Lazy hunt groom?

[Maesfen]

I think, by the nature of the job, if you're a hunt groom or any kind of groom, you do everything involved with looking after the horses whatever that is and whenever it needs doing. If you're asked to do anything different that is not normally in your remit, surely a few manners from the person asking wouldn't go amiss?

I quite agree that bosses shouldn't ask you to do something they wouldn't be happy to do themrselves and many horsey bosses muck in and out with you which usually leads to a good working relationship as horses are such great levellers and teach you to have a sense of humour.

In my time as a groom I've cleaned cars, mowed the lawn, fetched the children from school, babysat, decorated, dog walked, cleaned boots, shopped and a myriad of other things; I never minded or been paid extra (except for the baby sitting) because I was asked nicely but I've never been asked to put someone's spurs on, that is taking the proverbial.

 

[Steeleydan]

TBH your wife sounds like she treats this lad as somthing she has scraped off the bottom of her shoe. Personally you only have 3 horses you could do them yourselves without a groom, 90% of the people on this forum work full time and still manage to do their own horses, sounds to me like "having a groom" is a bit of a status thing to you. And beleive you me if you sack him, grooms talk you will soon get a reputation of not been nice to work for.
I too have been a groom and lived and worked in hunt service, and if some one had given me their boots and coat to clean on the morning of hunting, when there is enough to do I would of told you to do it your self, your boots and coat should of been done as soon as you got home from the last time you hunted NOT on the morning you are going hunting. I think thats sloppyness on your part.
And as for getting him to put her spurs on you are taking the piss I presume.
If he is spoken too correctly Iam sure he would accomadate your every need, but it sounds like you are both arrogant, and treat him badly, just remember he is a human being, not a dog, he has feelings too, and you dont own him. Slavery was fazed out years ago.

 

[fizzer]

Its often the case of," not whats said but, the way it is said".

 

[Alec Swan]

This thread does rather remind me of the gentleman who advertised for a Handy Man.

A local worthy applied, and turned up for his interview. What ever question was put to him, he came back with a negative response. Can you drive? NO, could you make up the boilers and the fires? NO, could you clean shoes? NO, could you help in the garden? NO...... That sort of thing.

Exasperated, the wannabe employer asked, "Well, what's handy about you"?

"I only live 'round the corner", came the reply.

Alec.

 

[ChesnutsRoasting]

My wife and I have 3 horses and hunt twice a week. Before xmas we took on a local lad who came looking for any sort of work. He didn't ride and had not worked with horses before but assured us he was a hard worker and willing to learn.
He was quick to learn and got on well with the horses.
Once the the bad weather came things started to change, he started to say it wasn't his job to be breaking ice,carrying buckets of water down fields and de-frosting pipes.
Fair enough I thought, but two weeks ago on the morning we were hunting my wife give him our hunting boots to polish and coats to be brushed. The lad told her it wasn't his job.
She told him 'do it or go'. So he made a very poor effort at what we thought we employed him for.
And yesterday my wife was riding my horse and asked him for a leg up, the lad told her that this to, was not his job.
So what is his job?


His job is to obey your every command, lick your feet and tug his forelock, all for the princely sum of £6.00 per hour. Your wifes not related to Hyancith Bucket, by chance?

 

[houndsplease]

Get rid. Though I would say don't be so damn idle and do your own boots, that's not a groom's job, he's not a valet.

why is it not his job he is being paid to do it so therefore the lazy T@#t should do it. lets face it he aint doing anything else. i wouldnt dream of turning round to my employer. get shut of him, you will find someone better there are alot of people needing money at the moment and would be grateful of anything to earn sme money.

 

[Alec Swan]

Get rid. Though I would say don't be so damn idle and do your own boots, that's not a groom's job, he's not a valet.

Exactly. Attending to our own personal attire and our appearance, would be our own responsibility. For everything else, then do as I'm asking, or find a job with those who will allow you to please yourself, as to what work you actually do.

Alec.

 

[Allover]

why is it not his job he is being paid to do it so therefore the lazy T@#t should do it. lets face it he aint doing anything else. i wouldnt dream of turning round to my employer. get shut of him, you will find someone better there are alot of people needing money at the moment and would be grateful of anything to earn sme money.

So what you are saying is that for 6 quid an hour you can get someone desperate for work to do whatever you ask of them, speak to them how ever you like and if they dont like it they can ******* off because there is always another desperate for work person out there? Nice attitude!

