please help, thinking of careers.

RubysGold

RubysGold

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I have applied to a place to be a working student, a fantastic opportunity, if I go for it I will move in and Roo will move with me. I will be working 6 days a week 7am till half 5. I get free livery, get fed etc and I get a lesson every evening, so a fab way to improve my riding. I'm interested in dressage and its a dressage yard, so the experience this would give me would get me further into my dressage career.
The downside: no pay, which is fair when you look at all they are giving me. But how can I pay for Roos vet etc with no wage.
So what I need to know, is if there is some form of student allowance that I could claim from jobcentre or somewhere similar.
Thanks
Nickie
 
Blimey 6 days a week from 7 till 5.30!!! Thats loadsa hard work for not much in return, wont you want to go out with your friends ever? or pay for petrol?
 
OMG!!! Sounds like slave labour to me! You'd be best off getting a decent paid job, putting your horse on grass livery and paying for lessons as and when you want!!

Isn't there anywhere else who may do a better deal? Seems like a heck of a lot of hours for not an awful lot in return. Are they throwing in accomodation with bills paid?

Seems they are taking advantage somewhat to me!
 
Joys of being a working student, your getting the training, there getting an extra free hand but your getting free livery and if its a good yard, could be the equivalent of anything from £50 to £100 per week (although I very much doubt it) but you get my drift? so really it doesn't surprise me.

Can you not negotiate insurance/emergency vet fee cover with them? you don't get unless you ask or work a few extra hours for some savings money etc?
 
I did this when I left school, but even then I got a small pocket money type wage! I agree - It definitely sounds like slave labour but am sure you would have a great time!! I'm not sure how it works with the minimum wage now, but I thought this had made it more difficult for yards to take people on as students and not pay them??

Just be careful, I ended up in plaster for a year after a nasty kick and then found out i wasn't entitled to much in the way of help with money as I think (it was a while ago!!) my national insurance hadn't been paid correctly!! Needless to say I now have a much less exciting job which funds my pony habit and actually leaves me with enough time to ride my own horse!!
 
http://www.yardandgroom.com/jobs/united-kingdom/herefordshire/working-student/2153
This is the advert for it, I thought it sounded like a fab opportunity. I was planning on driving home on the saturday night after work and going back on the sunday night ready for work next day. However without claiming some form of benefits I wouldn't be able to, nor could I pay for a farrier and I couldn't treat myself to new clothes or anything.
What do you guys think?
Nickie
 
I've never heard of him, lol.
I'm guessing by that comment he's a really good dressage rider?
I'm more worried about paying for the farrier, vet etc for Roo then treating myself. If there is a way to pay those things, then I want to go there.
Nickie
 
As a working pupil, you would not be available for work, so could not get benfeits - If you went to a college or Uni you would pay course fees and have a Student Loan to live off if not paid for by family.

You would be better off with a proper British Dressage Apprenticeship scheme, coverd by employment legislation and Minimum Wage.
eg
http://www.yardandgroom.com/jobs/job.aspx?id=9683
 
Looking at the advert it does sound good, but I know I would definatly struggle to work 6 full days a week and have a part time job on the other day, does sound really good though you need to be totally comited
smile.gif

Good luck
 
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