Is this too good to be true? Honest thoughts please!

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PercyMum

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Hey All.

I have been medically discharged from my current job with a comfortable severence package. I thought it would be a great opportunity to try something new. I think I would like to work with horses and have alot of experience with them, but nothing formal. On the 'day job' side I have alot of quals and experience that can help with admin etc, teaching but thats about it. I have my own 2 horses so thats all I deal with atm.

Anyway, I idly applied for an instructors position at a local yard and went to see the setup... and promptly got offered the job, as long as they like the way I teach (I did teach and do the training for my Stage 2 but never actually did the exam). Anyway, they want me to run the admin, manage the horse management side, teach and basically 'be the grown-up'.

Now, I was initially elated but now I am a little concerned. I have heard a number of bad things about the way they treat staff but I am 30 and pretty tough so hopefully it should not affect me. Also, they are offering £300 a week and I am not sure if that is reasonable or not for the level of responsibility that they want me to take. I know I have little tangible relavent experience which is why I was a little surprised at the offer, so now I am a bit suspicous as to why they were so keen to get me on board so quickly. I'm also worried that I'm looking at a career as an instructor with rose-tinted glasses.

Am I right to be a little suspicous? Is the salary about right (I'm not being greedy but I don't want to be working for nowt!!). Alternately I could just forget the whole thing and go and get another job in what I do already, which has a juicy, comfortable salary and weekends off!!! :confused:

Any thoughts or advice gratefully recieved as usual!!

Thankyou!
 
I can't help on the salary side as I don't work in the horse industry, but I would say if you have any doubts at all to make sure you get answers to your questions BEFORE you start work. Also make sure you have a proper contract in place and that you are completely clear on T&Cs - what days/hours you're expected to work; how many days leave you get; what happens if you're ill etc.

I'd also be completely clear about what your duties are exactly as it already sounds like you'll be doing a lot, you don't want them to suddenly decide you're responsible for a whole lot more as well.

Will you have responibility for the other staff? Will you be left to more or less run the place or will the owners still be hands on? These are all things it sounds like you need answers to.

Good luck with it, or what ever you decide to do.
 
Having done both I would go for the juicy weekends off option.

As you say, there is a lot of responsibility for pretty average pay, but working with horses simply doesn't pay well and as you have no formal qualification for teaching riding this will be reflected in the salary.

One thing I can almost guarantee is that you will have no time for your own horses. Weekends when you want to compete, ride with your mates etc.. is when you will be busiest at the yard and I found I was sometimes too tired to ride my own horse, even though she was kept at the yard as part of my salary.

Sorry if I sound negative, but I would think really hard about what is more important to you. I nearly sold my horse because I didn't have enough time to do what I wanted with her, but thankfully I changed my job and never regretted it.
 
Tammytoo said:
Having done both I would go for the juicy weekends off option.

As you say, there is a lot of responsibility for pretty average pay, but working with horses simply doesn't pay well and as you have no formal qualification for teaching riding this will be reflected in the salary.

One thing I can almost guarantee is that you will have no time for your own horses. Weekends when you want to compete, ride with your mates etc.. is when you will be busiest at the yard and I found I was sometimes too tired to ride my own horse, even though she was kept at the yard as part of my salary.

Sorry if I sound negative, but I would think really hard about what is more important to you. I nearly sold my horse because I didn't have enough time to do what I wanted with her, but thankfully I changed my job and never regretted it.
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Thanks - honesty and insider thoughts is eaxctly what I need!! I understand that the horse inductry is low pay, and thats fine but I am just worried that I'm walking into a situation where I will be used and abused!! And it just seems odd that I am being offered the job so quickly...
 
Personally... I wouldn't do it.

Stick with the weekends off and decent pay, enjoy your own horses.

Just my opinion.

K
x
 
Im a qualified groom and coach, but i much prefer my 2 day week at non horsey work that gives me good pay and lets me have all the extra time off to enjoy with my horses. i freelance with the horsey stuff so I can take it or leave it, amd im not tied to any one place, or anybodys dogsbody.
Are they letting you teach with no equestrian teaching qualifications at all ?
Is it a BHS yard ?
Good luck whatever you decide to do.
 
