Would this be a job people would be interested in?

[glamourpuss]

We are building our own house with 12 acres & stables. However this will be the first time I haven't been on a livery yard & although I'm mostly looking forward to being on my own, I know I'll miss the social side (having people to chat to & hack out with) BUT I'm not interested in having any liveries - people coming all hours etc
We have 2 children & as we both work (me part time) our childcare costs are around £1000 a month.
Now this has got me thinking.....do you think I'm insane for considering getting a horsey au-pair? We will have tons of space for them to live in, they could bring their horse (good grazing, stables, fab hacking & hopefully a manège) & obviously there will also be a small wage.
They would also have access to a horsebox & lessons with my trainer (a 4* eventer)
In return they would be expected to do childcare, housework & the occasional stable duties.
Personally I feel it would solve many of the issues we have but Husband is not quite so keen as obviously we would be looking for someone so specific.
What do you guys think? Is this an actual job that people would be interested in or have I got no chance of getting someone?
Please note: this is NOT advertising as the house isn't built yet so we wouldn't be looking for at least another 12 months!

 

[Kittykins]

I took a job like this in my gap year with a really nice family and loved it. I've seen this sort of thing advertised quite a lot, so yes, it is a legitimate job.

However, a few points to consider:

- you're likely to get someone who is on a gap year or is quite young, so you may actually end up having a succession of au-pairs for short(ish) time periods. If this is going to be a problem for you or your children, it may be better to hire someone non-horsey on a longer term contract.

- if you do find someone horsey, it may be that they're more interested in finding a place where they can live and stable their horse AND get a small wage, and are willing to 'put up' with looking after the children. I would recommend pretty thorough interviewing and maybe a trial period to ensure that the children are getting the attention they deserve!

But as I say, it can work very well if you find someone who's personality matches your family. Good luck!

 

[monkeybum13]

This website may have some useful information for you www.nagsandnannies.co.uk

 

[glamourpuss]

Thank you Both
Kittykins: your second point about having someone horsey who 'puts up' with children is exactly Husband's argument.
Rudolph_bum: thank you I will have a look at that website

 

[stencilface]

Hmm, you could always offer the position to a couple? Then you would likely have them stay longer (and might get older more settled people), there are many couples that are handyman/au pair I think and work together. One of them could always have another job of course, but you offer accom for a couple (and reduce wage as a result?), I think many people atm would be interested in free rent tbh

 

[ISHmad]

I'd have jumped at an opportunity like that years ago "when I was a lass".

 

[Miss L Toe]

The alternative to people coming and going, is to offer full livery for youngstock or semi-retired ponies, so that the horses are looked after Mon to Friday by you and yet the owners come at weekends to see their horses, when they all muck in with haynets and mucking out, so it is all very relaxed.
The yard I am at does something similar, so there is no one there Mon to Friday except me [the only person on DIY] [all I have to do is muck out, prepare feeds and nets, and bring my horse in from the field if I want to ride], and the man who puts horses out and mucks out etc, YO does evening stables ie skip, feed and hay.
No one visits at odd hours, all horses are hayed and fed at the same time. It works very well where there are only a few horses and the fields are close to the stabling.
The owners pay a moderate livery fee, but there is no financial incentive to go DIY.

 

[Dizzle]

If I was younger I’d have loved a job like that, I don’t want to ‘work’ with horses full time as tbh I found at the end of the day I didn’t want to do anything with my own and I always had dreams of being a teacher so would love full time child care and the right mix of fun and education.

I have a friend who was an au pair for years (until the birth of her first child) and although she doesn’t ride at the moment she’s an experienced rider and would have taken on horses no problem.

I think the person you attract may depend on the accommodation you offer, if you can offer say a separate ‘cottage’ suitable for a couple you’re more likely to attract someone who’s in it for the long term IMHO, rather than if you offer accommodation within the family home you’ll attract a single person more likely to move on soon. That may just be my take on it though.

 

[PollyP]

If I wasn't married and moving, this sounds like an incredible job!!

 

[Captain Bridget]

If I didn't have a boyfriend to lug around with me I'd jump at the chance! But I've worked with both horses and children before, I don't know how likely you would be to find someone like that. It's just by chance I've done both, it wasn't planned that way. I think you are more likely to find someone on a year out, a friend of mine didn't know what she wanted to do so au-paired on germany for a year, which actually led to two years with the family.

 

[IndieandElsie]

it sounds perfect, i'd jump at the chance

 

[HarlequinSeren]

The job sounds like something I would most definitely be interested in personally. I considered being an au pair for a while before I got my horse and started my college course. If something like this had been available to me at the time I would definitely have applied.

It sounds like a really good offer, though as others have pointed out you need to make sure you get someone in who has a genuine interest in looking after the kids as well as using the facilities you are offering for the horse. I think maybe you would have to think about certain stipulations as to when they can have their "horse time" as obviously you don't want to come home to find your au pair swanning around doing things with her horse and the housework she was meant to be doing neglected.

