So where are all the good competition yard grooms hiding then?!

Ali16

Ali16

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Have been advertising for an AGE trying to find another (part time) groom to add to our little team and we've had LOADS of applications. BUT none of them have been any good?!?!

I have interviewed what seems like 200 people over the last few weeks, trialled (and unfortunately sacked) two people and been abused by one person over the phone.

SERIOUSLY! We don't expect too much, they'd be offered training/transport etc but above all, we're really rather lovely people :rolleyes:

All I want is for someone to muck out slightly faster than at a ratio of one stable to head groom doing four stables, someone who doesn't squeal in hysterics when the stallions get their man bits out, someone who can handle a fit event horse without beating seven bells out of them if they prance about a bit and perhaps someone with a little bit of common sense?

Maybe? No? Too much to ask? OK - we can probably just about get by without the last one, but honestly.... I am at my wits end :(

We have been advertising in H&H, Yard&Groom, lots of other sites and have a good rate of pay too... We keep everything above board & have a PAYE system OR can be invoiced by the groom... we're easy!

Anyone got ANY suggestions at all?

Has anyone else had trouble trying to find people to do their horses/work? :o
 
I'd avoid the websites and go straight to the Facebook page grooms, jobs and riders reply here. It was set up by a pro groom because the top grooms move around by word of mouth not ads!!
 
Thanks for the reply.

That's the thing though, we don't want a top groom - just someone who isn't a complete numpty! :rolleyes:

We only want a part time person who doesn't move at the pace of a snail or scream & shout at the horses.. they don't even need to turn out to a high standard or anything like that. We already have a head groom for that...
 
I'd still look at that group or else get head groom on the case. I only ever know good grooms or good future head grooms who need to learn their trade to come by word of mouth
 
Have you put an advert up in Wicks in Lambourn as it is near you. May well find someone who has worked with racehorses so used to fit horses and colts and working efficiently.

Have a couple of friends who have worked in event yards and racehorse yards so people do move around between the disciplines.
 
where abouts in oxforshire are you? and what would the hours be part time can pm if you like?
 
amage said:
I'd still look at that group or else get head groom on the case. I only ever know good grooms or good future head grooms who need to learn their trade to come by word of mouth
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I have requested to join the group - nothing on there at the moment to suit, but I will post on there anyway. Thanks.

humblepie said:
Have you put an advert up in Wicks in Lambourn as it is near you. May well find someone who has worked with racehorses so used to fit horses and colts and working efficiently.

Have a couple of friends who have worked in event yards and racehorse yards so people do move around between the disciplines.
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Yep - advert up there and in other local stores... Just got lots of older people not wanting to start early and one person who just hurled abuse at me down the phone when I said that they couldn't being their kids onto the yard while they work.
 
Hmmm I am a bit disilluisoned about working with horses really- £2.50 an hour with no holidays and 12 hours days is not on (where I last worked), and it seems to me anyone with any common sense probably thinks that A LOT of employers are taking the pee! Your job sounds good, put personally I think it would be easier to find a full time groom.
 
dominobrown said:
personally I think it would be easier to find a full time groom.
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I thought that too - especially with it being down south and a higher cost of living.
What about labelling it as a working pupil position? Seeing as you're including training and transport :) Then you (probably) wouldn't get the adults with kids applying, although you might end up with even more idiots...
 
dominobrown said:
Hmmm I am a bit disilluisoned about working with horses really- £2.50 an hour with no holidays and 12 hours days is not on (where I last worked), and it seems to me anyone with any common sense probably thinks that A LOT of employers are taking the pee! Your job sounds good, put personally I think it would be easier to find a full time groom.
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Definately easier to find a full time groom but we just don't have enough work for two full time workers. Can't take on another horse and can't offer any more accommodation either...

BronsonNutter said:
I thought that too - especially with it being down south and a higher cost of living.
What about labelling it as a working pupil position? Seeing as you're including training and transport :) Then you (probably) wouldn't get the adults with kids applying, although you might end up with even more idiots...
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Really don't want a WP tho - been there, done that - can't be faffed with all the paperwork/hassle that goes with *legally* going through the apprentice system (although most yards don't actually do it - I just keep EVERYTHING on my yard above board).
 
