Is there a future?

[barley]

I have just handed my notice in as stud manager in my current job. I dont earn enough to live off or ever get on the property ladder. I have worked full time with horses for the last 15 years and I think it may be finally time to get a 'proper' job. I have specialised in stud work, stallion handling and foaling for the past 6 years and this is where my heart lies. Has anyone got any ideas how I can use my skills to get a better paid job or is it finally time to join the real world, get a normal job and keep breeding as my hobby? Its a proper heart or head decision so any advice would be gratefully received!

 

[BigRed]

I have a very boring job that pays well. It allows me to have a nice house and to own my own horse and keep her at home (nothing grand, just the basic facilities).

When I was 30 I sold all my horse stuff and loaned out my horse so that I could concentrate on buying my first house. I didn't have a horse for 7 years. Now 15 years on, I have a nice house and keep my horse at home.

Sometimes decisions are hard.

The problem you have, is that 15 years ago a deposit of £2k was acceptable and my first house cost £50k, and that was in Surrey ! I wouldn't be able to get on the property ladder now and my husband and I have reasonably well paid jobs.

 

[Touchwood]

My husband has worked in breeding his whole life, and working in the TB bloodstock industry we did get some lovely accommodation but were always aware nothing was 'ours'. I stuck at my 'proper' job so we managed to get our foot on the property ladder, that is our little investment, and we now run our own stud, one day we may even make some money! LOL!
I'm not sure what kind of breeding you are working in, but if you get into TB bloodstock and try and get in at one of the big public studs and work your way up, the rewards are there, its just a lot of hard work!

 

[koeffee]

i was in your situation a few years ago!! i worked for peter charles for a while, full time for £90 a week which ,now goes nowhere. i then went to work for francesco franco in italy for a year, which payed 3 times as much great job, lots of travel but for a female with a clock ticking i new i couldnt stay working with horses. i went to colege for 3 month, got a qualification in computers, managed to get a job in a doctors surgery, now6 years on im a qualified pharmacy assistant, working part time, my own home with a couple of stables, my three lovely mares and my two kids!!!!!and my suffering partner who is non horsey. its hard in the begining wondering if its right for you but you can do lots of other things. good luck with your decision.

 

[henryhorn]

What a lousy situation to be in.
All I can suggest is you try and work abroad for perhaps some of the racing owners in places like Dubai and see if you can get a nest egg together that way.
It seems ridiculous that someone with your expertise can't get a well paid job.
If this isn't an option look for a job that offers a chance to move up the career ladder fast, and abandon everything else including horses until you have got somewhere well paid.
You've had huge responsibilities up to now, that has to count for something when job seeking.
I think it's wise to get out now too, because I can see massive problems occurring in the horse world. Even the rich will balk at keeping breeding programmes going if world recession hits.
A friend has been Stud Manager for a long time at a large successful TB stud. They have put the place on the market and luckily he already owned a house and kept his place on the ladder . I think more of the same will follow, even riding schools are going to struggle I reckon.
I've been looking at my feed bills today and the cost of one bag has risen from just over eight pounds to twelve pounds forty odd within a short time, no industry can cope with that level of inflation so get out while you can.
I wish you every success with whatever you decide. Remember some jobs will always be required, from the Police to nursing, they are the last jobs to disappear in recession too.
We breed for fun, I long ago realised it could never make money..

 

[Touchwood]

henryhorn I really don't think its that doom and gloom! The wealthy are not generally hugely affected by recession, and if you are working for a big public stud you'll be fine - I don't think Godolphin or Coolmore care about recessions!
My 'proper' job is working in luxury travel, and we still have a queue of clients wanting to spend £40k on a 2 week holiday.

 

[barley]

Just to make things harder a fairly local stud is advertising in H&H for a stud person and I fit their criteria perfectly. Even though its a PO box number I'm pretty sure I know who it is. The wages are better than I get now but I'm still not sure there is a future for someone of my age earning £14000 pa as a stud groom/manager for the rest of my working life. It just seems such a waste to have worked so hard and learnt so much just to walk away and start from the bottom in a normal job. Arrgh! Please someone give me a kick up the backside!

 

[koeffee]

take a holiday and have some time out away from the horses for a few weeks. you may feel fresher and have a better idea where you want to go.

 

[Touchwood]

Seriously, you need to get with one of the bigger studs.....they pay more than that for [****] shovellers!!

 

[Damien]

Agreed our local University Hospital is looking for a groom salary 15-19K

 

[Laafet]

Thats our stud hand wage, seriously the bigger studs do pay.