Unfortunately the horse industry is really good at taking advantage of young women who love horses.
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If you want to stay in this type of position, you might start looking around at other barns in the area for opportunities. It is also possible that things will improve at your current barn when winter is over and the COVID situation improves. I do think that everyone is currently a worse version of themselves than they might be in better times due to the stress and uncertainty.
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Honestly, after hearing the expectations the BO has, I would think you could do better overall in a non-barn job with regular hours/5 days a week and boarding somewhere significantly cheaper. Does the outside trainer that you like teach at any other barns where you could continue to ride with her? (Or could you board somewhere that you could have her come in?)
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You mentioned you really like the guest instructor.
If she trains out of another barn, it can’t hurt to ask if that barn is hiring.
Or if she knows of any other places.
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Right now it sounds like the best thing about the job is the visiting instructor. You don’t even like the instructor at the barn.
I agree, your description of the boss makes her sound like an exploitative bully. Also it’s clear you have very little autonomy at work, and I wouldn’t really call you a manager. Staying three unpaid hours to lock up is insane.
It doesn’t sound to me like you have big concrete realistic competition goals that are going to be advanced at this barn, and indeed it’s possible the training program isn’t that great despite the high costs.
It sounds like for you at this point, this is a dead end and unsustainable job. I think you need a multi stage exit strategy. First you need to figure out another kind of job that you can slide over to. Then when you have some breathing room, you need to figure out what good quality careers you can build on your animal science degree. You might need some further training in something.
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UK example. A recent advert, to replace the first groom to leave in about 4 years.
Mixed riding school and livery, 50 horses, 6 F/T staff. Job involves mucking out, grooming and other horse care, riding for exercise of livery horses and escort for public hacks, teaching clients and training under supervision of BHSI. Staff are taken out foxhunting, xc training, dressage with FBHS trainer, are taught and supported through BHS exams.
“Salary based on 43 hr wk over 5.5 days on annualised contract. 30 days paid annual leave, plenty of opportunities for taking more exams and competing. Regular weekly coaching sessions, live in available with bills paid (subject to accommodation offset allowance), livery for one horse a possibility.”
The owner used to be head groom to an Olympic rider and so she has experience from the shovel upwards. And UK employment law is far tighter.
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I feel like your BO is so typical of so many of the BO’s I’ve met.
I’m going to make some suggestion that you can feel free to throw away.
How long have you been there? I’d try to make it to the 1 year mark just for the sake of your resume so long as your mental health won’t suffer.
I kind remembered your sn from a previous thread so I looked at one of your last posts. Sorry. Please don’t think I’m a stalker. Was your boyfriend able to get a job where you are now? I’m sure he won’t want to leave the area if he did- that would look bad for him too- jumping jobs and everything. Did you move there FOR this job? Also, please don’t get another horse right now.
So, if you want to stay in the horse world, there ARE some jobs that are more professional. I’m not sure exactly where you are (and I don’t want to say anything too identifying about you) but I’m going to throw out some ideas. There are some really great veterinary practices, both equine and small animal, in eastern MA. Some of the farm cal vets have an assistant that they bring with them, and some of them have a small facility with staff. There’s also a couple hospitals in southern NH, and of course, Tufts in Grafton, which I think would be a hike for you. But, Tufts is pretty consistently looking for Large Animal/Equine Care people. It certainly wouldn’t hurt to look. There are also a lot of high end veterinary hospitals in eastern MA that are often looking for techs, but since you don’t have a certification in that, that might be tougher to find. I will say, I often thought of being a vet, but couldn’t stomach internal organs (blech), didn’t take any science classes in college, and while I still dislike the internal stuff, I think I would be damn good vet and wish I had at least taken the science classes in college so I could go to vet school if I wanted. So don’t rule that out yet. I’m happy with what I did do (high school math teacher- it’s pretty much the same thing, right?) but I do think about being a vet.
There are also some horsey businesses in MA that you should check out: Smarkpak is in Plymouth and has offices there, and Dover has offices in Littleton. Both are often hiring for lower level jobs like customer service and packers (both locations have warehouses), but I believe you can move up the ranks to other jobs.
Since you have a degree in Animal Science, it also might be worth checking out whether any of the local (cough) hunt clubs need any help. You could also probably work at a lab, with a background in science. There are plenty of labs outside Boston.
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I’m not planning on quitting tomorrow for sure, but more needing to vent about how I’m feeling, figure out if I’m crazy for feeling the way I do, and start the process of thinking about what’s next for me. This general topic is actually less about the finances and more about the general life and job I suppose, but it was nice to hear from people about the financial aspect of it because truly I had absolutely no idea where I stood compensation wise. I think your point about the resumé is a good one. yes, boyfriend has a great job, and even if I exit the horse industry professionally, we plan on staying in the area for the foreseeable future. I did move for this job, and was planning on moving for whatever job I ended up in. And nope. Not purchasing another horse dear stalker 
That was a dream a couple months ago, as I was seeing my current horse age and I do still intend to get a youngster but this will be in the more far away future. Never too early to start making connections and learn about breeding programs in the area though!
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I think networking thru the other outside trainer, quietly, may work.
I’ve been the one used, abused, and underpaid by a BO. It sucks, it burns you out, it degrades your self-worth and -esteem. Your actual pay including perks sound decent but the fear of asking for more time or suggesting you come back after your normal hours to doublecheck shut down and knowing you will most likely be castigated is the boss showing her true colors.
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This, plus that she didn’t want you to leave to get dinner. When are you supposed to eat? 11 at night? If she were hungry I bet she would go out and grab something. Totally wrong for her to insist you stay and wait around without being compensated after putting in a full day already.
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Wowzers… you are a better person than I am and getting taken advantage of. I feel your compensation is fair, you are just not being treated fairly or being respected as an employee. With 5 people though that is a decent enough staff that you should be busy but not overwhelmed if you are working efficiently as a team. I would list out ways and things that you can improve to increase efficiency.
You should have no issues and be comfortable communicating with your boss about getting burned out, asking for time off, or negotiating the hours you work. So stand firm and hold your ground.
Don’t let the BO discount your work, as good people are hard as hell to find.
Knowing that you are in the MA area I would echo dont overlook using that Animal Science degree in Biopharma / biotech.
It can be a highly rewarding career and it has huge potential job placement in most major metro areas of the country
This is when you sit down and talk about getting paid for overtime. Your hours are clearly defined and anything in excess you should be paid for. The boss (owner?) will continue to abuse you as long as you allow it.
I doesn’t matter what the other person has had to do . Since they are in the position of ultimate authority they should be the one to make sure everything is done or they can pay overtime.
