Casey76
Well-Known Member
Posted on FB
I believe that is indentured servitude rather than employment?
I believe that is indentured servitude rather than employment?
You have to *love* the equestrian work community
- Thread starter Casey76
- Start date
SEL
Well-Known Member
I worked on this basis in Australia many years ago. It was fun for a month or so, but then I realised that I really did need cash if I wanted to carry on backpacking and starting youngsters for someone for no payment wasn't worth it!
Orangehorse
Well-Known Member
So how are you going to be able to afford the cheap flights with no pay? Surely this wouldn't be allowed in the UK?
When I went on a ranch holiday in the USA the staff weren't paid, but all the guests paid $250 in cash as a tip to the staff on top of what we had already paid for the holiday. They had to work in the morning cleaning the rooms and preparing the food, and after super cleaning up, but after that their afternoons were free to ride and learn so a better deal than the one offered in France! They were called Interns and it can't have been too bad as some went back year after year.
When I went on a ranch holiday in the USA the staff weren't paid, but all the guests paid $250 in cash as a tip to the staff on top of what we had already paid for the holiday. They had to work in the morning cleaning the rooms and preparing the food, and after super cleaning up, but after that their afternoons were free to ride and learn so a better deal than the one offered in France! They were called Interns and it can't have been too bad as some went back year after year.
Rowreach
👀
Well there are several working pupil arrangements I know of where you actually have to pay to be there working your socks off, so I don't see this is a problem for someone wanting to spend a few months in a decent climate, learning a new language and getting experience with a variety of horses in a tourism environment, and getting board and keep for it.
It would add quite a bit to your CV.
It would add quite a bit to your CV.
DD
Well-Known Member
slave labour
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SEL
Well-Known Member
I actually did quite a bit of freebie horse work when I was backpacking in my youth. It got me board and lodging and as much riding as I wanted. I had no financial commitments back then, so it was fun and I learnt a lot. Slave labour? Absolutely!!
Rowreach
👀
A lot of us started out this way. Helping out on Saturdays in a riding school when I was a kid, working on a racing yard in the very early mornings before I went on to my proper job, taking days off my proper job to do hunters in exchange for livery .... It gave me a huge amount of experience and didn't put me off doing horses as a career. For one thing it taught me that there's not a lot of money in it, ever 
Michen
Well-Known Member
I did this when I was 19 in Portugal on a Lusitano stud farm. They paid my flights but that was it, no pocket money. I learnt a lot riding sensational horses but my god it was hard work especially in the heat. I was living in a caravan which was like a green house.
The deal breaker came when the lady lent me a phone she wasn't using any more to put my sim in, when I fired it up I opened a message which had been left on it (naughty me) to her husband saying she "couldn't wait for her next slave to arrive" (meaning me).
I gave notice the next day and flew home two weeks later. It put me off ever, ever working with horses.
The deal breaker came when the lady lent me a phone she wasn't using any more to put my sim in, when I fired it up I opened a message which had been left on it (naughty me) to her husband saying she "couldn't wait for her next slave to arrive" (meaning me).
I gave notice the next day and flew home two weeks later. It put me off ever, ever working with horses.
Elf On A Shelf
...
It's OK you can go and work for Ellen Whitaker with her wonderful attitude to staff ...
The worst part of the horse world is definitely staff!!!!!!! 😡🙈 Due to being let down with no notice from one (Dave Wright) and another's change of plans- I am looking again for 1 full time groom. And 1 extra pair of hands for the sunshine tour. Please no time wasters! Reliable people only. Good wages. 2 bedroom bungalow for live in. 12 horses in work. Lots of traveling to shows and general day to day work. Sunshine tour dates. Leaving 1st of Feb. Coming home 26th march. Both must have good working experience.
The worst part of the horse world is definitely staff!!!!!!! 😡🙈 Due to being let down with no notice from one (Dave Wright) and another's change of plans- I am looking again for 1 full time groom. And 1 extra pair of hands for the sunshine tour. Please no time wasters! Reliable people only. Good wages. 2 bedroom bungalow for live in. 12 horses in work. Lots of traveling to shows and general day to day work. Sunshine tour dates. Leaving 1st of Feb. Coming home 26th march. Both must have good working experience.
PapaverFollis
Well-Known Member
Ha! I saw that and thought that wasn't exactly a great way to attract good staff to work for you!!
9tails
Well-Known Member
I didn't realise she was still competitive.
Rowreach
👀
I know! I saw it and thought that's great, she's slamming someone for unprofessional behaviour and then posting this!! :O
Cortez
Tough but Fair
It's not "slavery", it's entirely consensual, voluntary, and a great way for someone to learn a bit, experience a different culture and generally get some hands-on time in a busy environment. As someone mentioned earlier, there are places that would charge you.
