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Tiptoetonic

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I just recently finished studying equine management and I'm now looking to gain more practical experience, I just have no idea how to go about it. Would it be rude to turn up at a riding school and ask if they would like any help or contact a more private yard and ask something similar? and if I were to do that, what would be the best thing to say?

I'm really struggling so any help or advice would be much appreciated! :)
 
Congratulations on your qualifications! I don't think it's rude at all (I'm a yard manager), but I would take a CV along (in an envelope) or you could email your CV with a cover letter.

You can also look on job sites such as yard and groom or career grooms and of course horse and hound :) and in local tack/feed shops.

The best thing to say is just what you've already said here! You have recently finished your studies and want to gain practical experience. You are looking for a training/volunteer/apprentice/paid/full time/part time position (whatever it is you're looking for), do they have anything available. Be polite whatever the response. If you go in person look neat and tidy and ask to speak to the yard manager. Good luck with the search :)
 
Few thoughts as I've been doing some of those (although not expressly horse related but the similar aspect of work experience).

1) Treat it like a job so be formal in all communications. It's a little thing, but a formally written email (like a written letter) and proper communications makes you appear a lot more serious about what you're asking and thus makes others more likely to pay attention and possibly take you on.

2) I would email these days; it should be easy to find and allows you to put your thoughts and information into a simple message that the other person is bound to get (remember its like a job so use your proper email not one with a silly name - again small things but they all add up to presenting a professional serious individual).
If you can't email then telephone - be prepared to have to phone back (if they offer to call you back still try to at least get the time that the person is likely to do so - it means that if they don't ring within 10-20 mins of that time you can give them a call - because non-essential things get forgotten very easily.

3) Turning up is good; but if its a busy site they might not have the time to actually sit down and chat. It can be a good way to get an email/phone number for contact later; but otherwise be prepare to walk away with little save for communication option later.

4) As said ask at different places; most will be more than happy to at least reply if you word things politely. You might get a few offers; you might get a few refusals. If you get refusals thank them for their time and also ask if there is anywhere else that they might recommend. Could be somewhere turns you down, but gives you an idea of somewhere that would suit you even better.

5) Be honest about your skills and be up front about anything you're unsure of or not confident with. You're there to work but also to gain experience. Furthermore anyone in any workplace who isn't confident about performing a task should air that concern with those in charge (that doesn't always mean the top boss; but whoever is directly in charge of you at the very least). It's about being responsible and not trying to do things that could put yourself or others in danger.

6) Be honest with them about what you want out of the deal.
You're giving your time to them to work so you've got to be sure you're getting something in return for yourself from this. Therefore endless mucking out; whilst an expected part of such work, would not really count. Yes its work; yes its experience; but do it for a day and you've likely learned most there is in how to fork muck into a barrow and onto the muck heap.
Depending on the setup and what you feel you need this could take many different forms. The most easy is formal training, eg the good old muck out for riding lessons approach (though in your case you might want training/teaching in something else). For experience it might be being able to help with different situations and whatever is going on.

Note that sometimes getting this reward is simply about being eager to do new things and putting yourself forward to help. Rather than standing back and letting others; or only keeping on with the mundane; although of course you should always aim to complete tasks your given and (as mentioned above) not put yourself forward into undue danger.

Some people find that a formal reward is easier to work with; gives you a known return on your investment of time. Others find more ad-hock works. A lot can depend on the site; sometimes sites will be so busy there is hardly time to give you notice during the normal working (therefore a formal reward is often required just ot avoid you slipping the net); whilst slower sites might have more down-time where tasks can be done slower to let you gain experience and practice.
Key part is to talk with the people in charge about what you want; what your aims for hte future are and what kind of experiences you'd like to get as well as what you can do for them.

The second key part is to review your situation with yourself every so often to make sure that you are getting what you want out of the deal.
 
Thank you for the advice! It's very much appreciated. I'm going to hand in a CV to a yard on Sunday and email a few others, hopefully something will work out :)
 
I got two working pupil jobs as a teenager (one summer job and a permanent one later). In both cases I sent out letters (would probably be e-mails now) and then followed up by a phone call. No-one responded to the letters but it gave me an opener for the phone call and they usually could remember me from the letter (just hadn't got around to thinking about it as too busy). I think in each case I approached about 10 places, so got plenty of rejections before I found somewhere. Personally I wouldn't turn up without any prior contact, but that might work if you're lucky with your timing. If its a RS you could book a lesson and then ask afterwards?

I would have a think about the kind of experience you need when deciding where to approach. For me I had, had lots of formal lessons but missed out on the "mucking about with ponies" stuff as a kid and didn't have a broad experience of different horses so I approached big yards, trekking centres etc. and was looking for hours in the saddle rather than lessons in return for my work.
 
You could also use social media and check with Riding clubs in your area...many have websites and fb pages. Get word out locally that you are available (and what for - yard work? riding? area within your reach?) Good luck :)
 
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