Working in the industry and your own horse?

[TheSubwayDino]

Hi all,
I'm currently considering doing a groom apprenticeship and possibly go down the equestrian route.I think I may but I'm still eager to have very own horse. But I'm not if having your own horse and working with them is common. I don't plan on buying during the apprenticeship but thinking more about the future thank you ?

 

[Flowerofthefen]

I worked with horses and had my own. I found I didn't want to do mine as by the end of the day I'd had enough!! Changed jobs and horses became a hobby again. Much prefer it that way!

 

[Red-1]

I found it was great! Worked full time riding horses, plus overtime. Also had a teaching business. Also had 2 eventers, at home, of my own.

It was tricky in bad weather, or if I was ill. BUT...

It was GREAT as I was always riding fit! My riding was right up there when I was riding 4 hours at work, maybe more when teaching, and then my own two. I would be riding maybe 9 horses a week (according to a couple of FB "memories" posts), so as well as fitness, I had acuity.

You have to love horses though!

And be young and fit!!!

 

[TheSubwayDino]

I found it was great! Worked full time riding horses, plus overtime. Also had a teaching business. Also had 2 eventers, at home, of my own.

It was tricky in bad weather, or if I was ill. BUT...

It was GREAT as I was always riding fit! My riding was right up there when I was riding 4 hours at work, maybe more when teaching, and then my own two. I would be riding maybe 9 horses a week (according to a couple of FB "memories" posts), so as well as fitness, I had acuity.

You have to love horses though!

And be young and fit!!!

yeah, I'be been helping out at this yard since November and only had to stop for a month because my mum was getting quite ill and it wasn't fair running off from 8 till 5 on the weekend So I really feel doing this apprenticeship here then perhaps be a fully fledged groom there may be the way to go ?

 

[Elf On A Shelf]

Don't do it. Horses will barely make you a living each month, especially if you have to pay rent etc.

I have worked I racing for nearly 18 years and it is most certainly a way of life, its not a living.

I have my own retired racehorse. He is fully retired now. When I was out showing him I had 2 jobs. Now I am down to 1 job I just scrape by every month and would not be able to afford to compete any more.

Racing is one of the better paying, houred jobs with a trade union (that's useless... but that's by the by). From what I have heard of other disciplines it's hard graft, long hours and pay that doesn't make the hours worthwhile.

 

[joosie]

Hmm.
Working with horses and having your own is definitely do-able, but it depends SO much on your job / situation.
In theory it can work. If you are self-employed in a scenario like Red-1, it can be okay, because you have flexibility in your work hours and can juggle your two responsibilities (working, and your own horse) to fit your routine. If you're full-time employed though, not so easy to find the time for both.
I've been grooming for 17 years and worked in a variety of disciplines. I've had my own horse(s) for 8 of those.
In jobs where you have to ride your own horse AFTER work, you often don't have the enthusiasm or energy by then - especially in the winter! After a long, physical, tiring day looking after other people's horses, doing your own can just feel like a chore.
In jobs where your employer allows you to do your horse DURING work hours, it doesn't feel much better, because it puts a time limit on things and makes you feel like you're rushing the whole time you're with them.
Some types of groom work make having your own horse easier than others. I've had more flexibility in some jobs than others. If you are competition grooming full-time, finding time for your own horse is nigh-on impossible. If you're a trail guide, or working in a riding school where you escort hacks, it's easier because you can ride your horse as part of the work.
I am currently back at uni training for a career in social care. I've loved working with horses, but the hours, shit wages and physical effects of the work just become too much after a while. I can't WAIT til I have a non-horsey career and get to just have a horse as a hobby!

 

[planete]

Have you thought about how you will make a living when you get old enough to find hard physical work too much for you? The only sure way to have your own horse and be able to afford him and enjoy him is to get a well-paid job in a different sector. You could still work with horses in another kind of work. Veterinary nursing, saddlery, physiotherapy...You could be self employed, in charge of your own time, not constantly worn out physically and burnt-out by 35. Sorry to be so negative but hard physical work and the knocks that come with riding all sorts of horses every day take their toll and the money barely keeps you afloat. With respect to Red-1 I do not think she was a mere groom, her expertise put her in a different category altogether. If you intend to keep progressing in the riding sector you will ned to achieve quite high qualifications to be able to become self-employed, build a reputation and make a decent living into your old age.

 

[Red-1]

Hmm.
Working with horses and having your own is definitely do-able, but it depends SO much on your job / situation.
In theory it can work. If you are self-employed in a scenario like Red-1, it can be okay, because you have flexibility in your work hours and can juggle your two responsibilities (working, and your own horse) to fit your routine. If you're full-time employed though, not so easy to find the time for both.

LOL, I only did up to 8 hours a week self employed. My basic full time contract was 40 hours a week, but usually did overtime on top.