This groom will have no contract, no terms of employment and no security in his role ( i am presuming here he is working Cash in Hand?). Does the OP have adequate insurance to cover if this guy gets injured while working for him, i would presume not.

 

[EAST KENT]

So what you are saying is that for 6 quid an hour you can get someone desperate for work to do whatever you ask of them, speak to them how ever you like and if they dont like it they can ******* off because there is always another desperate for work person out there? Nice attitude!

This groom will have no contract, no terms of employment and no security in his role ( i am presuming here he is working Cash in Hand?). Does the OP have adequate insurance to cover if this guy gets injured while working for him, i would presume not.

And what`s the odds he`s on unemployment a well? The princely sum of £120 a week does`nt add up to a living wage.They`re all at it now

 

[Allover]

I´d say its even money

 

[LauraWheeler]

So what you are saying is that for 6 quid an hour you can get someone desperate for work to do whatever you ask of them, speak to them how ever you like and if they dont like it they can ******* off because there is always another desperate for work person out there? Nice attitude!

This groom will have no contract, no terms of employment and no security in his role ( i am presuming here he is working Cash in Hand?). Does the OP have adequate insurance to cover if this guy gets injured while working for him, i would presume not.

Sadly this is the attitude many employers have twords there grooms. I come up against it all the time. I'm prity easy going and if I had been paid for all the unpaid overtime i've done over the years i'd be a very rich woman by now. Many of my jobs have been live in and i've basicly been on call 24/7 for £100 w/k and a grotty place to live and i'm ment to have been eturnaly greatful.
There arn't many other profetions that would get away with treating employees the way the horse world does. Grooming is deff a job you do for the love and not the money. But it is nice to feel appreceated once in a while. It's a bloody hard job sometimes but quite a few bosses forget that.

 

[Allover]

Sadly this is the attitude many employers have twords there grooms. I come up against it all the time. I'm prity easy going and if I had been paid for all the unpaid overtime i've done over the years i'd be a very rich woman by now. Many of my jobs have been live in and i've basicly been on call 24/7 for £100 w/k and a grotty place to live and i'm ment to have been eturnaly greatful.
There arn't many other profetions that would get away with treating employees the way the horse world does. Grooming is deff a job you do for the love and not the money. But it is nice to feel appreceated once in a while. It's a bloody hard job sometimes but quite a few bosses forget that.

Hear hear ( though my current boss expects me to be in two places at once and work a 6 and a half day week gave me an excellent bonus and a lovely dress for xmas )

 

[spotty_pony]

I'm afraid 'that's not my job' it's really a good enough answer because you are his boss and if you are asking him to do something, e.g break the ice on the water troughs he should do it, not jut because you told him to but for the love of the horses too - although you say he doesn't know much about horses.

I am a self employed groom/rider and I do everything I'm asked to do (even babysitting!) I'm lucky in the fact that my boss treats me and pays me really well and I really enjoy my job. I have found that if you are treated properly, you will do just about anything for your boss. I have worked at yards in the past who have taken advantage of me and basically worked me like a slave, and I know I resented doing anything they asked me to do because they didn't have any respect for me.

It sounds like you are treating him well and paying him well though, so I'm afraid I agree with the others who say 'give him the boot.'

 

[Angelbones]

Quite honestly over the years I've done everything my bosses have asked me, plus extras I wasn't asked to do but which made everyone's day go smoothly and eased my boss's stressful lifestyle.

However, since employing people myself, I've found that attitudes have changed and people are much less willing to do things they consider to 'not be part of my job'. I always say to my employees at the yard that I will find them the hours and pay them well for it as long as they don't mind what they do (obviously with no intention of taking the mickey) so that if we all end up gardening as we've got a charity open day, or manning a tack stall for the hunt to raise funds, or painting fencing, everyone has signed up for it when they took the job. One girl who needs the hours for her tax credit makes up her yard hours doing my mum's ironing but as said, she signed up for it from the start.

Your chap sounds sour now and I doubt he will bounce back. You could try doing a job description for him and seeing if this focuses him, but I think its probably best to let him go. I'm sure you'll be able to get someone else for what sounds like on the surface to be a nice job - times are hard and lots of people now can't afford to get help with their horses making competition for those jobs even stronger.

 

[AmyMay]

but two weeks ago on the morning we were hunting my wife give him our hunting boots to polish and coats to be brushed. The lad told her it wasn't his job.

Yep, I'd probably tell you to do one too.

You haven't employed a hunt groom - but a person to 'do' your horses, not you.