I did this at 26. Not great. Money was rubbish, my own horses became strangers as I never could be bothered to ride them. I much prefer my 'proper job' where I can really enjoy my own horses. Just my opinion too though. I do however find it suspect that they are letting you teach without a PTT tbh.
 
I work full time as a stud groom and earn on average £200 a week, this is a job which requires no qualifications just practical experience blah blah anyway my point is your job sounds like a lot more responsibility and work for not a lot more pay. Like you say you're not qualified which is probably why you were offered the job, a qualified instructor would demand a lot more money for what they do. I work with horses because I actually can't stand other jobs, tried it a few times can't do it, but if you can manage to have an indoor well paid job with weekends off, do it!
 
marydoll said:
Are they letting you teach with no equestrian teaching qualifications at all ?
Is it a BHS yard ?
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By the sounds of it, yes. And I don't think its a BHS yard, although run by a well-known rider.

spacefaer said:
If you're not qualified to teach, will you be insured?
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I don't know! I would assume so? Again, I don't have any 'proper' teaching experience so I haven't a clue!

ridefast said:
I work full time as a stud groom and earn on average £200 a week, this is a job which requires no qualifications just practical experience blah blah anyway my point is your job sounds like a lot more responsibility and work for not a lot more pay. Like you say you're not qualified which is probably why you were offered the job, a qualified instructor would demand a lot more money for what they do.
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Thats what I am a bit worried about. And yes, I am uber organised, capable of dealing with alot of responsibility and experienced with horses but what if I do screw up - they aren't my horses after all and its dealing with the public, not mine or my mates horses!! The more I go on, the more I feel this job might be a little suspect. I have heard they have a bad rep with holding onto staff but then am I just being unkind? maybe they think tha they are giving me an opportunity? Or am I deluding myself?! :confused:
 
PercyMum said:
get another job in what I do already, which has a juicy, comfortable salary and weekends off!!!
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This. I worked as a groom at a dressage yard, and my pay per week was £250 (plus housing/utilities provided). It was a 5.5/6 day week, from 6:30am until we finished (6/7pm) with an hour off for lunch. While it was fun, and a great experience, in your case I would go for the better salary & weekends off option. :) Good luck whatever you decide!
 
You could always give it a go, if you haven't got another job to go to you might find that it takes a while to find something at the moment so if I were you I would give it a try and if it's not for you you can leave or stay on whilst looking for something else and at least you would be earning something whilst looking.
 
Give it a shot, you have nothing to lose. You can leave if it doesn't suit. As an employer it is hard to get rid of rubbish staff but easy to leave if an employee.

Jane
 
I personally think the money is rubbish for the responsibility, and therefore think you will be taken for a ride.
Sorry, but unless you want the experience, I would walk away.
 
Lynsey&Smartie said:
You could always give it a go, if you haven't got another job to go to you might find that it takes a while to find something at the moment so if I were you I would give it a try and if it's not for you you can leave or stay on whilst looking for something else and at least you would be earning something whilst looking.
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This is kind of what I am thinking. I am on full pay from my old job until Feb next year, and then have a pension for the rest of my days, so I am in a very privileged position. However, my skill set will diminish within 6 months so I need to get a job by then if I stay in my present line of work. What concerns me now is the insurance thing, legalities of teaching without quals and if I am being taken for a mug. I don't want to get in an awkward situation and I hate letting people down. Equally, I don't want to pass up a potential opportunity!!
 
PercyMum said:
Anyway, I idly applied for an instructors position at a local yard and went to see the setup... and promptly got offered the job, as long as they like the way I teach (I did teach and do the training for my Stage 2 but never actually did the exam). Anyway, they want me to run the admin, manage the horse management side, teach and basically 'be the grown-up'.

Now, I was initially elated but now I am a little concerned. I have heard a number of bad things about the way they treat staff but I am 30 and pretty tough so hopefully it should not affect me. Also, they are offering £300 a week and I am not sure if that is reasonable or not for the level of responsibility that they want me to take.
Click to expand...

Mmm - reading between the lines, they're desperate (sorry - not insulting you but to want an unqualified and inexperienced person to take on that level of responsibility suggests they just can't get/keep staff!)