It wasn't easy. Horses could be ridden anytime from 4.30am through to 11pm. Some shifts were 12 hours too. That was a stretcher!

Some days, mum, who was not horsey, would come out late at night and I would muck out while she chased the horse round with a lunge whip, hat perched on the back of her head and a fag on. We gave that up when the horse realised that she wasn't to be respected and would simply come and stand by her, or follow her, with her flapping the whip and him laughing at her.

Some events, I would ride hard and pack the lorry on a Wednesday, day off Thursday, long rein through the test Friday by spotlight, ready to load and go on Saturday!

One memorable event, my shift was changed at short notice, then extended at the last minute. I finished at 12, home for 1am, still had stable chores, bed for 2am, up at 4am to drive to an event. I was like a zombie all day!

The reason it worked is because I had a burning need (not too strong a word, for me) to event. I'm not naturally talented and without all that riding and teaching, in addition to riding my own horses and running too, I would simply not have been good enough. I was fit and on my game.

It was a push, it wasn't always fun, but I did achieve more than my ambitions. It was me, living my dream and that made all the work worthwhile. I was driven.

These days, I still have 2 horses at home, but only work part time, 18 hours a week, term-time only. I gave up teaching as I am no longer on my game. I don't have that burning need to event or prove myself any more. I am also older and a bit beat up. It actually feels harder with my 2 leisure horses and little work now, than it did 20 years ago. So much so, I have even thought about returning to livery!

 

[Orangehorse]

I worked with horses and had my own. I found I didn't want to do mine as by the end of the day I'd had enough!! Changed jobs and horses became a hobby again. Much prefer it that way!

This is a very common comment, from people who have worked as grooms and then left.
BUT they also said that they didn't regret their time as a groom, they went to places and had a very interesting life and did things that they would never have had the chance to do if they hadn't been a groom- that is if they were working for an employer that did the show circuit or things that interested them and travelled the country or even abroad.

The people I am thinking about kept on as grooms until about their late 20s and then they realised that they didn't really want to be mucking out other people's horses for ever, maybe they had had an injury or two or they wanted to buy a property and need better pay.

I do know one lady who is still working as a groom, but I would say that she is a manager rather than hands on day to day, so she gets to do some of the fun things, the training and the organising, rather than the mundane stuff.

 

[TheSubwayDino]

Aye ? some of my groom's at my work are in their 30s but even so we've got a 50 year old who is the full time groom with their own youngster she's had since they were a foal! Our yard is quite friendly tho despite 85 horses and dozens of people here for clinics or something lol

 

[Wishfilly]

I'm not saying don't do it, but I'm assuming you're young and it's important to give yourself options. When I worked in the industry, I couldn't afford to buy a horse, so it was a bit of a moot point! I reached a point where I was sick of having no money, and changed careers completely- but I could do that because I had already got a degree and other qualifications.

If you're just 16, I'd think long and hard about whether it would be worth at least getting some a-levels or similar so that uni and a professional career is an option further down the line. Obviously there are other routes to do this when you're older, but I personally think it's easier to get these sorts of qualifications when you're young. You can still do an apprenticeship afterwards.

I'd also make sure you're really clear on what the apprenticeship involves, and what qualifications you'll get out of it- not all of them are made equal!

 

[Cocorules]

I grew up spending all my time at a local riding school. It was all weekend and every night after school. My Dad counsellors me against working with horses. This was on the basis (a) pay at at a low level is poor and (b) you look after horses the way your employer wants not necessarily the way you think it should be done.

I went the owner route and getting a job that had horse friendly hours. I would add as reasons against that as you get older you definitely don't bounce and you get a stronger self preservation instinct. Also when I was young I didn't mind roughing it, now I am older I am keener on creature comforts, like warmth and you not doing a 12 hour shift on my feet.

If you are ambitious in the horsey world at riding level and work hard it is worth it, but if you prefer just looking after them it is less of an easy decision.

All that said I still get jealous of those with an outdoor job when I am going into to spend all day indoors at work. That said it pays really well and allows me to keep my own horses on my own land.

 

[Shilasdair]

If you are good at what you do, you can work in the industry and have your own horse/s.
In my last equine job I had free full livery for one on the main yard, and free stud livery for a broodmare at the stud yard.
I also had free lessons from whichever instructor/trainer was visiting, a free house, all bills paid...and a good salary and pension.
But - these jobs are few and far between - and there's a lot of competition for them.

 

[spotty_pony]

I did it for years - it really is a way of life rather than just a job.

i was lucky that I had a boss that would allow me to have a longer lunch to ride/ bring in in winter etc which helped a lot. When I kept them where I worked at I would also be allowed to ride them during the day too.

 

[Red-1]

I did it for years - it really is a way of life rather than just a job.

