working at a stable ?

[jessicajump]

i have wanted to work in a horse racing stable for ages

but i have been told by loads of people that people that work in racing stables are really horrible stuck up and bitchy

does anyone know if this is true ?? or are the people mostly nice ?


also how often do stable staff go racing ? and what is the pay like ?

 

[Cherryade]

How old are you Op?
Working in racing stables is hard work, long hours and you have to do it for pleasure more than the wage. You may get bitchy people but thats the same in any job-as for racing they dont. Jockeys race the staff may train them to race if riding ability is up to a certain standard, worth having a look at http://www.northernracingcollege.co.uk/

 

[vickyb]

You need to be an extremely competent and lightweight rider to work with racehorses. The weight might be slightly higher for NH yards, but I worked in flat yards where the weight limit was 9 stone. The mix of staff was no different to any other work place. I enjoyed it because I had done a lot of 'sole charge' work, and it was great to have other people around to take the mick if you fell off (!) and socialise with after work. If one of your horses goes racing you go with it, look after it, lead it up etc. How often you go racing then depends on how good the horses you look after are - I had a 2 year old that never made it to the track eventually due to lameness. I found the wages better than other horse jobs because they are regulated, however, this was a long time ago and I don't know if that is still the case. If you are interested in racing, as I am, it's a great job.

 

[Equilibrium Ireland]

I didn't work in racing in England but did a little here in Ireland but most of my riding was at the tracks in America. Completely different. In America you only ever ride and set tack. Grooms tack up and bring out and hotwalkers cool them out. The pay was very good. You have to be liscensed to gallop. And have to be approved. There are rules to be followed with regards to safety. You can get your liscence revoked for different reasons. Being useless is one of those reasons. Most of the work is individual. Babies will go in company and breezes are in company until horse gets the idea. We like to teach them to be independant. Breezes over here aren't timed. Back home I had to know how fast I was going at every 1/8 to get the time I was told to go in. An ambulance is present at all times. If someone gets hurt the training stops until another one is present. So no waiting around til you recieve help or being shoved into a car and carted off.

As far as snobby well certain barns can be difficult. The more woman the more trying. Lots of competition for sure. I found it a much easier situation over here. But by then I was older and just doing it to stay fit. I was not bothered by what I got on and had fun. Some places I worked at I didn't stay very long. Lets see one guy couldn't show up til 10am but I was to be there at 8:45 am and no later. Then at 10am he threw the horses feed and started tacking up. Nice. One day this "trainer" put a figure 8 on my horse because he told me I probably wouldn't be able to do it right. We were breezing in company and the figure 8 slipped over his nose and proceeded to beat him over and over in the face. I left another place because half the bridles were held together with dirt only. Most had to be knotted to fit and frayed girths. And sometimes you went out with a loose girth because there were no smaller ones. I mean come on. I just don't have the patience for that kind of stuff. Back home I was in charge of tack and nothing was left to chance. Tiny bit of wear on the rubber and they went in for recovering. Bits checked for slight wear. Billets changed, stirrup leathers all in order. When your life matters you keep things in order.

I had great fun and a good job when I worked at the track. I criss crossed the States depending on where my division went or switched divisions. I always spent the winter in either So Cal or Miami. Nothing beats getting done work at 10am and laying on the beach for the day. It's a big family really as you have friends that all work for different people and you're at the same place some of the time. Some you only see in winter, some only at Saratoga ect.

So if it's what you want to do go for it. Being a newbie will be hard but listen to the older riders. If you don't have an attitude most are more than helpful. If you have a tude life can be difficult. But it should give you a lot of confidence and become a good rider. You will make mistakes and some days it seems if nothing goes right. Don't let it get you down. Just keep trying.

Terri

 

[poiuytrewq]

I work on a smaller family run Mixed yard and I love it. I don't ride for a few reasons, but I do the rest of the work whilst the riders ride. Washing off, grooming keeping the yard tidy, hay and feed, turnout and any injured ect I deal with vets and farriers. Pretty much like having my own little heard!
I also work a bit at a bigger yard with a larger group of staff and that can be bitchy but I never get involved and stay friendly with them all.

 

[Elf On A Shelf]

*waves* I'm horrible stuck up and bitchy and work in racing

No it's defos a job you dp for the love not the money. The Jockey Club set their own minimum wage which is 50p? Higher than national minimum wage. You get paid for overtime (usually ...) You get paid to go racing. Most yards work on the system of you get ever other weekend off and work every day on between. The yard I work on gets a day and a half off every week - one week to take at the weekends, the other any stage during the week so long as enough staff are in to work the horses.

Its hard work whatever the weather - as proven by the fact that I am now soaked through from this random monsoon we are getting just now!

If it's any consolation, unless you come to this yard, you'll never work in the bitchyest yard in racing

 

[The wife]

I loved working in racing. Probably one of my steepest learning curves and only cam out of it due to homesickness. Being 150 miles away at 16 is hard

The pay is diabolical, although better than most other disciplines. I worked in a very big NH yard with more than 120 horses. We got extra for overtime, got a day and half off every fortnight, extra for race days, excellent pool money plus tips from owners. I earnt more then than I do now!

The lads were fantastic (baring late night knocks on doors every Friday, Saturday, Sunday, racing days, actually any night of the week!). The banter was great but you really do need a tough skin with the lads and give as good as you get. The girls, which there were just 6 of, to 20 odd lads were very bitchy and really didn't like that I got on better with the boys than them.

We got to go racing at least twice a month, sometimes stay away, we always got to take 'our 4', plus others who were away or if travelling head girl needed a hand and I was lucky enough to lead up during the festival and the National meet.

It's a very tough life, the work is more demanding than you will ever realise, it may not sound much doing 2 x 1mile long uphill canters 4 times a day but you seriously wouldn't believe how draining it is, in wind, rain, snow and sleet.

Loved every second of it!