Why can't I find a decent groom???

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wildriding1

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Are there no decent horsey workers out there anymore?
I have been looking for a decent groom for months now to work on our small stud, but there seems to be nobody with any standards or get up and go anymore.
People either don't turn up, can't muck out or have no interest in working with horses.
Its such a shame.
 
Where abouts are you?

We get people who are interested but are crap, can't count the number we've been through on unsuccessful trials that struggle to muck out quickly/tack up/lead two (quiet!) horses at a time, its not even a hard job.
 
We are in Lancashire.
Had loads of people enquire and come on trials but none of them are competant or have any motivation!
The job itself isn't hard and the horses are all well behaved.
I gave up trying to find someone that can ride and lunge properly, trying to find someone that can muck out properly and keep a tidy yard seems impossible!
 
Do you pay enough? Are the conditions pleasant?
I would ignore looking for qualifications and try to find someone with experience. Try word of mouth and recommendations. Is it a full time post or part time, if pt then you might get someone who can fit it in around other commitments. If it is live in is the accom reasonoble? Are there any perks you could use to tempt someone? Like the opportunity to compete/ride the horses?
Someone who is keen to do a good job is pretty difficult to find though so I wish you the best of luck!
 
Im having the same problem trying to find a dressage rider for my mare. All work will be done for them all they have to do is ride and compete her, all expenses paid and no payment either way but I am still looking.
 
Mostly because the income from horses in general is so low that by the time someones reasonably experienced they've realised a normal job is preferable money wise & are at an age they want a quality of life.
Roughly whereabouts are you in lancs? I've got a friend bury way who's a groom, she's working now but may know someone if you're that end of lancs.
 
You do find the good ones already have jobs and their employers want to keep them! When I was looking, without sounding arrogant, I did feel like I could take my pick as far as general grooms jobs go. I'm a competent rider/handler with common sense and that seems to be few and far between these days.

What sways it for me is the accommodation, pay, whether I can bring my horses, where the yard is situated etc. Also the people make a big difference, I've been on job trials where the job itself and accommodation is fine, but the people were just awful, miserable, no banter etc, that's not the kind of place I want to work.

Have you advertised on yard and groom?
 
Sounds like my ideal job! I want to give up teaching & do something I enjoy. So would you consider a 33 yr old, with 9 yr daughter, a border terrier, jrt x & a cat? Happy to live in a portacabin :)
 
wildriding1 said:
Are there no decent horsey workers out there anymore?
I have been looking for a decent groom for months now to work on our small stud, but there seems to be nobody with any standards or get up and go anymore.
People either don't turn up, can't muck out or have no interest in working with horses.
Its such a shame.
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pretty difficult to answer without knowing the wages and hours!
 
Same prob round here with polo grooms, darn near impossible to find a good one that cares for the horses properly...finding English guys/girls is v hard and all the paperwork involved in bringing argentine grooms over makes it v hard. A few people I know seeking English grooms!
 
Yes I agree, good ones stay where they are, with polo almost all get accommodation/car on top of a decent wage, but most may have to work 7 days a week so that is what puts English ppl off I think even though they have 3-4hrs of free time in the middle of each day ... Very difficult to find good grooms!
 
Where in Lancs are you OP? I want to get back into grooming, have lots of experience and can give excellent refs however the reason I got out of it was due to low wages, long hours, doin overtime with no additional pay or even a thank you, working straight through with no breaks or lunch etc. If the conditions are right you will definitely find someone
 
I am qualified and experienced as a groom but I find that jobs don't pay enough, hours are too long and too much is asked. The last yard I worked on paid 10p above the minimum wage which wasn't bad (the yard I had been talking to before taking this job wanted to pay me £130 a week for 6 days a week, 8am - 5pm!!!!!) and I only worked 4 days a week which was enough.

There are plenty of people out there looking for a job with horses, experienced and inexperienced. If only you were in my area I would definately be interested. The area I live in does not have lots of yards etc and I am unwilling to move as I have 6 ponies myself and can't take them with me. Well I could if I got free livery, haha.
 
Part of the problem is like people have said hours/money etc.
I had the best ever job. I looked after the family horses on a racing yard. It was like my dream come true and i was my happiest ever. Guarenteed hours but i got paid them for even if they were not required. Fab conditions problem was when the main yard went quiet the "full time" staff had nothing to do and were on the books whereas i was self employed so i was not needed 3 months all of a sudden with no warning and no notice. I used to go in on my days off (free) to ride one of the horses.
Really stung me and brought home the fact that sadly horsey work is just not all its cut out to be even when the employee puts in the time and effort.
It has a bad reputation.
 
Most people with get up and go have got up and gone. Money is bad, hours are long, and lots of employers are down right rude. Talking to a friend who worked in eventing in Wilts, which isn't a cheap place to live, she was barely earning £150 a week, working 7 days unbelievable hours. She went to work in racing which is better paid, although not much.
 
onemoretime said:
Im having the same problem trying to find a dressage rider for my mare. All work will be done for them all they have to do is ride and compete her, all expenses paid and no payment either way but I am still looking.
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That sounds amazing, can't believe youv'e not found anyone. Where abouts are you if you don't mind me asking?
 
