Working abroad with horses - whos done it ?

Thanks for all the replies , seems to be a real mix of people absoloutely hating it or loving it . I want to go to get good training and kick start my show jumping. Im only 19 but have had a pretty rubbish start having to constantly fight my parents with the riding as they thought id just grow out of it and consequently i didnt get my first horse til i was nearly 15. That horse then had to be pts months after i bought her and the next horse was retired a few months after i bought him so i only really got into it last year. Therefore im only comfortably jumping round 1m/1m05's so obv its difficult to find a job with lots of riding and training :/ anyone else been in this position ?
 
I had a (brief, sadly) stint working as a groom in Germany. I had gone there for training first and then, when I ran out of money, started working instead :D It was the best time of my life and it was heartbreaking to leave. I would go back in a heartbeat.

I had a super apartment, over two floors all to myself (!), amazing facilities (this seems to be a common theme - 'competition' yards on the Continent generally speaking seem to have far better facilities than their UK counterparts, for some reason). Everybody spoke English really well so although I learnt to understand German, I am not actually confident enough to speak it (beyond ordering a McDonalds veggie burger and fries that is :D :D ), but this was never an issue.
 
OP in reply to your reply, yes!

I'm a year, maybe 2 older than you, and although jumping Newcomers and desperately trying to move up to Fox, most employers don't think I'm experienced enough for a rider's position. But i've done the grooming bit and i've got 2 showjumpers of my own so want to get out to away shows with them and would love to be one of those people taking horses for a boss!! Lol I can dream! :(
I would say you would be better finding a job either in uk or abroad as a groom with decent flat riding - you never know you might get spotted. I know of one job but it's not a major showjumping yard and its essex/suffolk but live in, pm me if interested. Also may know of one in germany?
Do you have facebook? Pm me if u do and i'll add you, theres a page on there too.
 
I would love to come over to England or go to Germany to get some chances to show what I've got. Holland is full of talented riders, so it's pretty hard to stand out. Would love to have the chance though...
 
I worked on a stud/classical horsemanship yard in Western Australia. Was the most amazing experience and biggest learning curve of my life!! Was absolutely bloody fantastic!!
If you have the opportunity to do, take it!! What have you got to lose?!
 
I did two years working in Italy for a dressage trainer. Fortunately one of the most lovey clients spoke english more than fluently which helped at the start. The trainer spoke English. I moved yards a couple of times - with the trainer. One of the yards had a german bereiter who spoke fluent english and a swiss studen who also had good english which helped me to settle in.

I loved it, I hated parts of it but generally loved it. However there wasn't much riding available (it can be quite difficult to find grooms jobs with riding - if you are fussy but not a brilliant rider!) I did work briefly for a large show jumping yard, plenty of riding there and could have worked there as a rider (rather than a groom) but the riding there wouldn't have helped me to progress (the main trainer/rider was very heavy handed) so I went back to grooming at the dressage yard and trying to watch and learn as much as I could.

It was always short term career break for me - so I wanted to learn as much as possible (thus avoided dealing yards etc)I also wanted a change of culture so avoided english speaking countries (which probably wasn't the best idea as it turns out that I am awful at languages). By the end of my time there I could give basic commands in Italian and understand what was being said to me, if the reply required anything more than the basics I would reply in English. Must have seemed odd to anyone looking on that one would speak Italian and the other English but fully understand each other.

I think you need to work out what you want to get from the experience, whether its to build a career or to gain experience or to learn something new. What discpline interests you most etc. If you want to find work as an English groom you will be sought after, as a rider you might struggle more - depending on the type of yard you want to work at.
 
Does anyone keep in touch with any yards and know Iof anyone looking? Preferably riding school or trekking centre that might be looking for someone? I've been offered a job in Italy but I'm having to fight my work for the career break and I think I might lose the offer! So maybe one that commences in a month or so?
 
I did a year in canada when i was 18/19, plus 4 months in the states working the sunshine show circuit in california. I loved it, got my own truck to drive and all i did most of the time was ride!

I then did a year in NZ, 3 months at a trekking station when I got horribly homesick - it was a tiny close knit community and I was quite shy and felt like a total outsider. It was also exceptionally hard work, getting up to 20 horses in, fed, tacked up etc all by 8am, mostly on my own. but riding in gorgeous mountain scenery on lovely horses was a real experience and something I will never forget. I have no doubt that now I am older and not suffering from depression I would make much more of it.

The next 9 months were spent working with a 4* event rider and Grand prix showjumper, plus working for Mark Todd and his racehorses for a bit. This 9 months was brilliant fun and I loved every minute, I felt like part of the family, worked my backside off and did loads of riding of some of the best horses in NZ.

I've been really lucky that all my jobs were great and they all (including Mr Todd!) asked me to stay longer, I can't believe my luck sometimes!
 
OliviaSJ said:
Hi just wondering who out there has previously gone and worked abroad with horses. Am considering it again as I did try last year , was amazing opportunity and was riding loads but nobody spoke english and felt so isolated and lonely I had to come home. Just seems like theres so much more opportunity out there and maybe I just need to toughen up and do it. Just wondering if anyone had done it and there opinions on it and how they coped with being a bit of an outsider? Thanks :)
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I rode for a sj dealer in North Carolina USA, it was the best time of my life. When i got off the plane my new boss was late picking me up and i **** myself! But after that ( he did evebtully turn up ) it was nothing but amazing, the people were wonderful and i learnt so much.
Do it now while your young because once you get older with a job, house, husband, you will probably not get the chance again.
You don't want to risk regretting not doing it, good luck x
 
I went for work experience in france and had the best time of my life, worked for a show jumper who is british and moved there so no language problems, stayed in their lovely house with the his family who couldn't have been more lovely and accommodating with home large home cooked meals etc... I worked hard as he has no other staff and used the time i was there to harvest his land so i was in charge of all horses and yard stuff by myself but he made time to teach me on all his best horses so hours of riding every day and let me teach all the lessons other people had with him (he would watch over me and give feedback later). I would go back straight away and probably will in the near future but it was isolated and in the middle of nowhere
 
I did a season with a showing producer in Germany. Would highly recommend it to anyone as an experience - just don't expect it to be easy! My 'conversational' German was massively tested, but you do pick it up fast.

I was lucky enough to stay on the yard, with a wonderful family in their granny annexe :D I was never made to feel isolated or like an outsider, but was made very welcome.

As others have said, do it while you have the chance! Expect long hours & hard work, but it was an incredible education, with some wonderful friendships thrown in :)
 
for those who've been did you have horsey qualifications/already qualified as instructors/grooms? how do you even go about finding these places?
 
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