to month. It's a way of life but certainly not a living. Racing is indeed more regulated and controlled than any other equestrian field, in fact probably more so than any other jobs with its pay structure but at the end of the day it is a minimum wage job of long hours in the cold wet wind and snow. And that's before you get anywhere near riding a horse.

Also the only competition for staff places going on right now is between trainers trying to get staff! We have a severe lack of work riders, let alone decent ones and if you can poach someone else's staff then you do so andd ****** the consequences!
 
A work rider is a rider who can ride work, which is not the same as someone who can ride out on racehorses, all work riders can ride at a pace determined by the trainer and then tell the trainer how the horse is doing.
A stable lad might be able to stay on most of the horses in the yard and after about two years he could probably do three canters on the bridle, and ride work on some of the more experienced older horses. Very unlikely you will ever be talented / experienced enough to school, ie train the horses over jumps.
Not all jockeys are top work riders and not all top work riders can be jockeys, though some are ex jockeys.
Do not apply for a job as a work rider, as you will embarass yourself. You might do better starting in the yard of a big NH yard if you want to ride, but you should be competant at all paces, they do not provide free lessons, though they will start you off on the easy mounts. In the yard you will do more of the general hard work and less of the riding, most flat yards would never let you ride.
The British racing school has a range of courses which you might be interested in, but you need to be around 9st to go on the basic course.
From a career point of view you could consider getting an HGV licence and travel the horses, but you still need a lot of experience of horse handling for that and most yards need you to ride out when not going racing.
 
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As the racing industry is very short staffed you would undoubtedly find a job. Some NH yards would let you ride work fairly swiftly too. However in all seriousness, you are on the heavy side, and seriously lacking in experience, so although some trainers would let you loose, it might not go well.
As to earning a living riding other horses, your weight is going to be against you to a certain amount, as it is going to limit what you can ride.
If you are serious about wanting to race ride, buy yourself a point to pointer and do it as a hobby.
 
If you wanted to look at riding 'normal' horses,you might be better off trying a local hunt. They'll shortly be looking for grooms who also ride out,BUT you'd need to be very experienced,as it involves riding huge horses and leading several others at the same time. Horses which have been roughed off at grass for months,but,will get fitter and more excited as the weeks pass. I don't want to be rude,but I don't think they'd take on someone with only a years' experience,and it is very hard work, sometimes in dreadful weather.They'd expect you to be able to ride one and lead up to 4 others at the same time.
 
I wouldn't let anyone with a year's experience even sit on my ex-racer, nevermind anything else. Sorry to be blunt, but I'd say you'll struggle unless you're exceptional. (and if you think you're exceptional - I'd say you'll struggle in the industry with your ego.)
 
lakesidedreamer said:
I wouldn't let anyone with a year's experience even sit on my ex-racer, nevermind anything else. Sorry to be blunt, but I'd say you'll struggle unless you're exceptional. (and if you think you're exceptional - I'd say you'll struggle in the industry with your ego.)
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Yes, kind words from your friends on HHO, lol.
If you are exceptional someone will have told you by now, I have been to riding schools and out of about 100 people I saw there, I would say there were three who could have worked in racing, of the three instructors only one was what I call "a good rider" that is to say, of the three professionals with years of experience and quite a few bits of paper, only one was really competent.
If you want to work in racing there is nothing to stop you, there are a variety of jobs, but I would not expect you to be good enough to ride out, and if you can't ride out you are unlikely to progress.
 
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lakesidedreamer said:
I wasn't trying to be unkind, but sometimes the truth is blunt.
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I know, I was being ironic, don't worry I think we have put him off, unless he happens to be a complete addict like myself, I started in racing aged 35, but I did have a fair bit of experience, having started age eight, my first paid job was "breaking" 50 shetlands, if we could catch them a few times and ride them round a tiny course we got ten shillings [50p]
 
hahaha, oh, fabulous!

At least you got paid!!! We used to have to ride off the dealers lorries, and if we made it to the end of the lesson on one, we'd get a free lesson directly after - on another supposedly broken horse from the back of the lorry! It was usually either a trip to a&e, or a free lesson - there was rarely a middle ground. ;-)
 
fasteronmyown2legs said:
I see lots of racing yards wanting a work rider, however im 6ft and just over 11st! I know race jockeys weight more like 7/8 stone, would there ever be a reason for a race yard to need someone my size just to exercise the horses?
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I knew a couple of lads in Newmarket about your weight, that rode work for a living. However, they couldnt ride everything and sometimes were put on horses that needed a bit more weight (and experience!) on them. It could maybe be done at that weight/height but you'd need experience. Also be aware, that when you get older that weight will be harder to keep-the lads I knew would be out running in a couple of layers of sweats, in summer, to keep the weight off. The other work riders I knew were apprenticed jockeys and were paid pretty well.
With the yard work/exercising, it's a hard life, they work hard and play hard and although the wages aren't bad for equine, they aren't enough to have a lot of the usual stuff as you get older. Jobs were quite fluid, sacking/walking out happens quickly although if you're any good you can usually find a job. Beware that you don't get to 40 and have no other skills though.
 
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