The Thinker asked:
I am thinking of taking a gap year after I graduate from high school, and I want to get out of America and see the rest of the world before college. Are there many opportunities for gap year students who have equine experience to work (live in accommodations) in the UK?
Well, I don’t have the finances to travel the world, so living in one foreign country will do. All I really wanted to see was the UK and Spain, anyway.
I am thinking of taking a gap year after I graduate from high school, and I want to get out of America and see the rest of the world before college. Are there many opportunities for gap year students who have equine experience to work (live in accommodations) in the UK?
Well, I don’t have the finances to travel the world, so living in one foreign country will do. All I really wanted to see was the UK and Spain, anyway.
Lots of barns would be willing to do that. Most only require a high school educations and that, no matter how many years since it was aquired, is enough. Seeing the world sounds like fun, but are you sure you can see it in only a year? just something to think about. Try this website for finding a good job.
OMG! I was just looking at an advert in the UK for a person to work full time at a stable there. I saw it on a UK horse website. (I don’t need a job, but I need a riding stable in Edinburgh. I’m going there for my study abroad.)
Google equine employment uk
I don’t know about the UK. But if you are a good enough rider, you can possibly be a working student for a professional that you have ridden with before. Many trainers are in Europe,although most in the US stay in the US (Its kinda hard to have to cart your horses across the Atlantic 2x a year.) Working students usually get a place to live, and (atleast) 1 lesson per week. They prolly also get board for their horse if they bring one,although some people have to pay for their own board. (If the trainer works out of a stable they don’t own, you have to pay board obviously if you keep your horse there) They have to pay for their own food though, plus gas or whatever. They are usually used to do basic stuff- loungeing the horses before a ride, cooling off, cleaning tack, grooming, possibly driving a rig to a show or venue. Someone I know fixed some meals for the person she was being a working student for, but that was because the trainer was on a special diet suggested by the student. Stuff like that. It can be pricey though.
I know 2 people who were working students for Becky Holder, and one that is a working student for Erik Dirks. They say its fun, but alot of work. I would do it if I was offered but otherwise I wouldnt.
I guess you could also maybe be a groom. But that would take a while to build your reputation,and it isnt something that you do for a year with a professional and then leave.
You could always clean stables, but it wouldnt be worth it. You would have to pay for room and board, and no where is stable help payed enormously.So it might not be worth it. Even if it was in England.
Absolutely! Many students take gap years and go and work overseas in stables. I even had an offer to work with Eric Lamaze because my friend took a gap year there! But I’m going straight to University to become a vet.
Go to – It’s amazing. Basically you set up a profile of yourself and what your capabilities are (e.g. riding, plaiting, nannying, lunging, first aid, etc) and other types of information. Then you can browse through most countries of the world that have jobs available (these range from grooming for any discipline/riding, farrier, basically anything equestrian). So you can specifically look up the UK and have a rank in which countries you prefer to work in. On the profiles of the people who are looking for workers (i.e you), there is usually the amount of money they will pay you etc. A lot of the people on there are professionals too, so you will definitely learn a lot.
Good luck!
Many stables/riding schools are willing to take on pretty much anyone, they tend to have a high turnover, mostly because the people taking the jobs only want temporary or short term work. Just don’t expect more than basic wage for the job.
Anything online will be immediately visible, but try cold contacting stables and ask.
i have just started my own business and would be willing to hire you please e-mail me for more details please put horse breaking as the subject so i don’t think it’s junk
Go with becca she is giving you a great opportunity.
there will be loads. allot of people also go as a mothers help.normally you look after the horses and the kids. get paid and free accommodation.
just be very careful there is some odd people around.
This is the time of year when many grooms drop out of the equine business, typically those that started recently in the summer and find the winter routine a lot harder..
Therefore if you are serious about it, you should not struggle finding a position even if you are not very experienced.
One riding school in South Wales is looking for a groom / working pupil.
Their website is
Check it out and if it’s the kind of place you would like to work at give them an email. I know the yard and whilst the work is hard, the environment and the horses are great.
Hope that’s of some help..
lee valley riding center in leytonstone is always lookind for help
zoe **** ..x