Working for free in racing yard?

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Lol29

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Hi:)

I used to ride racehorses. At my first yard I used to ride for free every friday and saturday for a very well-known trainer in Ireland.

I made than experience with riding breakers at a stud farm. This time paid.

At the moment I am studying Visual Communication and will soon make my degree. I really miss riding out. And think now to offer help to a yard for free again on friday and saturday in order to get more experience and for the fun.

Do you guys think that there is a risk of being used when offering to ride out for free? At my first yard I got good experience, had lot of fun, got a reference, but I had a bit the feeling of being a bit used sometimes.

Does it make a bad impression to work for free to get more experience, because they may think they can do with you whatever they want? Does someone have made experience with that?
 
Only you can decide if you're being used or not - if you think the fun and experience you get out of it are worth your time, then it's a fair exchange and you aren't being used. If you feel taken advantage of, then it isn't working for you.
 
Just ask for a bit of petrol money and leave it up to them . Good riders are valuable to a trainer so they will definately think it through.
 
So you think that trainers should always give a bit of something to a rider even the rider is just doing it for experience? I will keep that in mind with the petrol money? Thanks:)
 
Lol29 said:
So you think that trainers should always give a bit of something to a rider even the rider is just doing it for experience? I will keep that in mind with the petrol money? Thanks:)
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It depends. If they have enough staff and would be allowing you to ride purely to gain experience, then they are doing you a favour.

Alternatively, if they don't have enough staff and need you to ride, you are doing them a favour and should expect payment.

I don't think I'd ask for both an experience opportunity and payment. I'd look for one (experience) or the other (a paid job).
 
Never looked at it from that angel before. But I suppose you are right. Why should they take a rider on when they have already enough staff. Good point. I appreciate it:)
 
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