working for a horse farm?

[Ashley]

Has anybody ever done this? I went to a show this weekend to watch, relax and catch up with people I havent seen for years. While there I helped out here and there as that is what I like to do. I got to thinking I would love to work for a horse farm until I get done with school.

Has anybody ever done this? How do you even go about finding one to work for? Good? Bad? Ugly?

 

[Matt73]

Yep, I have. When I was younger I boarded my horses at and rode and showed at an A Circuit barn. I ended up working as well for one summer to help pay for my showing. In 2001 I travelled to Wellington, FL to groom, ride, etc for an A Circuit barn in Ontario. They were great people; I had known him when I was showing years back. We had a blast. It was a lot of work, though. It depends on what kind of work you want to do. Is it only miniatures you are looking to work with? If you work for an A Circuit barn you have to be very knowledgable and the expectations on you are very very high. If you travel and groom with the barn the work load and stress is even higher. Days are often over 12-14 hours. And you don't get a day off. 12 horses traveled with us to FLA and there were 3 grooms. So we each got 4 horses for the 3 months. It was a great experience. Here are some sites that might be helpful to you:

http://yardandgroom.com/

http://www.equiman.com/

Not sure if they're helpful for you in the U.S., but they should be.

 

[Shari]

I worked for private barns for years, when I was younger. Only time I slept over was when they went to shows or traveled, other wise it was a day job. Enjoyed it a lot but I did have good bosses.

 

[anoki]

I worked at the same horse barn for the past 14 years.

I LOVED it!!! It was just a small private barn, and there were a lot of people (and horses) go through it over the years. The owners were dressage trainers. I learned A LOT from them....definitely A LOT of work though, many, MANY hours for very little pay....but I wouldn't have traded it for the world....

~kathryn

 

[~Lisa~]

If you work for an A Circuit barn you have to be very knowledgable and the expectations on you are very very high. If you travel and groom with the barn the work load and stress is even higher. Days are often over 12-14 hours. And you don't get a day off.

.

I agree it can be a great experience. Of course grooms usually do not stay in the hotel at big shows they are in the barn with the horses.

Often you have to deal with some snotty people as you get the horse ready so they can come ride- then you untack it and put it away. That was hard for me to see they didnt love their amazing horses the way I did.

It is a lot of stress and responsibility to have very expensive horses in your care and make sure they are spotless and show ready in appearance at all times. You never know when an owner will show up and you can bet that horse needs to be wrapped- clean and shiny and ready to work.

All of that said it was a wonderful experience I learned so much and loved every minute of it. I could never have learned what I did taking lessons or just hanging around the barn. I got to work some beautiful animals and met some great people. All in all hard work very hard work and fun work I loved it probobly some of the best times of my life

 

[Matt73]

I agree it can be a great experience. Of course grooms usually do not stay in the hotel at big shows they are in the barn with the horses.

Often you have to deal with some snotty people as you get the horse ready so they can come ride- then you untack it and put it away. That was hard for me to see they didnt love their amazing horses the way I did.

It is a lot of stress and responsibility to have very expensive horses in your care and make sure they are spotless and show ready in appearance at all times. You never know when an owner will show up and you can bet that horse needs to be wrapped- clean and shiny and ready to work.

They didn't put you in hotels, Lisa? All of the barns I've known have had their grooms in hotels/motels during shows. During our stay in Florida us grooms got a whole house

Maybe we're spoiled in Ontario

Unless a horse was sick (required round-the-clock care) we stayed in some nice digs. Then one of us would do night check at 11:00pm (blanket if necessary, feed hay/water, just make sure all is well).

All of that said it was a wonderful experience I learned so much and loved every minute of it. I could never have learned what I did taking lessons or just hanging around the barn. I got to work some beautiful animals and met some great people. All in all hard work very hard work and fun work I loved it probobly some of the best times of my life

 

[~Lisa~]

Nope stayed with the horses and the tack 24/7. No big deal though easier to roll out of bed at the but t crack of dawn to feed and braid and hope to get another little bit of sleep before they needed to be warmed up and ready to go.

 

[tagalong]

Days are often over 12-14 hours 22 hours. And you don't get a day off.

Amended that for you.

 

[Ashley]

Im not afraid of hard work. I would guess it would have to be mini as I am not good enough to work with big horses. I love to clip, and dont even care about getting beat up, the black and blue marks on my body now would tell that story.

Every job with the exception of the Corrections job I had I did not like. I have yet to find a job where I feel like I really work and give everything I have to work. I like a job that makes me feel exhausted and tired, I have accomplished something then. I like to work hard, and love being outside.

These days just not sure what kind of job would make me happy and complete, like I actually have done something.

 

[Nathan Luszcz]

I spent four years working at large barns as a professional, and always ended up with miserable, penny pinching bosses. And everyone I've spoken to with similar qualifications to me has reported the same. I got tired of being abused and left the industry so that I could actually make a living. I have a Master's degree in animal science and the most I ever made was $35k/yr. After that I had to take a pay cut to $24k/yr, and held that salary through the next four jobs (as a breeding manager, stallion manager, or broodmare manager... very technical, skilled positions).