Depending on hours, the salary may or may not be barely reasonable. My grooms earn between £220 and £300 a week depending on seniority, and whether they work 5 or 6 day week. They work 9-5, good breaks and lunch provided, and take varying levels of responsibility - but I am virtually always there and 'in charge' (nicely)! I don't have any trouble getting (and keeping) staff!

For a 'take charge' position, doing admin and teaching and all that goes with running a riding school, I would expect to be offered (if I was in the market for a job) at LEAST £400 per week for a 5 1/2 day week - more if evening teaching was expected!
 
Go back to them and ask to see the contract and work description, and details of the hours, work and responsibilities, insurance position, etc. so you know exactly where you stand. Most people are taken on for a trial period and the salary is reviewed at the end of the trial as well.

In your financial position and if it is something you have always wanted to try and you have the luxury of 6 months grace, you can give it a go and if you love it continue and if you hate it go back to what you were doing before.

But if you work all week with horses you won't feel in much of a mood to enjoy your own on your days off and if you try to compete, etc.you will end up exhausted.
 
you would be covered by the RS insurance. I pretty sure the only requirement is that there is minimum of an AI "on site" and then they could get anyone to teach.
 
The other thought is that yes they are desperate but desperate for someone that CAN and WILL do the admin, so many horsey people either haven't got a clue or aren't interested in the paper work and things can get in a mess really quickly. Therefore they are willing to let you do some teaching as long as you get the paper work done

I would give it a go, you have nothing to lose and will always wonder 'what if'
 
Sounds like an awful lot of work for not a lot of money really.

Sorry :(

I worked with horses (long ago). Long, long days and long, long weeks. Was fine at the time (young, fit, horse mad), but having given it a great deal of thought lately, I wouldn't go back to it, certainly not full-time :cool:

With a variation on a theme, I'm sticking to what I do now - earns well, lots of variety, and I usually(!) get time to ride my horse :D
 
I think you need to find out the exact details and go throught the contract.
You could guve a it a trial period, then could always leave if it isnt what you expected.

If you where medically discharged from yout last job, still get full pay until february then on a pension will this have any affect on the new job? Tax etc?
 
Me personally my horses are my hobby, I'd never want to work with them. From what I've heard the money is pants and long hours. I don't want to get bored of my hobby either so If it were me I'd stick with a comfy job and keep the hobby.
 
no harm in trialling it, you will either love it or hate it, and if you have good horse experience and teaching skills it may suit, despite the lack of qualifications, you may be able to negotiate your wage up, or gain your required qualifications and look else where.
 
Sounds a lot like a stable that I used to ride at. They dont treat the staff well, so no one stays, all the work is done by kids paid in rides who dont take anything particularly seriously. They pay a couple of unqualified instructors to teach, or if they are off ill or on holiday they would frequently just let one of the older helpers "teach". I'm 99% sure they havent employed anyone with any qualifications for the last 3 years.

That said, there have been a couple of people go through there who did the manager job like you have been offered who made a big impact on the place, and probably found the job quite rewarding. The problem was that because the kind of students they attract with their policy are parents looking to cut costs or beginners who dont know any better and usually dont stay around long, there was really no incentive for the owners to recognise the improvement through payrises etc. which might have persuaded the good people to stay.

It sounds like you are in a uniquely fortunate position in having the opportunity and the financial flexibility to try it out for a bit. If you hate it, you will have either learned that working with horses probably isnt what you want to do (so put the idea to rest in your head) or that you love working with horses but dont like your employer, in which case you have some proper experience to offer a better employer in the industry. If you like it and the employer is more reputable than they sound, then when they realise that you are competent and good for business you should be able to persuade them to pay you what you are worth with the added experience.
I would make sure you are properly insured through them first, but as long as you are sensible I dont see that horendous accidents are more likely to happen withyou in charge than anyone else.
 
Sounds too good to be true. Honestly, if you ran a riding school, would you employ someone on the spot?

I have done this sort of thing and taken jobs offered on the spot in my younger days. I certainly wouldn't do it now!

Given your position - if you really want to do this, I would look for a job where you can train towards being a qualified instrucor.
 
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