I'm a professional showjumper - AMA

[showjumper]

As the title says

Feel free to ask me anything!

Interesting thread OP!

I'm a groom (hunters mainly but have worked with everything!) and have managed several big yards. How easy do you find it to get good grooms?! Is it just around us that we struggle!! There seems to be a real shortage of kind, decent, honest and hard working grooms who genuinely love horses. Far too many idle, phone addicted 'all the gear and no idea' types. And yes - the pay is decent, the hours have never been excessive and the horses well mannered and smart.

Is geoff billington as nice as he seems? Is there anyone you have been star struck to meet?

DD wants to have a future in horsey world. Current plan is equine physiotherapy i believe. I think we have negotiated that if she does A levels, we'll support her doing an equine degree but she is concerned that she'll then be on the back foot starting the degree if she doesn't do a relevant BTEC.

Thoughts on education, what she should do to help herself (i'm guessing that networking is very important!), etc? Many thanks!

To put it bluntly.
Does the phrase "Fuuuuuuuck, that's a big hedge" frequent your daily thoughts?

Not many hedges in a show jumping ring though Bee! Maybe 'fuuuck that's a big oxer!!!!' Maybe!?

Ohh how many maybes?!? Whoops!

@Orlandointhewilderness

Interesting thread OP!

I'm a groom (hunters mainly but have worked with everything!) and have managed several big yards. How easy do you find it to get good grooms?! Is it just around us that we struggle!! There seems to be a real shortage of kind, decent, honest and hard working grooms who genuinely love horses. Far too many idle, phone addicted 'all the gear and no idea' types. And yes - the pay is decent, the hours have never been excessive and the horses well mannered and smart.

Is geoff billington as nice as he seems? Is there anyone you have been star struck to meet?

Thank you 😁

You sound lovely - can you come & work for me please!!!
I believe it's an endemic problem - as you said, the good, decent, hardworking ones are like gold dust. I get it - it's often a lifestyle rather than a "career" - however we are constantly sifting through the (usually) girls who turn up with an allergy to hard work and mucking out.
We feel exactly the same - lovely horses, great pay, I'd like to believe I'm a good boss, amazing shows. Huge shortage of them.
Saying that, my head girl has been with me for 5 years now and is absolutely fantastic.

Geoff is fab!! He is a lovely, lovely guy and is so much fun.
Not so much now but I used to get super star struck the first time I met Nick Skelton I blabbed something ridiculous and went bright red lol.

If you were to add up the value of the horses on your yard, what would it come to?

I was privileged to ride an international dressage horse who happened to be on the same livery yard. Valued at 100k, it was great to see he was treated just the same as all the other horses on the yard.

@flatmouse

DD wants to have a future in horsey world. Current plan is equine physiotherapy i believe. I think we have negotiated that if she does A levels, we'll support her doing an equine degree but she is concerned that she'll then be on the back foot starting the degree if she doesn't do a relevant BTEC.

Thoughts on education, what she should do to help herself (i'm guessing that networking is very important!), etc? Many thanks!

Tricky one - I would try and guide your DD towards A-Levels as opposed to a BTEC and instead strongly encourage her to do as much work experience/shadowing/part time work in holidays/weekends as possible. I personally do not think she will be on any back foot in the slightest.

She may change her mind after her BTEC but by that point, going back to ALevels and ultimately uni could be costly. My parents instilled education as a back up and I did get a degree before focussing 110% full time on horses.

Best of luck to her 😁👍🏼

@Beeyawnsay

To put it bluntly.
Does the phrase "Fuuuuuuuck, that's a big hedge" frequent your daily thoughts?

As @Orlandointhewilderness put it in "oxer" terms.... yes 😂😂😂😂 when I was in my teens I asked a very renowned trainer what to do if I had a bad shot at a big oxer, her reply was actually "close your eyes, kick and hope for the best" 😂

How much turnout do your top horses get and do you hack them out?

@twoheaped

If you were to add up the value of the horses on your yard, what would it come to?

I was privileged to ride an international dressage horse who happened to be on the same livery yard. Valued at 100k, it was great to see he was treated just the same as all the other horses on the yard.

I googled 'oxer'. Thanks for the insight. Full respect. I got on a horse once and I could tell it was pissed off that, of all the people in the group, they ended up with me.

Thanks @showjumper

She spends her life at the yard (although we will be limiting next year as GCSE year). Definitely not afraid of hard work! Will suggest she tries to find opportunities to shadow elements she is interested in.

@TheGoldenWolfFleece

How much turnout do your top horses get and do you hack them out?

At home, they will go out for a few hours daily. Yes 100% at home 90% of their work is flatwork and hacking

@flatmouse she sounds great - most people are very happy to help. The very best of luck to her x

flatmouse does she do Pony club? My dd worked through the tests until she got her B and lunging tests, or she could do the BHS exams at college in the evening once she's done GCSES

showjumper this is such an interesting thread the only one I've found interesting so far

@twistella The stables she's at is PC & BHS. They are currently working towards one stage one BHS accreditation - she's done parts 1-3 and will soon be doing 4-6. Not sure what will be available to do at the stables after that.
As you can probably tell, we're not a horsey family and i have no knowledge on the subject!!

@Twistella thank you 😁

you can do the BHS exams at college one night a week - have a look on the BHS website to see if there is one near you @flatmouse

@flatmouse

You might find she has to do human physiotherapy first??? Before horse. I'm not certain of that, I've just heard it said somewhere. And I'm sure my horses physio said it in a distant conversation. (I'm not sure if that's because she was a human physio and decided to switch or that was the required route)

Did you compete in the Olynpics?

@bluetrees - interesting - will suggest she researches if that is a requirement. Not mentioned as a requirement to do BSc (Hons) Equine Therapy and Rehabilitation which i think is degree she's aiming for.

(Struggling having younger child knowing exactly what they want to do and where with it going against my instincts and older child who doesn't have much of a clue!)

@showjumper sorry for derailing!!

@CraftyGin no unfortunately I haven't competed in any olympics. Hoping 2020 is my year 😁

@flatmouse no worries!!! Xx