hypothetical question, would you hire me?

Question

Riding History
I am 20, I have ridden horses all my life. I am confident with handling horses while on the ground as well as at walk, trot, canter, gallop and jumping to about 80cm. As a child I attended pony club for one season and attained my D certificate but unfortunately, the branch I attended was disbanded soon after. As a child I never received riding lessons but instead learnt to safely control a horse while riding on roads, hills and forrestry, beaches, open country side and while riding in large groups.
At the beginning of 2009 I became interested in learning the finer points of riding and therefore sought riding lessons. Before I left for England in early July, I was begining to be introduced to shoulder in, leg yeild and other basic dressage movements as well as ‘proper’jumping. I have never competed seriously, however as a child I once entered an A&P show and received placings in some novice classes. The placing that stands out the most in my memory was gaining a 1st placing in the novice hunter class, as I had never jumped before.
I am also confident with tacking and untacking, grooming, catching and turning out, feeding, tack care, mucking out stalls and paddocks and can erect portable fencing. I can recognise lameness, signs of colic etc and am confident in ‘ponying’ another horse and rider.

As an Employee:
I know that working with horses is very hard work and not just riding horses all the time. I am fully prepared for this. I like to feel that I have truly earned my wage and therefore look forward to all aspects of the job, including mucking out stalls, cleaning tack, early mornings and long hours. I am polite and friendly and able to work as part of a team as well as independently. I take pride in being punctual and reliable and above all appreciate direct honesty. I am sensible and practical and, while some people find this strange and hard to believe, I am always calm and keep my head in stressful situations.
I did a first aid course in 2007, and am willing to do a refresher course if required.

This is me being completely honest about my riding abilities. I dont think i have made myself out to better than I am. In return I would like complete honesty from you, If I applied for a job with you, what would you hire me as? would you hire me at all? Could I expect any kind of pay, and what sort of pay could I expect? No nastiness please, you can be honest without being nasty. Thank you.

Answer 1

In all honesty, yes, I would employ you providing that you are as you say!

The fact that you have had no formal tuition until lately, would count as a plus because it would probably mean that you have taken the rough with the smooth and still carried on. It would also mean that you have had some fun on horses rather than everything being a strict regime.



As an employee I would expect you to be able to work alongside me and to take responsibility if I was doing other things. This would mean working as if I were there (I would be around but, maybe doing something like fencing, topping the fields but not actually in the barns)



As for riding I only have racehorses (jumpers) but when they are at home I tell them that they are riding school horses or else! LOL



After I knew you could ride and handle the horses then I would have you exercise on your own and to do so responsibly.



In return, if you were as good as you portray, you would get a decent wage, instruction in the arena, teaching on how to handle the young horses, (foals up) and if you were capable I would allow you to help break in some of the youngsters. The chance to fox hunt and to learn a great deal.



ADD ON

I disagree with Rooster, especially over the degrees and qualifications in 'Equine Studies'

I have had these people come and they sure do know a lot however, knowing and repeating verbatum from what they were told and being able to do it are totally different things. Most do not even know what a broom is for and if they do then they feel it is beneath them to use it. They are not use to looking after more than one or two horses and the real world is a shock to them.



I will allow anyone who has proven capable and keen, the chance to do something like start a young horse, ride a youngster away, compete, hunt or whatever, because it is the only way they will learn. I will watch and correct.

Yes, there is a lot of routine work and monetary rewards are few so, anyone employed should have the chance to learn and go forward with their chosen career.

I do have good qualifications on paper and worked hard for them, however, what I learned for those exams bear little weight on real work with horses. I owe a lot to employers who gave me the chance to learn with their horses and if they were willing to teach and trust me then I was willing to work that little bit harder.

All to often in this business staff are treated like the stuff they are mucking out on a daily basis and all sorts of excuses made for not allowing a staff member to progress.



My argument would be that the more a staff member is taught the more assistance they are to you. Is someone who mucks out and does the yard work any less valuable than someone who comes in to ride to exercise and then goes home? I think not.

Answer 2

No, you sound like you know just enough to get you into trouble and not enough to hit the ground running.



I would leave out the long descriptions of what you have competed in and that you just learned a "shoulder in" leg yield. Just stick to the basics. You have experience with horses, competing with horses, taking riding lessons, and general horsemanship.



