Too old to help at riding school??

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daydreamer

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I was thinking about offering to help out for a couple of weeks at my local riding school but am worried they will think it is a bit strange because I am 26!

I used to ride there a couple of years ago but wouldn't know anyone there now. I asked a while back where I ride now and they looked at me like I was a bit crazy and said it was only 14 year olds that helped
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I am free until the end of August and just want to spend some time doing something I enjoy rather than sitting around the house. I put an ad up in the local tack shop offering work for rides but absolutely no-one has replied!!
 
Yeah I just thought it might be odd because I will be much too old for the cliques of 15 year old girls there always seem to be and maybe older than some of the yard staff but I will not know any of the routines or anything so will be at the bottom of the pecking order.

I probably am just worrying for no reason!
 
Dont be silly!

I bet they would much rather have you than hoard of silly kids flying about!!

Thats a real problem with riding schools in my area - the teenager helpers - bloody vile little things some of them !!! (NOT ALL I MIGHT AD
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) But they all stand in there groups like ASBO gangs and are just awful!!PLus younger people gernerally have a lack of good communication as they just dont have the experience to cope with things!!

Go fo it and Good Luck !!!

I am 23 and help out at mine and have a good job through the week - some of my work colleagues saw me there the other day mucking out - we all had a right laugh about it!! You are never too old - I for one love it!!
 
I'm 29 and helped out part time at my RS a couple of winters ago when my horses were on llivery there - it helped to pay the bills! At the time here was a lady who was about 50 helping out - she had given up her office job and semi retired to work with horses, so you are not strange at all!!!
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There are quite a few "mature" ladies who help out at my yard - more than there are teenagers, actually. I think the YO prefers to employ them over the teenagers simply because she knows that some teens do have a tendency to skive and chat, or spend all day fussing over their favourite horses at the expense of doing the others. The older ladies seem to just be that bit more conscientious.

I've said this before, and i know I'll get flamed for it but, those gangs of surly uncommunicative know-it-all teenagers that you find in far too many riding schools are off-putting for many clients. My yard is pretty expensive, it doesn't offer group lessons, just private ones, and i pay quite a bit for those lessons. The last thing I (and no doubt, other people) want is some sneering teen and her little clique watching me have two goes at mounting or fumbling about with my stirrup leathers. I spent too long riding at places where that was allowed to happen, and I simply won't tolerate it these days.

There are actually a few teenagers who work at the yard, and they are almost all super. Ther are one or two who need reminding that they are there to work, not socialise, but thats the case in all work environments, and because they are very much in the minority, they don't ahve loads of people to socialise with!
 
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I've said this before, and i know I'll get flamed for it but, those gangs of surly uncommunicative know-it-all teenagers that you find in far too many riding schools are off-putting for many clients.

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I must agree here, having recently returned to my old riding school after a long break. I proceeded to be treated like a complete imbecile by a gaggle of teenage girls who seemed to be there solely to patronise and seek out 'unknowns' in a poor attempt to assert some kind of superiority over those who had the audacity not to know such things like Snowy's favourtite colour being red and how he only likes hacking on a Tuesday.

SOD OFF.
 
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I proceeded to be treated like a complete imbecile by a gaggle of teenage girls who seemed to be there solely to patronise and seek out 'unknowns' in a poor attempt to assert some kind of superiority over those who had the audacity not to know such things like Snowy's favourtite colour being red and how he only likes hacking on a Tuesday

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This is exactly what I don't want to happen to me!! I remember the yard as being quite friendly though so hopefully it won't be a problem.

It is a real shame that some helpers seem to think they are superior and put people off. When I was a teenage RS helper I always really enjoyed helping people!
 
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This is exactly what I don't want to happen to me!! I remember the yard as being quite friendly though so hopefully it won't be a problem.

It is a real shame that some helpers seem to think they are superior and put people off. When I was a teenage RS helper I always really enjoyed helping people!

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Just tell them to sod off. I'm sure the older riders, as well as the staff will be grateful to have a peer around to talk to.
 
I don't find age an issue, and I am erm older than you. I just make sure that I am friendly and chatty towards everyone and I have never had a problem with anyone being surly, I soon wear them down!
 
Was riding school helper a few years ago aged 45 - got on OK with teenies who were all very nice (as long as I remembered to cough before entering the haybarn where a bit of snogging used to happen!) I'm doing RDA once a week at the moment - that's brilliant.

I'd say it depends on the yard and whether it is a nice friendly place for all ages, shapes and sizes!
 
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