Please Read! WS Questions

[miranduz]

I am looking for a good working student position at an eventing barn.

It would need to be live-in and include board for one horse, these expenses would need to be a direct exchange for work. Some that I have looked at still charge a lower rate for board, etc.

I have been interested in Team CEO Eventing and I was wondering if anyone knew anything about them from personal experiences. What's their facility like? Anything you know would be helpful.

Also, anyone who has done a working student program before...how much did you spend on everything you needed to do this? What all did you need to take with you? Did you have to pay your own entry fees for shows?

ANY info you can give will be VERY appreciated =)

Thanks!

[WakeRider]

there have been a TON of threads on this... and many on CEO Eventing... try searching for them and you'll find all your answers

[miranduz]

I'm new on here...how do I search for them?

[Eventer55]

Go to the top right of this forum, find the "search" box, type in what you want and hit go. If you have problems you can go to advanced search.

Sometimes it takes a bit of work, but you'll get the hang of it, or come back on and ask someone besides me:lol:

[Threedaydream]

Well, I can only speak from my experience, but Team CEO is great. You will work long and hard hours at any ws position (unless it's one of those ones where you pay to be there :rolleyes:) but you will recieve SO much coaching and experience that it's totally worth it. The facilities are great; not fancy or brand new, but well kept and clean. I would suggest contacting megan (I'm sure there's info on the website) for details. She is extremely nice and very communicative. Good luck finding a place you like!

[Jazzy Lady]

. You will work long and hard hours at any ws position (unless it's one of those ones where you pay to be there :rolleyes:)

Ha! Paying to work doesn't exempt you from long and hard hours!

[Kap]

I am looking for a good working student position at an eventing barn.

It would need to be live-in and include board for one horse, these expenses would need to be a direct exchange for work. Some that I have looked at still charge a lower rate for board, etc.

I have been interested in Team CEO Eventing and I was wondering if anyone knew anything about them from personal experiences. What's their facility like? Anything you know would be helpful.

Also, anyone who has done a working student program before...how much did you spend on everything you needed to do this? What all did you need to take with you? Did you have to pay your own entry fees for shows?

ANY info you can give will be VERY appreciated =)

Thanks!

When I was a working student, I worked about 10 hours a day, 5 and a half days a week in exchange for complete full board for my one horse and a room in a small apartment on the farm (utilities and a few amenities included). That's it. No pay, and no, I have never heard of an employer paying the entry fees for their working student UNLESS you are showing one of the farm's horses and it is at the farm's request (not as a loaner horse that you requested to take to a show). If you bring your own horse, I am pretty sure you'll be paying your own entry fees. If you find a farm that will pay them for you, let me know, I wanna sign up! :lol:

I don't know what you mean by "how much did you spend on everything you needed to do this." Maybe if you clarify your situation I can help. Are you planning to travel a long way to get to the farm where you'll be working? In that case, factor in shipping fees (or gas money, if you have your own truck and trailer) to get there and back. Other than that, I can't think of anything you really need to buy or spend money on to prepare. As for what to take with you, take everything your horse will need, all your show stuff if you plan to event while you're there, and all your day-to-day living supplies. The farm should be able to clarify anything else you'll need to bring. Most of the time if an apartment is provided, it comes at least partly furnished.

As everyone always says whenever someone asks about working student positions (and it's often), be prepared to work your heiny off and have little time for anything else! It's rewarding if you find the right situation, and hell if you don't, so make sure to ask a lot of questions and find out beforehand if it's going to be a good fit, especially if they require a commitment of X number of months. Come to think of it, if they'll let you (and they might not), you might want to "shadow" a working student for a day to see what the routine will be like.

Edit: I forgot to mention, daily lessons were included, and coaching at shows if my trainer was going to be there.

[tx3dayeventer]

Ha! Paying to work doesn't exempt you from long and hard hours!

I was about to say the same thing!!!!!! I paid to be a WS and still was in the barn busting my butt about 110 hours a week. More if we had a horse show. Needless to say I could eat ANYTHING and never gain a pound. Instilled unrealistic eating habits that I am now paying for with a desk job :rolleyes:

[Tamsin]

My impression is that most well-established, decent eventing barns that have working student positions offer compensation in the form of free housing, free meals and/or free or reduced board for one horse. Some offer all three, others offer less, and I guess some BNT offer nothing or even expect you to pay for working. But ws positions don't usually pay an actual salary and you will almost certainly be responsible for your entry fees. You will also be responsible for vet care, farrier care, and any equipment or personal items that you or your horse need. So the OP's question about "how much did you spend on everything you needed to do this" is a good one: it could be significant depending on your horse's and your needs and how much you intend to compete.

The person who worked 10 hours a day 5.5 days a week had a pretty easy time of it. When my daughter was a ws she worked 6 days a week, 13-14 hrs each day. It was VERY exhausting, and despite being fanatically interested in horses and riding, she was pretty burned out by the end of the year. She had regular lessons, though, and coaching at shows and she learned a huge amount about the horse industry and eventing.

[rideforthelaurels16]

I'm a WS at Team Windchase in VA and it's amazing. You get housing, board, and training. You have to pay your own entry fees unless you're competing a client's horse for training purposes (which is reserved for senior WSs anyway). If you'd like more info about it please pm me. I also interviewed at Team CEO but Windchase is the place to be :D

[eventer4eva]

PM me if you'd like more info on Team CEO.

[katjumpr9]

I know Courtney Copper is hiring. She would be AMAZING to work for. Try there first... CSquare Farm. VERY VERY professional.

[mythical84]

I know Courtney Copper is hiring. She would be AMAZING to work for. Try there first... CSquare Farm. VERY VERY professional.

You can reach Courtney Cooper through her website www.csquarefarm.com or by emailing her at csquarefarm@yahoo.com

[Ravencrest_Camp]

You had to work 14 hours a day as a working student? .

LUXURY, we had to get up 2 hours before we went to bed. Our housing was a hole in the ground. The only thing we had to eat was dirt, and the BNT use to beat us regularly.

But we LOVED it, and learned so much, wouldn't change a thing.

:D:D:D:D:D

[Blugal]

LUXURY, we had to get up 2 hours before we went to bed.


Been there! :lol::winkgrin:

[piaffequeen]

I am not sure if Caroline Atherholt Dowd is looking for a working student. She has had them in the past. There is an apt you could stay in and board your horse. She is a great trainer and teacher-I love her farm-wish I could move there full time! Her website is www.carolinedowd.com She is in Eagle Rock, VA about 30 minutes from the Horse Center.

[Adair]

LUXURY, we had to get up 2 hours before we went to bed. Our housing was a hole in the ground. The only thing we had to eat was dirt, and the BNT use to beat us regularly.

But we LOVED it, and learned so much, wouldn't change a thing.

:D:D:D:D:D


----Monty Python's 'Four Yorkshiremen' - my favorite sketch!!! I'm looking to be a working student this summer and am very excited about it!

[cheval80]

Holly Payne was looking for a working student and may still be, www.hollypayne.com

Check out Jim Graham's farm, www.meadowrunfarm.com. He is looking to pay for a full time groom. But, you may be able to convince him to let you bring your horse, take lessons, and be able to ride and compete, and still make money. Although, you will work your but off. Plus, David Adamo, a well known advanced level eventer on the West Coast, is also based out of Meadow Run Farm now.

Good luck in your search!