Working abroad with horses.

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Hannah140

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Hi All.

Im sorry if this has been asked before i have done a search i promise!!

I am looking to work abroad with horses and im just wondering where to start! My ideal would be on a trekking yard in europe somewere, doing all yard duties and taking out rides etc. How is the best way to get into this?

I presume nobody will be employing untill the summer season starts again next year, but what can i do untill then to make myself more appealing to potential employers in the meantime?

Im 23, have been riding and around horses pretty much my whole life. I have worked in 2 yards on a part time basis around my full time work in an office, One a racing yard and one a private family yard. The racing yard i would not be able to get references as unfortunately they have moved and i have lost touch but I would be able to get a reference from the private yard. I have no horse at the moment (I have never had my own but have always ridden peoples horses for them when required) so am having lessons at a riding school where im working towards my BHS stage 2 (Stage 1 and Riding road safety already acheived obviously!)

So my question is i am the sort of person they would be looking for? Is BHS stage 2 enough with the experience that i have?

Many thanks!
 
HI

Great idea - I was in Europe for 3 years on an event yard - great opportunity.

BHS exams are great to have - various places have different requirements, being able to drive aslo help.

I went through an agency - no cost for me as the employers pay for the agency.

Think that way you have a little more info about where you are going etc and they can leagally keep you on track if you need visa's etc.

Lots of possibilitys - dressage/event/SJ yards etc also love english grooms as we have far higher standards, its also a great way to see some of the world.
Polo yards also avail and in the USA

Plenty of different yard types so that would be up to you - enjoy
 
i used horsey contacts - i was a groom for a hunt hirling yard over here and some clients came over from the US - so i got in contact with them and went over there for a hunt season - loved it :D great experience :)
 
I just winged it. Moved out to Canada at 18, found a hovel to live in and then got so fed up with getting rejected for jobs in shops and restaurants that to make myself feel happier I walked for 2 hours to the horsey edge of the city. I happened to find a tack shop amongst the barns and fields and saw a handwritten ad. Called up, went for an 'interview' that day (bring in, groom, bandage, tack up, ride put away etc) and was offered the job when he dropped me off. It turned out to be amazing, 10 stunning warmbloods to care for, a truck of my own to drive, and I didn't even have to muck out! i just rode and groomed. I got the chance to spend 3 months all expenses paid at shows in California as well as Oregon and around Vancouver.

Two years later i flew to New Zealand booked into a youth hostel, googled trekking places and phoned around them all. One told me that they had a lad leaving in a month so if I could wait i was welcome to go down there and interview. So I spent a month backpacking and heading to the trekking place, went out on a trail as a back up guide and then separately on a more awkward horse with another guide. Got the job, lived with full board plus a full wage.

When i left there after a few months I called a few showing people whos names I found on the internet and the phonecalls led me to work for the NZ lady rider of the year, grooming for Grand Prix showjumpers and pre-novice to 4 star eventers (one who has since done Badminton twice and Burghley once).

And I am a lot less qualified than you! I just have a nice telephone manner and obviously seem to come across well, even without references! And I was willing to work 6 or 7 days a week, for as many hours as necessary for very little money.

One tip I do have though is that trekking places are NOT easy places to work! I thought it would be great fun, riding out and generally playing horses all day and fairly chilled. What i didn't forsee was having to go out into the field first thing in the morning, having to pick the horses for the days treks. Out of a field of 30 I would have to pick the least lame, tired, sore backed etc etc and bring all 20 of them in, feed all 20, tack all 20 up, often in the pissing rain and snow. it's hard when you know how tired they are, that some have worked without a day off for 3 weeks straight, that one has a saddle sore developing, one is lame etc, but that you still have to use them as the boss has overbooked the rides.

Then there is the trekking out with 10 or more clients, most of whom have never ridden, all trying to ride through quicksand, down deep flowing rivers etc whilst you try to explain the difference between left rein and right rein! I also witness some EXTREMELY nasty falls. When you are on a professional competition yard you don't have to worry about the riders in the same way. It was far and away the most stressful job I have ever had. Oh, and another thing - as the lead guide you get the lovely to ride, go anywhere, do anything horse, as the backup guide you get the hardest puling, most awkward, pig headed horse that they don't dare put a client on! Having said that, I loved those horses, they were the most genuine hardworking crew I have ever worked with.
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I done it in my youth! fully reccomend it, it will make you more confident and show you how the other half live so to speak.

Id say go through an agency, they have a lot more information about the vacancies, and can also help you if visas etc are needed, if your not happy or your job ends you also have more chance of finding something else in the country you are in.

I found a job in cyprus of my back in a trekking centre, it all went very badley wrong, I was lucky that I had a mobile, a nan that could top me up from the uk and a greek friend that had friends in cyprus, they managed to find out where I was and get me to an airport. sounds horiffic doenst it? it was and I was very lucky had it of been through an agency then it would never of happened. live and learn!

just to add.. be very prepared for horses to be kept/treated/thought of in a totally different way to the uk. Your qualifications are good but many places abroad wont reconise them, experiance will count for everything.
 
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I had three years in Europe when I was younger - one was working on a yard. The yard advertised through the place where I did my AI.

The Lady magazine has a lot of au pair ads for abroad, and many include small private yards that want help with kids and horses. They often have agencies that advertise too - try some of the groom's agencies in H&H as well.

Try learning a bit of a European language if you don't already speak one - it may help you stand out.

The years I spent in Europe were some of the best times of my life - hope you find something...x
 
Oh Wow KatPT that sounds amazing! Though im not sure i would have the skills to work on an SJ or event yard, i have never had to turn out to such a high standard before and could do it but it would take me forever! I have only done local shows before where i have had as long as i need to get ready. Also i presumed that these are the yards that would be more intrested in BHS qualifications?

I have tried googleing horsey contacts but nothings coming up, does anybody have an idea of a website, or any other names of agencies like this please?

Also keep your experiences coming! Im enjoying reading them!!

Many Thanks

Hannah
 
I have a friend who's successfully worked abroad with horses for past 10 years.

First in Germany, Denmank and Holland and now in the US.

Judy Harvey was (and is) her mentor, and the initial overseas contacts were made through her.
 
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