How old is too old (working student)?

[westy23]

I’m curious if there are trainers who take working students and/or working students that can answer this question-
how old is too old to do an apprenticeship/working student?

39 year old amateur, has ridden for years but only shown 1st level- some experience with green horses. Husband finally has a job where I could go try the working student thing- but am I too old? I don’t have the energy of a twenty something, and I won’t throw a leg over a horse I feel is dangerous (which isn’t to say I would be afraid to ride the occasional buck or spook). I do have something of an educated eye and experience training adults in a professional setting.

[beowulf]

You’re not too old. IME age is not a factor, but work ethic is. However, working student jobs are usually grunt jobs… and are very hard on your body. If you can’t survive a full day of work at your current barn I would not suggest it.

When I was a working student for Denny Emerson, one of my fellow working students was a 45 y/o woman. :encouragement:

[IndyEquestrian]

I agree with beowolf!

Age wouldn’t factor into it for me, I once had a working student who was older than I was. She had a great work ethic, never complained and showed up on time everyday. . .More than I can say for some college age working students! I say go for it if you can handle long hard days!

[Wonders12]

What have you done in your professional life that could help the trainer?

Working student positions are basically trades (sometimes with a little money involved). 16-25 year olds are useful to the trainer because they can muck a full barn, move unlimited water buckets, and stack hay for half the day.

But I know a lot of trainers who could really use someone to do their monthly invoices, track payments, coordinate deliveries, create a filing system, etc.

That doesn’t mean the job won’t be physical and demanding, but it may be something you can offer that the teenagers can’t.

[belgianWBLuver]

36 - not too old. If, that is, you can bring something to the table. Can you wrap, administer meds and poultices, know symptoms of sickness, are you organized, fast and accurate whilst preparing horses, lunge correctly, drive a truck and trailer or even a lorry (some pros like to fly - we do the transport if not long distance or overseas), warm up horses and greenbeans, pack, unpack, set up tack drapes at comps, be very discreet and not repeat gossip, etc, etc…
I was 29 when I started as a groom and worked till 45 - and loved it. I was good with and quick to respond to the clients and they like me also. If I didn’t feel comfortable at a barn I didn’t waste time and moved on fast. Generally I stayed 4 - 7 years with a good pro. I only moved to a different pro to learn a different method of training, something that could benefit my education.

[westy23]

Thanks all- yes, I can give shots (IM), worm, wrap, warm up horses, rasp a hoof, schedule appointments, file, follow a budget, do websites, email, and use ms office, and be discreet.

[capricorn]

39 doesn’t seem old to me. I was 60 when I took on a full time working student position at a large breeding and training farm. The work consisted of grooming and tacking up horses for the trainers, then cooling, and bathing them afterwards and cleaning tack. It also involved blanketing, turning out and bringing in many horses from pastures and paddocks some of which were far from the stables. That was the hard part for me as I have some arthritis and it involved miles of walking. I received excellent training and board for one of my horses. I did it for a year and a half and I am very glad of the experience as I made important lasting friendships and I learned so much. There were some days when I felt to tired to ride after completing all the work required. I would encourage you to do it if you are willing to work hard. Around where I live in Northern Florida, trainers always seem to desperately looking for working students. They are very important to the horse industry.

[cayuse]

I did a short stint as a working student when I was 46. It sure didn’t help my arthritis, I was exhausted to the point of being sick at night, but I did enjoy it. Loved it, actually. But in the end I just couldn’t do it. If I didn’t have a health issue, I would’ve been fine.
I don’t think 39 is too old.

[meupatdoes]

Can you muck out, do water buckets, and turn out at the same speed as everyone else?

There is your answer.
(And 70 year olds do the ironman so I am not assuming it is “no.”)

[Eventer13]

[QUOTE=beowulf;8290838]
You’re not too old. IME age is not a factor, but work ethic is. However, working student jobs are usually grunt jobs… and are very hard on your body. If you can’t survive a full day of work at your current barn I would not suggest it.

When I was a working student for Denny Emerson, one of my fellow working students was a 45 y/o woman. :encouragement:[/QUOTE]

Did she write a piece in Practical Horseman about her experience? I feel like I read something about an older woman as a working student for Denny, and being pretty impressed. This was years ago.