Edited to add: Ms Whitaker would have to pay me a very great deal to work for her.
Edited to add: Ms Whitaker would have to pay me a very great deal to work for her.
Rowreach
👀
Come to think of it, the only reason I didn't starve to death at uni was because I rode out for a local eventer and his mother fed me in return!
As well as all the experience, I've made lifelong friends over the years from this sort of thing.
As well as all the experience, I've made lifelong friends over the years from this sort of thing.
Shady
Well-Known Member
I think i know who this is Casey and for somebody who wants to take some time out and work in a wonderful place with some super horses i would give it a go. The countryside is amazing and if it is who i think it is, they are nice people who feed you well with lots of socialising and drinking!!! Yes you will work hard and yes you will be exploited to an extent, but the clients are varied and interesting and the trial riding pretty spectacular, you get to ride anything from an Arab, PRE or rustic cob. Some clients love their holiday horses so much they end up buying them!
Even if they paid you there's nowhere to spend it, proper arse end of knowhere where they are
The only thing that might happen is that you die of heat exhaustion or get chilblains from the cold( not joking either)
Of course it might be somewhere else entirely , in which case ignore everything iv'e written, the greedy bstards
Even if they paid you there's nowhere to spend it, proper arse end of knowhere where they are
The only thing that might happen is that you die of heat exhaustion or get chilblains from the cold( not joking either)
Of course it might be somewhere else entirely , in which case ignore everything iv'e written, the greedy bstards
WandaMare
Well-Known Member
Even if someone saw this as a good opportunity to get experience, I can't see how they could stay in the post for too long without a wage. With accommodation, food and training provided, it might work out a good deal but how is this person supposed to buy things, gifts, toiletries, clothes, trips home to visit family.....everyone needs some cash to exist. I think its asking too much.
Chinchilla
...
If this was being done to someone else I'd be horrified, yet when I read that I thought ooh I'll give it a go! #desperate
It depends how much you were working re. the money, you might be able to fit in a proper paid job in the evenings/afternoons; it's illegal, for <17YOs, to work full time, but you'd be surprised how much someone can earn getting £5 - £10 a time for simple tasks for people. Not enough to live off , obviously, but I'm assuming whoever posted the advert wouldn't exactly want a teenager, would they, so they could do a proper job alongside: work experience and working pupil things aren't paid are they?? (I don't know!)
And let's face it - no one's paid to attend school - but that's generally regarded as quite a good thing :lol:
(And yes, the school comment is tongue-in-cheek. I'm thick but not that thick.)
I think for a few weeks in a holiday it would be a pretty cool experience and as someone said, fairly useful on your CV.
It depends how much you were working re. the money, you might be able to fit in a proper paid job in the evenings/afternoons; it's illegal, for <17YOs, to work full time, but you'd be surprised how much someone can earn getting £5 - £10 a time for simple tasks for people. Not enough to live off , obviously, but I'm assuming whoever posted the advert wouldn't exactly want a teenager, would they, so they could do a proper job alongside: work experience and working pupil things aren't paid are they?? (I don't know!)
And let's face it - no one's paid to attend school - but that's generally regarded as quite a good thing :lol:
(And yes, the school comment is tongue-in-cheek. I'm thick but not that thick.)
I think for a few weeks in a holiday it would be a pretty cool experience and as someone said, fairly useful on your CV.
ester
Not slacking multitasking
I'm always interested when they say 'all living expenses covered'
I can be quite expensive to keep
I can be quite expensive to keep
ozpoz
Well-Known Member
I did something like this many moons ago as a teenager. If they throw in some pocket money, and are decent people, it could well be a worthwhile experience.
Winifleur
Well-Known Member
You won't be having any trouble as the sunshine tour has been cancelled. Spain didn't get their venue permission approved.
Honey08
Waffled a lot!
I did all of that when I was younger, but got £150/week on top - that was 28yrs ago. I have zero respect for adults that think youngsters should slave away for "experience" (meaning the employers not you Rowreach!). Even as an au pair you get set hours and a little wage. Plus the advertised job is wanting someone with a fair bit of experience already if they expect them to be able to work with young horses, schooling and helping with the teaching.
NZJenny
Well-Known Member
Something similar has just hit the headlines here. An organic farm, using woofers as "volunteer" labour to get around the employment laws. The accommodation was bad (to say the least) and the food they were feeding the woofers was being scavenged from supermarket dumpsters!
Escapade
Well-Known Member
Link? The Costa del Sol tour has been cancelled, afaik the Sunshine tour is still going.
There are good employers out there, but stunts like Ellens sure do overshadow them 🙃🙃🙃