I agree with this. I can remember having to work out if today I was working horses at work, working horses whilst teaching, r working my own. It was (mostly) all fun and part of a way of life - when I was young.

 

[sbloom]

With not-so-occasional 14-18 hour days, no land of my own and unable to afford full livery I can't see me having a horse anytime soon. I've been without since before I started as a saddle fitter (I had a yearling when I started but he was never going to be right for me), I miss the relationship I had with my last horse but don't want a share or similar, and the horsey fix I get from the job is enough. No regrets overall, though I hope I won't be too old before I can perhaps find the time/money/set up to have my own. Lots of what I see in my job puts me off owning (the bills and heartache) though I hope that a lot of the stuff I'm learning as a fitter such as amazing groundwork etc will help me keep a horse sound and happy if/when I finally get one.

 

[Hannahgb]

I worked with horses and had my own. I found I didn't want to do mine as by the end of the day I'd had enough!! Changed jobs and horses became a hobby again. Much prefer it that way!

Exactly this for me!

 

[Leandy]

You should think hard about how you will afford your own horse on a groom's pay. It depends what your other options are but do consider that if horses are your passion that it may be preferable to earn more money elsewhere in order to afford the horses. Some professional experience in the industry will certainly improve your equestrian skills but do think about whether that is the best way to earn a living and also have the horses/involvement you are hoping for of your own (as opposed to in your work as a groom).

 

[Otherwise]

How much parental support will you have? I had my own when I was a working student, I gained masses of experience from it but I can admit that I got a lot more out of it than some of my colleagues because my parents could afford to buy me a nice horse. I couldn't have afforded to buy one solely on my wage back then, I definitely couldn't with prices as they are now.

I would absolutely recommend doing a year or so on a good yard where you will get lessons and the chance to compete (you'd probably need your own horse to make the most of it and guarantee you'll get to ride though) and then go to uni or get a 'real' job. I would not recommend a career as a groom, I was lucky and left still able to like horses, a friend of mine left after a really nasty accident that almost killed her and now doesn't want to ever see one again.

 

[outdoor girl]

I couldn't afford and certainly didn't have the time or the energy for my own horse while I was working in a riding school. When I went to look after 6 horses for a family I could afford one but they wouldn't let me keep her there so I had to find DIY livery for her. It was very hard work and I was lucky in that I didn't have to work every weekend and she was only a yearling when I got her. In some ways that was a blessing as I didn't have much time for her and just did the basics of teaching her manners, mouthing her and walking her out in hand to meet stuff. By the time she was old enough to back I'd left that job and was working freelance so a lot of my time was my own.

 

[TheSubwayDino]

How much parental support will you have? I had my own when I was a working student, I gained masses of experience from it but I can admit that I got a lot more out of it than some of my colleagues because my parents could afford to buy me a nice horse. I couldn't have afforded to buy one solely on my wage back then, I definitely couldn't with prices as they are now.

I would absolutely recommend doing a year or so on a good yard where you will get lessons and the chance to compete (you'd probably need your own horse to make the most of it and guarantee you'll get to ride though) and then go to uni or get a 'real' job. I would not recommend a career as a groom, I was lucky and left still able to like horses, a friend of mine left after a really nasty accident that almost killed her and now doesn't want to ever see one again.

Aye yeah, I do have support and it was them who passed up the idea of getting a horse during the apprenticeship it'll just be I cover majority of payments and they can help with a few things here and there. I'm honestly the only people who still got no idea on what I want to do. I'm really not sure if it's worth doing this or something but it seems I only know what I'm doing after the school year haha

 

[outdoor girl]

Once I'd finished working for myself, I ended up working as an assessor for apprenticeships in horse care and riding. If you can find the right yard to train on it's the way to go. It's the finding the right yard that's the difficult thing. You need to find somewhere which will give you the training regularly and not just use you as an extra pair of hands. Many people I've come across in the horse world have said they would far rather employ someone who has completed an apprenticeship, especially at level 3, than someone who has come from a college course. The work is very practical and should give you a realistic sense of working on a yard.

 

[TheSubwayDino]

Once I'd finished working for myself, I ended up working as an assessor for apprenticeships in horse care and riding. If you can find the right yard to train on it's the way to go. It's the finding the right yard that's the difficult thing. You need to find somewhere which will give you the training regularly and not just use you as an extra pair of hands. Many people I've come across in the horse world have said they would far rather employ someone who has completed an apprenticeship, especially at level 3, than someone who has come from a college course. The work is very practical and should give you a realistic sense of working on a yard.

Yeah, thankfully the yard I've been helping at for the past 6 months is offering apprenticeships with training once a week as well as the opening of moving into employment once completed. I've applied for lvl 2 equine at college but didn't seem to enjoy the taster sessions - it just felt more of being being extra pair of hands really