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Need help!!

4K views 14 replies 5 participants last post by  Snizard93 
#1 ·
This isn't really questions or anything I just need to vent and maybe get some helpful ideas and suggestions.

I am 18 years old and in my 2nd year of college. I finish in May 2012. I am studying for a Level 3 National Diploma, and my expected grade is D*D*D* :lol: Horse Management was my first choice but my college cancelled that at the last minute.

Although I have no horse related qualifications (at the moment) I have 11 years experience working with them.

I have no idea what to do when I finish college! It's really stressing me out and I am starting to get worried. Horses really are my life and I know everyone says it but I really do have passion for them! I don't know whether to go to university or not, if I did I couldn't go too far away because of my boyfriend, friends, family and general lack of money! I really am skint! :-( Then I think about going back into college (because before I am 19 college fees are free for me). But, what do I study? I was thinking an Extended Diploma in Horse Management. My issue with this is all equine colleges are far away from me and it would cost a lot to travel there! I can't afford to stay in student accommodation. Then I think about simply applying for groom/yard hand jobs once I finish college and working my way up from there. Is this an option? I don't know. And my final option, apprenticeships. I would like one of these because I get payed whilst learning! And I will end up with a qualification. However, I can't find any nearby so would have to move away.

All of this is really getting me down.

I always wanted to achieve the BHS certificates... and then I found out how much they cost so that's not an option any time soon :-(

I think about all of this all of the time! I just don't know what to do after college!
 
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#2 ·
Do you live at home? I finished my A levels and live at home with my parents and work on the camp we're on to earn money to keep the horse, or you could put that in to savings. You could see if you could get some local stables work, and if not, even working in tesco's is better than nothing ;)
 
#3 ·
Yes, well, I live with my nan because for reasons I won't go into my stupid woman who calls herself my mum kicked me out :shock: I have a little bit of money saved but I really don't want to go into that any time soon. I have emailed various stables around here but haven't got anything back yet (I did only do that this week). So scared about leaving college!
 
#4 ·
Don't be :) You have a roof over your head, and finding a job means you can pay rent to your nan and start being responsible for your own money, the first few months you probably won't save anything xD But after that, if you really want it, you'll be able to save money to do your BHS levels...when you have them, you have a bette chance of getting a better job in the UK or abroad within the equine community.
 
#6 ·
ANY qualification in the horse world is good, but BHS is noted nationwide. I'm a Brit living in Germany and you wouldn't believe the amount of German friends who asked me if I was BHS trained!! Even they know about it ;D

Its alright saying yes I've owned horses and ridden all my life, but until you have that piece of paper to say this is what I've done, how far I've achieved and how much effort I am willing to put in, they're unlikely to pay you as well as someone else.

When I was looking at horse jobs over here, they were looking for English speakers with quals, to groom/au pair in some cases. The higher your level, the more you get paid. And experience. Be prepared to do some hard graft, even if you don't get paid for working at a stables in your free time, it'll give you experience, and if there is a will there is a way.
 
#7 ·
Thanks Duffy, helpful as always :)

Looks like I have some saving to do then! Like you say, it'll be worth it in the end. I have no issues working for free, as part of my college course we had to do 200 hours of work experience. I don't mind at all :)
 
#12 ·
you may have figured this out already but I'm kinda in the same boat. I'm 20, going to school for welding because I know you can make bank doing it. I love doing it and hate doing it. I'm from WI, but come July of 2012 I'm moving to WY... you may not have much money but if you plan ahead and find some people out there that can help you out then take it from there. thats what I'm doing aways.. If things dont work out you always will know where home is...
 
#14 ·
I wouldn't advise Germany.
I don't know about France.
It is a VERY difficult market to get in to. Out here, if you're single with no children you pay I think 40% tax on earnings over €400.
Not only that, but GP riders are a dime a dozen, and thats what they look for. Being female also doesn't help, unless the trainer/owner isn't interested in females.
I know a friend of mine au pairs in France, and she was picked up by a family in Paris- she now has an apartment supplied to her which is bigger than my house, which is fairly roomy. Sometimes it pays off, but do your research first.
 
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