Apprenticeship, college, qualifications, voluntary work…?

[Rebecccca]

After much thought my daughter (16) has said she would like to work with horses. We couldn’t afford riding lessons when she was younger but she was very lucky to have spend lots of time in her friends yard. Sadly GCSEs were a wash out due to social anxiety at the time but now stronger she seemed to have missed the boat in terms of college courses. I’ve emailed a couple of local yards about level 2 apprenticeships but no joy. Any advice on how to progress, she’s able and keen. Waiting to see a careers advisor who I hope will have some answers.

Have you contacted Haddon Training - they offer a lot of on the job apprenticeships and would be able to give advice about the options available to your daughter. In general, apprenticeships are looked on much more favourably by employers than college courses so if she definitely wants to work with horses that would probably be the way to go. However (and it’s a big however) working with horses is very different from having them as a hobby. A groom’s life is physically demanding (especially in winter) and there are some pretty horrible/unhinged employers out there so she’ll need to develop a fair bit of resilience. It’d be worth looking at the British Grooms Association website too https://britishgrooms.org.uk/

Thankyou, such great information!

Have you looked at British racing school/northern racing college/ national stud/ Irish national stud? All will take young people with very limited horsey back ground. Including non-riders.

Racing is far better regulated than most of the equestrian industry in terms of pay, time off, accomodation etc.

There is also the opportunity for travel, if your on a big yard halter money can be really really good.

thankyou I’ll look at the racing route links

I think her best bet would be an apprenticeship- both yards I’ve been on have had several at a time and they usually complete their training so it must be ok.
if you give an approximate area or even county people may be able to help a bit more.

Was going to suggest looking at racing options too. I work in the industry and the courses at the British Racing School are extremely well thought of (same for Northern Racing College it’s just that I’m Newmarket based so know the BRS well!)

The BRS Foundation Course will also help students get their GCSE Maths and English too if they don’t already have them: https://brs.org.uk/course/foundation-course/

It’s obviously worth saying that very very few students passing through the racing school actually make it as professional jockeys, so if that is an aim she might need to be realistic- a bit like all the kids that go through the football academies, few of them actually make it.

An alternative when she’s slightly older is also looking at stud work within racing. The National Stud in Newmarket offer courses for 18-25 year olds - I did a 6 month course there when I was 19 and have worked in racing ever since (24 years!): https://nationalstud.co.uk/education/courses-and-training

Good idea, we are in Gloucestershire.

That looks an amazing opportunity! Thankyou

Im going to pm you!

If you are in Gloucestershire there are lots of Jumps yards in the area, what with the proximity to Cheltenham (see screenshot). It might be worth contacting some to see if she could go in and have a look around to see if she thinks te the kind of job she’d like. Most of the yards are really approachable and happy to help out.

This link might also help: https://www.racehorsetrainers.org/industry/working.asp

My daughter is at a lovely yard which offers NVQ Levels in functional skills and equestrian studies. She's been there since age 14. This is the midlands.

Some great info here, much appreciated

Sparsholt college near Winchester, Hants has an equine unit, you can have your own horse, and board.

I would contact one of the two racing schools. Lots of different career paths available not just as work riders etc

I've just found some information about equine traineeships which possibly might be a practical first step?

Not a career path but she might enjoy volunteering with an RDA group. Lots of friendly faces and a wealth of horsey experience at most groups.Could be good experience?

I'd second trying to get an apprenticeship through someone like Haddon Training or KEITS. Its worth her thinking first about the type of yard / horses she would like to work with. Racing pays well but so can competition groom roles , especially if someone has the right experience and is happy to work abroad.

A quick update for anyone interested. My daughter has just started a level 2 apprenticeship and will be doing her maths/English level 2 functional skills alongside. The yard itself is very ethical with lovely staff. She’s absolutely loving it!

Super