Hopefully you will be able to find someone suitable should you decide to go ahead with this at the time though. Or drop me a message - I should have finished college by then

HS x

 

[Vetwrap]

Yes. I think that there would be quite a few people who would be interested in this kind of job. By the sounds of it, they would only really have to cover their food and fuel bills. I think that the key to a harmonious working relationship with a job like this is to make sure that everything is agreed in the beginning - horse care hours, child care hours and what all expectations are. Any extra's, such as babysitting, should either be in the job spec or paid at an agreed hourly rate, as extra's.

 

[SeasonalSituation]

Id be more then interested in that, dependent on wage etc. Although being a nanny. No issues there, its the housework id have an issue with.

 

[NoltonSeaShell]

I'd jump at the chance for a job like this! Where would you be based?

 

[maree t]

This is exactly what my daughter plans on doing when she leaves school. She wants to work with children but also is experienced with horses so it would be perfect for someone like her.
Perhaps advertise the nanny position with the extra as having room for the horse you might attract the right person. good luck

 

[nikCscott]

I'm watching this thread with interest as I'm hoping to do similar when we move- but even more extreme.

My perfect solution would be a teacher with a horse - I would offer free flat/annex and free livery for 1 horse, I would also happily turn and muck out their horse monday to friday, in return for someone getting them in in the evenings, babysitting on occasional evenings, watching children whilst i ride in school holidays and doing my horses if we are away on holidays (usually in school holiday).

I realise its quite a specific person so don't hold out much hope

Good luck!

 

[jesterfaerie]

I would jump at a job like that if one came up around my area providing my OH and dog could come as well it sounds like a great oppertunity. Good luck finding someone.

 

[smellsofhorse]

I've seen this type of job offered before.

I think its possible, but you may have to search far and wide.

 

[Nollaig Shona]

I'd have jumped at an opportunity like that years ago "when I was a lass".

Me too!

I used to be 'with' an agency that dealt with equine jobs and a lot of them were people looking for a live-in childminder, you could take your own horse with you etc. I'm sure you'd find someone!

 

[ClobellsandBaubles]

there are often quite a few jobs similar to this on yardandgroom.com but usually abroad so I'm sure you would have lots of interest

 

[teamsarazara]

drop me a message when your house is built lol

 

[Polo*Pony]

OP, I'd jump at the chance for this if I didn't live with OH. If, as someone mentioned, accommodation was for two people this is the sort of job I would consider actively hunting. I'm not a student, or on a gap year, so it wouldn't be a temporary thing!
I am another one who doesn't want to work with horses full time necessarily - I am lucky in that my job allows me to do something I love (which, incidentally, is working with children) and have a hobby I love. However, horses are on livery quite far away and I don't get to see them as much as I'd like. I am "downsizing" to one horse in the hope that I will be able to spend more quality time with him!

I'm watching this thread with interest as I'm hoping to do similar when we move- but even more extreme.

My perfect solution would be a teacher with a horse

Oooh... Where will you be moving to??

(On a serious note... if you were near me, and flat could hold two people, I'd have my application in to you the day you advertised! Sounds perfect!).

 

[Mithras]

Personally, I think its too much to expect someone to do horse care and child care on au pair wages, even if the hours are the same as they would be for one job. The work could really mount up so as to overwhelm someone, and it requires such differing skills. I think you are more likely to get someone to stay if you simply get a groom and reduce the wage for free keep of one horse and lessons, as au pairs seem more prone to coming and going.

 

[Stacey6897]

My good friend did this exact job from leaving school until her mid 20s, without access to all the fab facilities and the trainer, she worked for a family with two small kids and looked after the ponies, I think she had grass keep for her horse included

 

[phpony]

That sounds like the perfect job!
I'm sure you'd find someone for it.
If I was a year older I know id be after it

 

[Goldenstar]

I am sure you would find people interested in this .
I was just going to add that if are building from scratch you design the house with an annex so if you get someone you and they have privacy . Many many years ago I did a similar job and I lived in a bedroom in the house I had great fun and am still close to the family their daughter was my bridesmaid I would have appreciated a little down time and privacy.
Just a thought if you are building from scratch it will give loads more options for finding someone.

 

[Snowysadude]

I would be interested in places like that but only with the "right" family. After witnessing friends struggle with the children Im quite happy being a groom, nannying, cleaning and teaching swimming at the moment but it does not produce enough of a wage for me to move out (I can keep my horses though and live with parents). However after moving out twice (university and a job which wasnt quite as advertised) I am desperate to get back out of the house!

 

[glamourpuss]

Many, many thanks for all of your input.
The plans we have approved have an annex to the house & we also have plans for a large cart lodge with living accommodation above, so living space isn't really an issue.
I only work 3 days so that would mainly be it for childcare.
I'm glad that people think this would be doable.
Again thank you for your advice

 

[Shavings]

It's the type of job I would love!!
Children and knowing my horse is safe close by I am sure you would find a lovely person who will suit your needs (lucky devil!)