[keysfins]

I am currently a WS and have been for several years. I started in my late 40’s.

I had the time available, and when my horse had a long layup, I wanted to keep riding somehow. It seemed I was always around anyway, watching lessons or training, and could lend a hand when needed. I’ve been with my trainers for about 15+ years, so I was well familiar with the daily routine and requirements. Mucking stalls was not a requirement, except at shows, since we have a barn crew for that.

It is still physically demanding, and I try to balance what I can do and what the ‘younger puppies’ can handle. I have a couple of chronic health issues that I manage, and have very understanding trainers if I have to have a lower energy day.

We are currently 3 WS. One, in her early 20’s, works six days a week. I work four days, and another WS my age also works four days. We have anywhere from 25-32 horses in residence at any given time; we are a full service dressage facility.

In addition to the usual grooming, tacking, warm up, cool down, taking horses out to and in from turnout, keeping the barn and facilities tidy, and cleaning tack, I found my “niche”. It fits with my previous career in animal care and training. I organize the feed room, keep track of diets for the horses, supplements, and feed orders. I also have a keen interest in the vet end of things, again from my previous career and experience. I can do IM and IV injections, keep the vet and treatment notes organized, use the therapeutic modalities we have available (such as Equissage), and can handle most typical medical care.

We are also entrusted with every aspect of the daily routine when the trainers and clients are away at shows. (Texting and email makes daily updates a breeze.)

And of course, I have had all sorts of riding and lesson opportunities, from schooling ponies, lunging, hacking, riding horses on their rehab stints (my own included!), and lessons on almost everything imaginable from youngsters to schoolmasters. As I was riding outside today, with a glorious morning, I thought, “How lucky am I? All my life I wanted to be doing just this, with horses in my life every day, and now I am.”

Go for it!

[keysfins]

ETA: being discreet and professional is valued highly, at least in our situation. Our barn is not one with gossip, clients speaking behind each others’ backs, none of that type of atmosphere. We are all adults, and whether client, staff or both, we treat each other kindly and respectfully. Knowing when to NOT say something is just as important as offering to help a client who is late for their lesson time.

(NOT having a nose buried in a Smartphone all day is also highly valued!)

[beowulf]

[QUOTE=Eventer13;8291744]
Did she write a piece in Practical Horseman about her experience? I feel like I read something about an older woman as a working student for Denny, and being pretty impressed. This was years ago.[/QUOTE]

She might have! I didn’t catch it if she did. She was a very hard worker and a sharp lady. Vermont native IIRC. Gosh this was so long ago it took me a while to remember her name… she had a really nice gelding called Valor, an Epic Win baby. He was one of my crushes that summer.

[Minz]

A former Olympic 3 day event rider I used to board with took on a 65 year old gentleman as a working student, and it was a huge success. The gentleman had recently retired and being a working student was on his bucket list. He didn’t care about the pay, was a hard worker, and great with the horses. He was also a great role model for the younger students. Go for it, you will have a blast.

[Kareen]

To me age is not a relevant factor. Work ethic and skill is. We’ve had all kinds of working students over the last 8 years and all except one worked out excellent to at least agreeable. The only one that I would not take on again was an 18yo and three of our WS have since come back for at least one more stay. The only thing essential is that everybody is on the same page re. what’s expected and what’s given in return. For instance we are a livery and breeding farm with adjacent vet practice so while we do work with horses, also sell some and attend shows we are not a show barn.
I have repeatedly been told by our WS that they had abusive experiences prior to coming to us and they were pleasantly surprised about how things were handled here. So it seems it’s pretty common to have bad experiences with a WS arrangement. I do however not see any reason why one should turn down an applicant because of their age (unless they’re under age which doesn’t work for us due to the nature of the business). My best advise is to ask if they would put you in touch with some predecessors so you can get a first hand account from ‘the other side’. Because even if I try very hard to explain precisely what our position is like it might feel completely different to the working student itself so I feel direct communication is best.

[MorganMadonna]

I’m a 36 year old working student. It covers my bills and my child’s.

[westy23]

Thanks for the replies all! I’m pleasantly surprised.