Ali16 said:
Really don't want a WP tho - been there, done that - can't be faffed with all the paperwork/hassle that goes with *legally* going through the apprentice system (although most yards don't actually do it - I just keep EVERYTHING on my yard above board).
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You'r definately th excption then! Good luck at finding a groom, if you were in the North I would be interested.:)
 
Sounds perfect for me (and yes, I am fast, try training on a riding school when you're short staffed in the middle of winter and 20 need mucking out!) but sadly I'm in Suffolk, so it wouldn't work!!

Problem I assume you're having: Part time, so people aren't willing to move for the job, whereas full time jobs people might take the plunge - limits the people pool and no accommodation so difficult for people to move for the job.
 
dominobrown said:
You'r definately th excption then! Good luck at finding a groom, if you were in the North I would be interested.:)
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Sadly I think you're right... it is more expensive but less chance that you are going to be sued for breaching employment laws like my old boss!

Festive_Felicitations said:
I would love to tell my job I'm going part time and spend my spare time working for you but... I'm in Australia. Dammit! ;)

Best of luck finding someone!
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Thanks - If only we were in Aus. Then I would have been eventing more than 3 times this season, I wouldn't have to go to a stinky office job (because Dad, who lives in Aus, would OBVIOUSLY just pay my mortgage for the sheer pleasure of seeing me daily) and I would be brown all over, not just on my arms & face ;)
 
I know lots of people who have been having similar issues and TBH its because its part time work. Those recruiting for FT grooms seem to find it much easier. Would you ever be able to take on another FT groom? If you could in the future then it may be worth saying that there is a possibility of full time hours or at least overtime of some sort..

Also, worth reviewing your hours required. If you are offering PT then you need to offer some sort of flexibilty so that they can work another job around it...
 
I feel your pain...

Trying to find someone to replace our PT WP, she has been with us four years and is off travelling for a year.

I had a major rant on FB this week and it was nice to know I am not the only one who feels the same way! Lots of people feeling the same way.

I had one girl who despite being shown several times actually couldn't sweep! I kid you not, Mini W actually does a better job, she was so bad Mr W got off and even tried to show her, and as anyone knows Mr W doesn't do manual work :p

I had one girl who was young but seemed enthusiastic and keen, over the following weeks the enthusiasm dwindled and the mouth got mouthier added to which I was running behind repairing or re-doing her work till she text me 10 minutes before she was due to come in to say she had rowed with her parents and wouldn't be coming in.

The majority hear the words weekend work and we don't see them for dust - swear that most think we just plait ponies and compete everyday but obviously not at weekends :p

Then the icing on the cake was this week, interviewed someone who seemed ideal, agreed for them to come in on Monday to work a trial day, they didn't arrive.

We pay according to experience but at the top it exceeds the minimum wage, we also offer training and riding under Mr W and the opportunity to compete, as well as lunches, nibbles and unlimited drinks.
 
Leg_end said:
I know lots of people who have been having similar issues and TBH its because its part time work. Those recruiting for FT grooms seem to find it much easier. Would you ever be able to take on another FT groom? If you could in the future then it may be worth saying that there is a possibility of full time hours or at least overtime of some sort..

Also, worth reviewing your hours required. If you are offering PT then you need to offer some sort of flexibilty so that they can work another job around it...
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Yep - we found a FT groom in April within a week (and a very good one too). I have said on the adverts that there will be more hours for the right person and that those extra hours can be flexible. We just really need help in the mornings - the rest of the day is fine ATM.

There might be the possibility of a FT position eventually, but there's just not currently enough work for two.
 
Worried1 said:
I feel your pain...

Trying to find someone to replace our PT WP, she has been with us four years and is off travelling for a year.

I had a major rant on FB this week and it was nice to know I am not the only one who feels the same way! Lots of people feeling the same way.