Just say that you work hard, you work well with others, and you are anxious to get as much experience as possible around horses. Don't mention the part about people finding it hard to believe that you are calm in stressful situations. I know that is not how you meant it, but that is how it comes across.



A resume or an introduction is meant to get your foot in the door. So you want to give them just enough to be interested, but not so much as to be turned off.



Edit - I am just trying to be honest, I own a boarding facility. You would only be qualified to be barn help. And I can get one of the 13 year old boarders to fill that position in exchange for a lower board.



Training jobs, herd management jobs, even apprenticeships - the stuff where you are going to get paid and get a lot of experience - I would only look at someone with years of solid experience, not the little here and there that you go into detail about. More than likely some college education in animal management or equine science is what I would really look for from anyone higher than just mucking stalls.



If you clean up what you wrote, and just stuck to the basics you would do better. Other work experience might be a plus also. Anything that is people or animal related. Something that shows that you have people skills, or demonstrates a good work ethic.



Foxhunter - I agree that a person with a degree doesn't necessarily know anything practical - my point was more that what she wrote would not get me to hire her. (which was the question) I have a list of a dozen or so teenagers with the same qualifications that I already know. My point was more that if she wrote that up in a resume, or gave me that speech, I would pass her by. And while a degree or "paper" credentials don't equal practical experience, it shows a foundation of knowledge that gets your foot in the door.



You may be a great employee that can do everything, the point is, what you wrote says you are 20 with a very limited experience and almost no formal education in riding or equine management. That means you only qualify for a pee-on job, and most barn owners have a list of kids that they know to choose for those positions - or they don't have time to train someone currently.



Change what you wrote to be a little more vague about your experience, list any other job experience that shows you are dependable, and hope you learn fast and you will do fine. But with what you wrote - you are setting yourself up for mucking stalls for a long time.

Answer 3

Hypothetically would I hire you? Well it depends. Who am I? What kind of riding stable am I? (In other words, where are you applying?)

Am I a local small stable? Or am I a huge showing barn?



Also, I would have to see you live in action, and I may give you an internship, or a trial for the position.



Edit----



Okay fine. I dont own a stable but I help out at one, I would consider it an average, somewhat small barn with little showing access.



I would have you out, and put you on a lesson horse to show me how well you ride. Then I would have you pick out a few stalls, groom the horses, maybe feed them. Turn them out etc. Just to get a glimpse at how well you do things. I may send a few "guinea pigs" to the barn to ask you questions, and to see how personable you are.



If you are a good rider, and are personable, and can do the tasks with skill, I would hire you.

Answer 4

i think u would make a great employee, the only thing that sets me off a little is that u didn't start taking formal lessons until this year, i would suggest a few more years cuz ur probably going to instruct those classes, i have only been riding for 3 years, but i worked at my instructors summer camp all summer and learned a ton, u have to be extremely patient and u will get some really annoying children, but u have to put up with them. i also learned that i was no where near to being half the rider i thought i was, and i saw how far ive come.

Answer 5

Well I am a boarder at a large stable and honestly I would. You are just as qualified as every single employee they have including myself.

Where my horse is I occasionally work to lower my board and each horse I exercise is $20 and cleaning stalls and other micellanious things are $10 a hour.

Answer 6

I have 2 horses that need alot of attention that i cant give them. i ride them one every other week and i would like for them to be cared and rode every day. i would hire you to come about twice a day once in the morning annd evening.

Morning:

Arrive at 6:30 a.m

Feed horses

Give fresh water

Muck both stalls

brush horses

ride each horse for 30 mins



i will do the afternoon duties like feeding them during my lunch hour.



Evening:

Arrive at 6:00 p.m.

Feed horses

Muck any remains in stalls

Give fresh water if needed

ride horses for 15 mins each and work on trotting and jumping.



also i show my horses about once a year and i would have you probably have you help me get them ready for show and come to the show with me as an assistant.



if you live with 30 mins of the 16150 zip code please email me at [e-mail]



-Emma

Answer 7

If i was hiring someone to work I would hire you. you have alot more experience then alot of people seem too.



depends on what you want to do exactly... stable hand i think anyone would hire you. as for riding, just a matter of finding an employer who isnt stuck up and wiling to teach a little on the way.



if your looking for work check out different web sites for horse jobs. not alot out there at the moment but keep your eyes open. you have a good chance at getting hired in my opinion



good luck