Thanks and a plan re working for little 'uns rides!

[RuthM]

First off a gigantic thanks! It's not just about having made a couple of contacts, the encouragement and positivity has totally changed my mindset. When I first posted about where to start in seeking someone wanting help in return for letting my kid ride their pony I genuinely thought I'd be fielding flack for not having cash. The responses took me from there to now thinking it's doable, and can be something really positive all round.
So here's my plan of action:

1. Re the above, I do think people are out there now and in some quantity, I'm not looking for a hen's tooth so it's likely issues like my own references will become a reality. I need to speak to my old horse boss, find out what he thinks, where he would/wouldn't like to see his name - not online though, I don't want that. Just a general chat. I'm going to wait a little while for that because they've had their own stuff going on and I'm not going to pop up prattling on about my stuff. In a week or so it'll be different. He knows I was looking but at that time I thought there was slim hope.

2. Draw up an advert for local tack shops, feed merchants, post offices, maybe even H & H too if it's affordable.

3. Try to at least see anyone that responds, both for good manners and to make sure I don't pass up the perfect fit just because it's 2 miles further etc.

4. Be prepared and able to turn up reference in hand, proof of current employment (doubles as CRB - employers hold cert though).

Do you think the above would start things on the right foot so to speak or is it overkill?

I'm really thinking I will get responses now but I know it's a long way off a bird in the hand as yet!

 

[YorksG]

Another way of making contacts might be to join your local Riding Cub, if you to the meetings you may get to meet people who have a pony looking for a jockey and be grateful for the help? might be worth a try

 

[RuthM]

Yorks, I don't ride anymore and my 4yr old daughter has barely started. On that basis I don't know how I'd get in the position to meet anyone face to face aas it'd be a paper membership. Or is that not the case?

 

[be positive]

Its good that you are feeling more positive and planning what to do

I would just stick with lots of local ads, try the PCs and RCs in the area too, also if there is a local competition venue that has a notice board or even a good livery yard may be worth trying.
There are loads of little ponies around that dont do very much it may be that the owners just have not thought about letting someone else make use of them.

I am not sure you really need references as such, you are only going to be using a pony a few times a week in exchange for doing a few jobs, make sure that you dont end up working hours on end for this, it will be helping keep the pony active so doing a mutual favour really.

 

[be positive]

You dont need to join a RC to volunteer as a helper at their events, most will be very happy if you are prepared to go and do something when they run an event, same goes for PC or any local comps, they usually cannot get enough help as it is all voluntary and often the same people do most of it while others just go and compete.

 

[RuthM]

Doing a full time MA, being a single mum and having to do some paid work to make ends meet should mean that there's little chance of being taken advantage of. But, tbh, I generally quite like to be helpful and would far rather leave something with a plump clean bed or tidy field than join a gym and have to pay to sweat.

The reference thing is a bit of a biggy for me, without doubt my past is my biggest asset as a 41yr old mum who doesn't ride anymore. I am proud of it too. I'm not one of those ex grooms that thinks they have a share of whoever employed them's glory - couldn't SJ to save my life, boss did that! But I know the skills around a big yard are plentiful and valuable enough in their own right to be proud of without having to borrow anyone else's glory. I'd love to still be using some of them too, I'd enjoy settling a pain in the bum to having their feet handled, or getting a poultice to stay in place, being on hand and able to raise a cast horse, cleaning tack ol' school way, just stuff, stuff that mattered to me and that I want to pass to my daughter too.

I don't think I'd just take on trust who anyone said they were or what they'd done so I guess I'm kind of protective over it not being BS.

I don't know why but I'd be really nervous about RC PC - totally irrational!

 

[YorksG]

Yorks, I don't ride anymore and my 4yr old daughter has barely started. On that basis I don't know how I'd get in the position to meet anyone face to face aas it'd be a paper membership. Or is that not the case?

We have social members and meetings in a pub once a month We ALWAYS need bodies on the ground at all events (even the big social rides) so I am sure you would be more than welcome and it's a good way to make horse related friends

 

[RuthM]

We have social members and meetings in a pub once a month We ALWAYS need bodies on the ground at all events (even the big social rides) so I am sure you would be more than welcome and it's a good way to make horse related friends

I may need to deal with my irrationality then! I think it's a bit because I was an out and out self taught city kid and that world was the other side of the ocean. I went from that to groom where I had a safe haven and definitely one focussed on a small group of friends where 2 legged members of the horse world were concerned.