I had one girl who despite being shown several times actually couldn't sweep! I kid you not, Mini W actually does a better job, she was so bad Mr W got off and even tried to show her, and as anyone knows Mr W doesn't do manual work :p

I had one girl who was young but seemed enthusiastic and keen, over the following weeks the enthusiasm dwindled and the mouth got mouthier added to which I was running behind repairing or re-doing her work till she text me 10 minutes before she was due to come in to say she had rowed with her parents and wouldn't be coming in.

The majority hear the words weekend work and we don't see them for dust - swear that most think we just plait ponies and compete everyday but obviously not at weekends :p

Then the icing on the cake was this week, interviewed someone who seemed ideal, agreed for them to come in on Monday to work a trial day, they didn't arrive.

We pay according to experience but at the top it exceeds the minimum wage, we also offer training and riding under Mr W and the opportunity to compete, as well as lunches, nibbles and unlimited drinks.
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OMG you could be describing our yard at the moment!

Last week we had someone in who was just lovely, but mucked out seriously slowly so on the second day Edward got off his horse and showed her how to do it 'our way'. He got back on his horse, rode for 45 for mins, brought the horse back and she'd only done one more box :(

The other person we had in was slow, but got slightly faster over a couple of days' trial, but she absolutely screamed the place down when one of stallions she was handling got his bits out when she was leading him. She actually LET HIM GO and ran to the other side of the yard :confused:

I quote from her CV:

"Used to handling highly strung horses, mares, geldings and stallions".

Hhhmmmm.....
 
What about a uni student? they will be on their summer holidays until mid-late september now so might suit until you find some one more perminent.
 
Ali16 said:
OMG you could be describing our yard at the moment!

Last week we had someone in who was just lovely, but mucked out seriously slowly so on the second day Edward got off his horse and showed her how to do it 'our way'. He got back on his horse, rode for 45 for mins, brought the horse back and she'd only done one more box :(

The other person we had in was slow, but got slightly faster over a couple of days' trial, but she absolutely screamed the place down when one of stallions she was handling got his bits out when she was leading him. She actually LET HIM GO and ran to the other side of the yard :confused:

I quote from her CV:

"Used to handling highly strung horses, mares, geldings and stallions".

Hhhmmmm.....
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I'm sorry but ^^^^ this has made me giggle!

I am at a total loss as to where we go from here :( some seem to be under the illusion that competition yard = ultimate glamour! It's not it's hard work and horse pooh still needs to be cleared up whether it belongs to Blitz or Valegros!
 
Haha I'm having the opposite problem! Trying to find a yard to work on with professional like minded people who don't expect you to do a 15 hour day for 20 pound. Good luck with your search, there must be someone out there
 
Ali16 said:
The other person we had in was slow, but got slightly faster over a couple of days' trial, but she absolutely screamed the place down when one of stallions she was handling got his bits out when she was leading him. She actually LET HIM GO and ran to the other side of the yard :confused:

I quote from her CV:

"Used to handling highly strung horses, mares, geldings and stallions".

Hhhmmmm.....
Click to expand...

LOL! Oh god that is hilarious! :D :D Incredibly fustrating for you I'm sure but...*cracks up laughing*

If it makes you feel any better while you might have managed to event more than 3 times this year, the east coast has had the most ridiculously wet summer, autum and winter so far and we have lost events too!
http://www.berrimahorsetrials.com.au/index.html (scroll down a bit) there is normally a decent drop into that water complex...
 
Festive_Felicitations said:
LOL! Oh god that is hilarious! :D :D Incredibly fustrating for you I'm sure but...*cracks up laughing*

If it makes you feel any better while you might have managed to event more than 3 times this year, the east coast has had the most ridiculously wet summer, autum and winter so far and we have lost events too!
http://www.berrimahorsetrials.com.au/index.html (scroll down a bit) there is normally a decent drop into that water complex...
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Wow.. that's made me feel a bit better ;) Thanks!

I can laugh about that girl now, but I was having images of me trying to explain to our clients who own mares that their darling girls had been raped and were now going to be haivng part Fresian babies! :eek:
 
dafthoss said:
What about a uni student? they will be on their summer holidays until mid-late september now so might suit until you find some one more perminent.
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Would love one of them, but none are replying to adverts.. Unless I go and kidnap one.... Hmmmm...

