Volunteers at yards

[Tabbi]

For yard owners/people who work at yards, do you have volunteers who work at your stables?
Do they do the same duties as paid staff?
Is there any duties they are not allowed to do?

 

[luckilotti]

i dont have helper on my yard, mainly due to todays society of everyone suing everyone etc. It would get far too complicated with extra insurance etc.

I think the days are gone when you can have helpers who get a free ride etc

 

[Divasmum]

I certainly know of riding schools who still have helpers but of course they have to have insurance any way.

 

[ibot]

the yard i am at with paddy i actually started there by helping. i came to the uk and knew nobody so i went to the yard and made friends. i sometimes regret it now as i am always called on to help so end up losing time with my horse as i am not very good at saying no.

 

[Suffolkangel]

A local riding school charges children £25 a year to join Saturday club, which is where they help out. The £25 covers insurance incase of accidents. i also think gone are they days of helpers on yards...
It's a shame really as i learn't most things from helping at my local riding school in exchange for a bareback gallop to the field...

 

[Onyxia]

A local riding school charges children £25 a year to join Saturday club, which is where they help out. The £25 covers insurance incase of accidents. i also think gone are they days of helpers on yards...
It's a shame really as i learn't most things from helping at my local riding school in exchange for a bareback gallop to the field...

Hmm,TBF £25 a year isn't much at all but should they get a parent who does wish to sue they have the insurance to cover it.
Shame they need to,but is also a logical move that wont cost much.

I think it's better then the RS pass on the cost of insurance then stop teen helpers all together,the RS system offers so much to all levels.

I'm currently working up the corouge to ring the local RS and ask if I could help out on the yard-kids have always done it,but feel a bit of a plonker trying to do it as an adult,LOL!

 

[nicelittle]

I too started off at my yard as an unpaid helper. I was not allowed to ride any thing that was too much for me, and quite franlky, I never wanted to!
I was encouraged to get my own rider insurance, but belong to BHS anyway, so all ok.
I would still be helping now (and do at times) if I had not taken on sharing a horse.

 

[Suffolkangel]

Don't get me wrong, I think its a good idea for the riding school to charge as it covers their backs, just think its a shame that it has to be done. I wouldn't have been able to help at my riding school when i was younger if they charged. I was lucky if i could afford a riding lesson a month. (and i'm only 28...)

With regards to you helping out as an adult, go for it. You'll gain loads from doing it. You never know they might even offer it as a job so that they are covered..... so extra pennies towards pony fund... lol