My friend is having a similar problem finding a groom - except she seems to find someone who sounds ideal, then they disappear off the face of the earth before ever even getting to Italy, leaving her with no-one! Pay is great (about €1000 a month for a 40 hour week), conditions are fab (accom and bills included, nice people to work for, nice horses etc) and is in a lovely part of the world (Tuscany) but despite everyone crying they cant get a decent job with a decent wage etc, here she is offering exactly that but cant get staff!
 
Not sure I would call €1000 a month good wages, and its a long way for people to have to move. Thats the ain problem, the sort of people who you can comfortably leave in charge of your horses unsupervised could often be earning very good money elsewhere. Accomadation is good, but long term people want to have a family and a home of there own.
I'm currently in oz, earning more than double what I did in the UK,for a much shorter week.
 
Speaking as a groom, the two main reasons I turn down jobs are too many hours for not enough money, and can't take my own horse. The most recent job I turned down was fabulous, except it was a six day week. When I see all my friends in 'normal' jobs 9-5/5 day week, I don't want to only have one day off to do things with my horse!!

Maybe if I was 18 again, sure, but I've now got 10 years experience (and bloody hard work it was getting it) and I want to be appreciated for that, both £ and hours wise. I'm not going to work myself into the ground for no benefits, or lose the chance to compete because there is no time.
 
zaminda said:
Not sure I would call €1000 a month good wages
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I think it's a great wage when you consider you don't have any bills or rent to pay! I was earning double that in an office job and spending most on rent, bills and petrol! I was lucky to end the month in the black. €1k in your pocket isn't bad at all :)
 
I had a job on a public stud once [only once] I had to look after 15 mares in a fold-yard, [feeding 15 in a trough is madness.
Four in a field
Twelve in stables to be mucked out every day
I lasted three months, by which time I had RSI with sweeping and mucking out.
Have you tried YardandGroom or CareerGrooms?
 
Would you consider training someone up/maybe providing the option of funded access to equine qualifications? Often young people aspiring to work in a particular field will happily accept a lower wage IF they are gaining something out of it that will enable them to develop a worthwhile career and work their way up in the future. Obviously not many people are interested in a dead-end job unless there are some kind of prospects or are doing it temporarily (which in turn might mean they are not as dedicated/motivated). Just speculating....

I personally would love to work with horses but even finding places that offer training for a novice is quite hard actually. Yes, 'training provided' is often listed, but they still often want somebody with an advanced level of horse riding and horse care. I have common sense, learn quickly, am a hard worker and know the basics, but I have a LONG way to go to improve my riding and would need further training in this AND in horse care aspects in order to feel anywhere near competent.
 
I fully understand that conditions are often tough and the money is often rubbish, I have worked in the industry and been the one on the receiving end of it!
I do think though that what I am offering is fair, a 5 day week, flexible with hours, 35-40 hours a week, riding and chance to compete for the right person. I can't really offer training as such at the moment as I am expecting twins soon and I know I won't have the time to train anyone!
But experience in stud work and being around breeding stock isn't essential as I/my husband can train someone in that.
I need someone competant and capable who wants to work and in return can offer good opportunities, good working conditions, fair pay and a long term job. No accomodation unfortunately as we are still building our own house and currently live in a cabin!!
 
I wrote a thread along similer lines the other week. (I'm not employing but the yard I do some work at is) We kept having students from collages come who couldn't even hold a broom :eek: They had all the right bits of paper but realy didn't have a clue. Not wanting to blow my own trumpet but I've worked with horses all my working life. I've run a riding school, worked on livery yards, worked with int 3day eventers and been a sole charge hunt groom to name but some of my expereance. Yet some people won't even intervew me as I have no qualifications. :confused:

I have to say I agree with all those who have commented on working conditions of grooms. I'm very hard working, turn up to work nomatter what, infact the only time i've had off sick was when I broke my hip and wrist, I've cycled threw snow to get to the yard and last week I cycled threw floods. I work my arse off once I get there and do so much unpaid overtime it's unreal. I don't feel like any of the things I do are appreceated :( and some of the storys I could tell of my treatment from employers over the years would shock most people. This is why I now work freelance. :) I can pick and choose who I work for (Only nice people) :D
 
wildriding1 said:
I fully understand that conditions are often tough and the money is often rubbish, I have worked in the industry and been the one on the receiving end of it!
I do think though that what I am offering is fair, a 5 day week, flexible with hours, 35-40 hours a week, riding and chance to compete for the right person. I can't really offer training as such at the moment as I am expecting twins soon and I know I won't have the time to train anyone!
But experience in stud work and being around breeding stock isn't essential as I/my husband can train someone in that.
I need someone competant and capable who wants to work and in return can offer good opportunities, good working conditions, fair pay and a long term job. No accomodation unfortunately as we are still building our own house and currently live in a cabin!!
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Would you PM your details? Also as previously mentioned have you advertised on yard and groom etc?
 
This is why I've gone freelance. I'd rather earn my own money and be my own employer then deal with any more soul destroying bosses. I've done the working for long hours for no money. So time to do this for myself. There are loads of local yards and people keeping horses at home so I'm in a good place for it.
 
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