looking after racehorses, good idea or not?

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ATD131

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wanted to hear peoples thoughts on this, i LOVE racing flat and national hunt, have work experience at a trainers yard for next year and am obsessed with jockeys ;) ive always wanted to ride them, love to be a jockey but i would not be satisfied by not getting many rides and the males being chosen first (female jockey!) and would love looking after them and riding them out, ive heard it can be quite fun providing you dont mind early mornings, no days off and crappy pay (which im not bothered about)

someone at the yard said dont bother getting a job in horses, you wont make any money, your an intelligent girl you can get a high powered job instead, be a lawyer or something you like arguing (true, i can voice my opinions well) but i dont want to spend god knows how many years studying for something i dont want to do,

or failing all this, marry a national hunt jockey (flat ones are too short) or a trainer ;) or just a random rich man ;)
 
Working in racing was my favourite job ever, people were fab, horses polite and amazing to ride and taught me an awful lot and improved my confidence immensely. However I had no time or energy for my own horse and ended up selling her. I quickly realised I could only ever afford to live at home and drive a
Rubbish car while I worked there!! I now have a reasonably well paid job outside of horses my own horse, dogs and husband who isn't rich but I wouldn't swap him!! I would say work in racing while you are young an living at home then go onto something else. If you don't do it you will regret it. If you are clever enough to be a lawyer then work your a**e off in racing for a few years then put yourself through uni. You can then get a well paid job and point to point and hunt on your days off!! Just as much fun. Good luck, oh I wish I was that young again! X
 
I agree with Bubley. Defo go down the racing route for a short time. It's GREAT fun but it most certainly isn't a living. I've been doing it for 7 years and I really need to get out as I am only making enough money to live on. If you can get a good job in the future then do so but there is most certainly no harm in having a year out for a fun job.
 
I did for 18 months and it was a total blast. However, I then smashed myself up pretty badly (at work) and had to live off statutory sick pay for months. When I went back to work I couldn't ride for ages and had to muck out pretty much every single box on the yard instead. Not so much fun in honesty.

Most people had some pretty nasty smashes at one point or another too so I don't think I was alone. It definitely isn't a long term career I don't think.
 
how do people even go about getting into the race industry? I'm struggling finding anything as I don't know anyone.
 
midi said:
how do people even go about getting into the race industry? I'm struggling finding anything as I don't know anyone.
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I live near Newmarket so it is right there laid out for me. Sometimes I think about ringing round to see if I can ride a lot or two before work for someone but then I think that would be madness as I'd just fall off and hurt myself and not be able to go to 'real' work. I do miss fast work though.

Have you called round the trainers near you?
 
Ring up trainers around you, all they can do is say no. In racing jobs generally don't get advertised because people just ask for them. You know that there will always be someone else just around the corner every 5mins wanting a job.

If your undfer 18 then at some stage you have to do the 9week course at Newmarket or Doncaster and that will guarantee you a job when you leave at a yard somewhere.
 
I work in racing, and it is fun :) It has increased my confidence and this week I've been riding a horse I thought I'd never ride as I was convinced I wouldn't be able to hold him after people saying how strong he is. Got put on him Tuesday and haven't had any problems with him at all, I love him! That has made my confidence grow a bit more :) I do need to leave it though, costs me £60 a week in petrol to get there and back every day, i get one day off every two weeks and two half days. The only time I see my horse is when its dark and so havent been able to ride her and today I had the day off so took her for a hack which consisted of her pulling my arms out pretty much the whole way (my arms have been hurting from holding Lynxy up the gallops anyway!) and lots of jig-jogging. I really need to get a nice normal job where I don't stink all the time and have achey muscles :p
 
forgive my ignorance/stupidity but what does it usually entail?
if you get a job is there accommodation on site the norm?
do they expect you to have any experiance or qualifications?
One of my main problems at the moment is getting to places, as I can't drive and utterly skint.
 
ATD131- PMSL at the jockey comment. :D I would advise trying to get a summer job riding out or weekends riding out pointers while still at school. Its a handy job to have through college too - and the likeliness is, you will enjoy being there when it is summertime or just one morning a week. Doing that, you probably will never get to the point of rsenting it r hating the cold, wet early mornings etc. Then you can get a decent non-horsey job and keep the racing as a hobby. I still ride out whenever I have spare time, but i have spent 5 years at uni and have a very good job (horsey but doesnt involve riding them). I think i have the right balance - though there are definitely times i wish i worked in racing fulltime.
 
Yards have different people doing different jobs. In the yard I work at we have work riders who ride out the horses, a different set of people to muck out the stables, secretaries - one who rides and one who doesn't, and a couple of people who just work the yard putting horses on and off the walkers, in and out of the fields etc.

Most yards have accomodation for their staff which can range from a caravan to a cottage.
 
I worked in racing and it was the best thing I've ever done! Unfortunately my yard was seasonal and couldn't afford to have the summer off so had to find a new job.
I went to the Northern Racing College and then got placed with Mark Tompkins in Newmarket - it was amazing! Sadly I have no interest in flat racing what so ever, so I left after a month or so and then joined a point to point yard and was there for two years. I can safely say - the BEST two years of my life!
Point to point is a good way to ease yourself into the racing lifestyle as the yards aren't so big and I got every sunday off which was great! (Apart from going racing) it was simple 6-4 everyday.
Where as in Newmarket I was doing 5.30 - 12.30 then a 3 hour break to then finish at 7! Which I really didn't like, but then again its totally worth it!
 
There are not many jobs at the moment as even the big yards are having it tough. Some of the trainers would be glad of the extra rider, I think it just a case of getting your foot in the door.
If you are clever enough to do law I would stick at that and have it as a hobby. I friend of mine who I worked with had her own horse in training and rode it on the flat
All I wanted to do when I left school was work with horses, it took me six months to realise I would never have any money and needed a proper job. I now have eight horses and ponies.
If you want to see what it's like I know someone who would perhaps let you help one morning in Newmarket.
 
glenruby said:
ATD131- PMSL at the jockey comment. :D I would advise trying to get a summer job riding out or weekends riding out pointers while still at school. Its a handy job to have through college too - and the likeliness is, you will enjoy being there when it is summertime or just one morning a week. Doing that, you probably will never get to the point of rsenting it r hating the cold, wet early mornings etc. Then you can get a decent non-horsey job and keep the racing as a hobby. I still ride out whenever I have spare time, but i have spent 5 years at uni and have a very good job (horsey but doesnt involve riding them). I think i have the right balance - though there are definitely times i wish i worked in racing fulltime.
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okay i think we all know i meant the horses not the jockeys!!!!! funny thought :')
 
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