Riding schools rant

[teapot]

It's cheaper to run on gangs on teenagers helping out and giving them nothing in return than paying NMW or more for the staff that you need. What most riding schools don't realise is that it's super questionable employment wise (ie work for rides is effectively illegal), there are still laws on child working hours, especially on sundays, and the age old who's liable if something was to happen. Then there's the issue over first aid and safeguarding, especially for BHS approved centres but they never spot check to see what quals or lack of the 16 year old teaching the littlies has.

The industry as a whole has always undervalued and underpaid staff, now in a cost of living crisis these things will increase in reguarity to get around the day to day costs of running a business. Doesn't make it right, and actually I've always found groups of teenagers leaning on brooms somewhat off putting as a client, but there's a never ending supply of pony mad teenagers...

Not sure I like the idea of people paying for a 10-4 day and then being treated as skivvies though.

 

[Kaylum]

When we had a riding school parents used it as free child care. This was in the 80s. It was often hard to supervise them so we stopped that as we were running a business. We did though let the teenagers who where sensible help out. But some parents thought it was OK to drop their young children off with us all day.

The older children got rides and learnt about stable management and working to deadlines. A few went onto own equine related businesses. They worked in all weathers and it was their choice to come and help.

 

[Bobthecob15]

I was a child of the 80s/90’s riding schools and have recently been through it all again with my daughter before she got her own pony. Times have definitely changed!!! I spent many a weekend helping at my RS at the age of 11/12? I got my own by the time I was 16.

We experienced the same with lead rein with my daughter, one place we went to doesn’t even give a child their own reins to hold until they are about 8! We lasted a few weeks there then moved on…they didn’t like to give unbalanced kids reins in case… hacking didn’t exist either for young kids.

We bought her pony when she was 7 as I couldn’t stand the lack of progress! Been having lessons on her own ponies or at PC ever since.

I think RS are so caught up in red tape now they are so limited in what they can do due to insurance risks that nobody considered in the 90s!

 

[snowangel5]

My niece started 'helping' at her riding school on a Saturday as soon as she turned 11. She absolutely LOVES it. I think it's done her the world of good - her confidence has grown and she gets more horsey experience - the general handling and horse care side. There's no way she's getting a horse of her own anytime soon (not financially or otherwise practical!) and my horse isn't the most suitable for a novice child so this way she gets more hands on. Riding schools are disappearing at an alarming rate round us so if a few kids helping out doing something they enjoy and learning at the same time as helping then it's a win-win imo.

Sounds like she is having a brilliant time has she been able to have a canter or a jumping lesson yet

 

[suestowford]

When my partner & I were thinking about getting our first horse, we thought we ought to get some practical experience in. He'd done nothing like that, and I had, but a long time past. So there we were, two adults, and we paid to spend a weekend working in a stable. It wasn't all stable work, we had some lectures too about worms & first aid, shoeing & tack, that kind of thing, but there was a lot of hands on learning. We did grooming, mucking out, tack cleaning, giving a worm dose, a horse even got cast while we were there so we got a practical lesson on how to deal with that. The whole thing was brilliant and we learned so much.
If we'd had a RS nearby that offered this we'd have gone there & done it every weekend if we could.
The best bit was going home, we had to catch the train and we got into the carriage with our smelly stable gear on and we had such a lovely quiet journey as no-one wanted to sit near us

 

[Mrs G]

Sounds like she is having a brilliant time has she been able to have a canter or a jumping lesson yet

Yes with her lessons at the riding school and 'lessons' from me on my horse she picked up canter quite quickly, she LOVES jumping - they jump in her riding school lessons every other week - she was made up last week when she jumped her first double! Unfortunately my horse is a bit unpredictable to jump so I daren't risk her with him.

 

[Gamebird]

Because despite the prices they now charge, they can’t make ends meet? Local RS to us - only do teeth if issues eating, no saddler (fitted by owners), feet only trimmed it too long - chips/flare ignored, no vaccinations, no regular worming. Cutting costs everywhere they can and then still only just making it through the year.

That's sad, but not a surprise. Unfortunately they won't make it through their next license inspection like that. It is fine for owners to check saddle fit (so long as properly documented and recorded), and not a requirement to have vaccinations (it's a recommendation, alongside good biosecurity). However they do need records that every horse has had its teeth done by a qualified EDT or vet at least once every 12 months, plus footcare is inspected, and although regular worming is not recommended for any horse these days, they are required if not worming to have regular WECs, and tapeworm testing, which is obviously a similar cost depending on numbers. So unfortunately they may find that they can't afford to operate any more to the level required to have a licence.

 

[Tiddlypom]

Just to add that the riding school which DressageCob describes is indeed a fabulous place where the horses are all looked after and managed very carefully as the professionals they are. And the standard of tuition is very high, too.

 

[dominobrown]

Beware what you call teenagers… we have a few staff, one who looks about 12 but is 19, and another who was accused of being a kid once is in her early twenties! There was once a time (not any more) when a mum of kid thought I was only a teenager only to find out that I was older than she was!

 

[snowangel5]

Yes with her lessons at the riding school and 'lessons' from me on my horse she picked up canter quite quickly, she LOVES jumping - they jump in her riding school lessons every other week - she was made up last week when she jumped her first double! Unfortunately my horse is a bit unpredictable to jump so I daren't risk her with him.

Well done to her what breed of horses has she had a chance to ride so far

 

[View]

I was that horse mad teenager, and taken under the wing of an excellent instructor.

I rode in the staff lessons, I escorted hacks, I led in lead rein groups, I was trusted to run the yard, deal with clients, bookings, get clients mounted and dismounted when staff were busy.

But no slave labour, staff treated us as staff. We got breaks, we only had two horses to muck out and groom, rug etc.

We were encouraged to work towards BHS qualifications. And that’s where I got my start teaching.

And when I got back into horses and was working in a riding school, I loved taking beginner lead rein groups. Horses and ponies well looked after, all turned out after the last lesson every night. I taught the little ones with all the fun games and exercises, preferred lead rein lessons to lunge lessons for beginner adults. Not just kinder to the horse, but very easy to get further away (gradually) from the horse/rider without the ritual unclipping of a lunge line.

Beginner groups of no more than six, and if too hot we took them into the forest, getting them used to being outside of a school but no big deal. And it was often instructors leading in these groups as well as helpers.

Some of the teenagers were excellent, and they were rewarded with private lessons, joining staff lessons and starting the off with Ride Safe (and we paid for it).

The ones who were there for a social life were given a chance to improve and then told not to come back if no improvement.

And no free childcare, but certainly no slave labour.

Sadly, I don’t think most parents can afford the real costs if riding schools are to be financially viable as stand alone businesses.