Agree with the posts. This is not going to be fun job for you, and also suggest looking into volunteering at a therapeutic riding or horse rescue facility. Also if there are any large lesson barns in your area check those out as there might be other “jobs” from helping in the office to just tacking up lesson horses. Also see if there are any riding clubs or associations near you - I know very few organizations who don’t need a volunteer to help out at competitions or activities and is also a terrific way to meet people which may lead to additional opportunities to be around horses/ride etc. (not to mention forming friendships - many of my closest friends now are those who I met through my involvement with local show associations)
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Everyone here has given grear advice! Kudos to you for realizing you are in over your head and hopefully you will find a situation where you can have hands on time and get the experience you desire to have. Horse care is back breaking work and people (like my husband originally), don’t realize the time and physical labor that goes into it, even if you are experienced and efficient!
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All of you guys are awesome! Thank you for the kind and thoughtful feedback. I felt that I was honest explaining my experience to the current BO but realize now I could have specified a bit more. I have two shifts this weekend so I am going to email my boss and ask for her feedback. I think part of me is hoping she will realize it isn’t a great fit and find a replacement for me. The pony club idea was a great one. It does intimidate me to a tad because I feel like it would be more beneficial to them if I was experienced. What would I exactly ask/tell them?
Also, I could afford the gas/time to my coworkers horses, however after all this I realize I need to be clear to her that I want to learn again. I think she understood it as I am super experienced.
I think If I don’t keep the job I will look into volunteering again. The hour long drive wouldn’t be so bad if it was once a month. I will give you an update later 
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If it helps at all, I can tell you that I could never, ever get the stalls and paddocks for two horses and two minis done in less than 1.5 hours, if I were to do a good job. And my own horse’s stall took about five minutes, as she was tidy. But, between going around the attached sand paddocks, out to the manure pile and back, and one horse being very prolific in his stall and the other stall having two very very very adorable minis who peed all over the stall and also kicked their adorable tiny poop around the stall so that you had to sift the entire stall… just could not get it done any faster. I liked the time at the barn, but couldn’t manage the stalls and find time to ride my own horse and was always rushing to get to my full-time job, etc.
You don’t have to wait for her to realize this is not a good fit. YOU can tell her.
To Sally Stableowner - Here’s my 2 week notice. This isn’t working out for me. I’m not really comfortable doing what you expect. I don’t work around the horses as well as I used to, so I’m going to look for other opportunities to spend time with them. Thanks for giving me this opportunity, but I think we’ll both be happier if I find a different situation; I know I will.
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This!! No BO is going to fire a barn girl that is turning up for her shifts and isn’t drunk, stoned, psychotic, or stealing high value items. Help is too hard to find. BO may think you are perfectly happy and just need a a few weeks to get up to speed. You need to quit before you get hurt. Otherwise you will get hurt, quit, and then not be able to do your regular job either. Not fun.
One little tromp on your foot and you will be “non weight bearing” for six weeks.
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Along with your 2 week notice, maybe the BO has something you can do just to hang out with the horses. Is there an old timer who would love to be brushed and given treats?
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“old timer who would love to be brushed and given treats?” Love this. If you were near me, I have a barn full of retirees diva sport horses that are quiet and safe and loved to be groomed…if not at the barn where you are working, then maybe another? The barn owner could give you some ideas of other barns possibly?
adult pony club club is pony club for adults instead of kids. So it is a learning, educational group for all the adults who are getting back into or just starting to get into horses. Saddle clubs might be another name to google. Barns that have " ladies nights" classes.
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THIS. I made that mistake and ended up being kicked in the head when a mare took off and bucked. Could have been deadly all because I didn’t want to take the time to halter and tie the horse.
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Hello again another update. My boss appreciated my honesty and has been receptive to all of mine (well your guys idea). I no longer do blankets and only help turn out the two ponies and a couple senior horses and well behaved gelding. She has made it a point to be at my shift to help, teach me the proper way and answer any questions I have. I discovered I was taught incorrectly about a lot of things. So today went a lot better, no overwhelming feeling at all! Also she showed me so tricks to reduce my mucking time for stall lol. For now I am going to give this new arrangement a shot. Should the situation change i will give her my two weeks notice and find another way to get my horsey fix. Thanks again for your feedback, I wish I lived closer to you all lol
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Great news! I expect the BO would rather put the work into training someone who is smart, honest, self aware, and knows how to do a job! That’s a good sign!
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Good for you! Good barn help is hard to find so I bet your BO appreciates your willingness to learn. Keep asking lots of questions and watch how others who do the job well do it. As you get through the next few weeks you will get stronger, more confident and faster.
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This is wonderful! She is a good BO to accept that you just needed a little more guidance and is taking the time to give it to you! Nobody in their right mind would ever turn away someone as willing and honest as you. Practice definitely makes perfect for barn duties. I hope you learn lots and are more comfortable and confident around the horses!
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