Worried1 said:
I'm sorry but ^^^^ this has made me giggle!

I am at a total loss as to where we go from here :( some seem to be under the illusion that competition yard = ultimate glamour! It's not it's hard work and horse pooh still needs to be cleared up whether it belongs to Blitz or Valegros!
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Tell me about it. I had a telephone convo with one and the first thing she asked was whether she would be able to ride our Inter II/GP boy on a daily basis. Errr... NO? Muppet.

4faults said:
Haha I'm having the opposite problem! Trying to find a yard to work on with professional like minded people who don't expect you to do a 15 hour day for 20 pound. Good luck with your search, there must be someone out there
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Thanks... I am starting to lose all faith tho... :(
 
Poor you - sounds like a nightmare! I would second putting an adverts in at EJ Wicks and the one near you White Horse Feeds I think it's called. Also in Lambourn try the newsagents, I have often seen wanted ads in EJ Wicks.

Best of luck!
 
Ali16 said:
Would love one of them, but none are replying to adverts.. Unless I go and kidnap one.... Hmmmm...
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I'd be up for a bit of kidnapping if the YP could be kidnapped as well ;)

More seriously though could you offer grass livery for them for the summer? saves the hastle of finding a yard just for summer if you have space for some thing to live out. Might be worth putting some thing up about not minding uni stidents as it can be off putting applying for jobs and having to tell them your back off to uni in september and getting turned down because of it.
 
Ali16 said:
Have been advertising for an AGE trying to find another (part time) groom to add to our little team and we've had LOADS of applications. BUT none of them have been any good?!?!

I have interviewed what seems like 200 people over the last few weeks, trialled (and unfortunately sacked) two people and been abused by one person over the phone.

SERIOUSLY! We don't expect too much, they'd be offered training/transport etc but above all, we're really rather lovely people :rolleyes:

All I want is for someone to muck out slightly faster than at a ratio of one stable to head groom doing four stables, someone who doesn't squeal in hysterics when the stallions get their man bits out, someone who can handle a fit event horse without beating seven bells out of them if they prance about a bit and perhaps someone with a little bit of common sense?

Maybe? No? Too much to ask? OK - we can probably just about get by without the last one, but honestly.... I am at my wits end :(

We have been advertising in H&H, Yard&Groom, lots of other sites and have a good rate of pay too... We keep everything above board & have a PAYE system OR can be invoiced by the groom... we're easy!

Anyone got ANY suggestions at all?

Has anyone else had trouble trying to find people to do their horses/work? :o
Click to expand...

QR

I'm not a groom, let alone a qualified one but even I wouldn't do any of the above :(

I hope you manage to find someone soon!
 
Tricky situation.

Part time, no accomodation means you are restricting to locals

Needing them to start at a specific time in the morning means you are probably ruling out a lot of PT candidates (who are usually such as they have kids to get to school etc)

You offer training but don't want the hassle of a WP. You offer training but won't take someone wanting to bring a horse ??

The way I see it you need a freelancer. Good freelancers tend to be pretty busy. Not sure what you are paying but presume it would be in the £12-15 an hour bracket to stand any chance of attracting someone?
 
ihatework said:
Tricky situation.

Part time, no accomodation means you are restricting to locals

Needing them to start at a specific time in the morning means you are probably ruling out a lot of PT candidates (who are usually such as they have kids to get to school etc)

You offer training but don't want the hassle of a WP. You offer training but won't take someone wanting to bring a horse ??

The way I see it you need a freelancer. Good freelancers tend to be pretty busy. Not sure what you are paying but presume it would be in the £12-15 an hour bracket to stand any chance of attracting someone?
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Yep - happy to pay a freelancer between £7.50ph (for someone not so experienced) to £14.50ph for more experienced person. We do need them to start at a particular time so that the yard is finished on time...

The expense and time you put into a WP (IF you do it properly) is often not worth what you get out so, no, we can't go down the WP route again. We offer training on the basis that they will ride OUR schoolmasters (which we are insured for). They are very welcome to bring their own horse for training if they want to and can arrange transport. We can also provide transport to and from comps that we are going to as well. Also happy to help them while they are competing...
 
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