Training in Europe - How to make it work?

[Jealoushe]

I went as “head charge/groom”. I was basically barn manager of a private farm.

One family, 3 daughters. All rode (evented in JR/YR) but were in private school. I took care of and managed all the horses, 6 total. I did all the barn work and then was in charge of keeping the horses fit and schooled so the girls could show when they came home on weekends. I was also given my own horse to ride and show along with the girls.

I found the job on https://yardandgroom.com/

I also worked in Ireland at a Sales/training yard, another job I found on there!

[MsJump21]

@Scribbler

But thinking about it, I start to wonder: why? What is it that you want to get out of the European experience that you can’t get in North America at an equivalent price?

@skip99 summed it up for the most part. Basically I’m looking to find an opportunity in Europe instead of the USA because I want to broaden my horizons and learn about different techniques used in different countries. I believe Europe has a different horse culture that I would love to experience and learn more about. It is also my understanding that the “working student” scene is different in Europe with more protection and labor laws for the working students.

@Scribbler

What level are you currently competing at? My impression is that European jumpers are more likely to start at 3 feet, not spend whole junior and ammie careers at 2 foot 6.

I’m competing at the 1.0m level now and will (hopefully) move up to 1.10m in the next couple months. I’m a confident rider and game for almost anything I just have a tricky horse.

[MsJump21]

What would you guess the top 3 regions would be?

[MsJump21]

I looked at yardandgroom.com and there seems to be some really cool options in a quite a few different areas.

What job title would you search under for someone that wants to work, ride, take lessons, and compete?

[BrendaJane]

I am thinking Northern Germany, Holland, and Belgium…
But frankly, most regions have good programs and a dense community.
And if you can hitch a ride with Samur - oh golly! I think that would be a step above.
frankly, I have trouble controlling a carousel horse. And a kid from Walmart had to corral that palomino I fell off of… I do remember the programs with a string of good horses though.

[Jealoushe]

I would just look through the ads and read the description in the areas you are interested in, or the disciplines you are interested in. Some groom jobs would have those options and some manager/rider jobs would.

[Willesdon]

If you go to the website of the Cadre Noir at Saumur, the training opportunities are listed (in English) including individually tailored ones for international students. All levels of experience. The one thing is that of all Europeans, the French are the most resistant to speaking English.

[Horselove5]

@MsJump21

How would I go about finding an opportunity to train in Europe? Would it be advisable to lease a horse there for 3 months and take lessons several times a week? Or should I find more of a WS position? Are there any stables that offer a sort of “training boot camp” of sorts or is that not a thing? What countries and/or areas would you recommend?

I’d say go for it! You’ve been given some pretty good advice here, but I just wanna stress out the visa point again. I think the EU requires it for Americans and it’s almost impossible to find a short term position without it in Western Europe due to strict labor laws. You could check the Work and Travel program if you’re under certain age, you’re allowed to work in Ireland as a youth coming from US. And you won’t have issues with the language.
I’d suggest you look at yardandgroom for open positions.
Don’t lease, just go and work as a young horse rider, or even groom. The Irish are mad lads & very competitive riders, you’ll learn a lot there. Good luck

[Bristol_Bay]

What part of the country are you in now? In the Los Angeles area, at San Pascual stables, the Sterckx family has deep roots in Belgium and connections to their top SJ riders. They make frequent buying trips and also have sent students over to Belgium for riding vacations. You might try them, since you say you speak some French.

[Foggy]

In Germany the Hanoverian Verband offers different courses and have amazing horses for you to ride as part of the program.
My understanding is that you have to pass different tests to be able to show at certain levels in Germany and they run the tests but also have course to train for the tests.
There is information on their website if you google Hanoverian Verband.

[MaxDakota]

Might be a weird question, but do you remember a horse called Dakota? He used to do every show and multiple clinics with his last owner!

[RAyers]

“My impression is that European jumpers are more likely to start at 3 feet, not spend whole junior and ammie careers at 2 foot 6.”

@Scribbler, a very sad commentary about the state of the American sport today. There was a time (through the 1980s) when you had to be jumping 1.1meter just to go show because that is where it all started. If you wanted to jump smaller you went to local shows.

It is even sadder that folks feel going to Europe is a better education than being in the US now. It is similar to the concept European horses are somehow better than American bred horses. I agree about the need to get a variety of experiences.

[findeight]

Did OP here find a position? We so rarely know how these things wind up.

[Scribbler]

@RAyers

“My impression is that European jumpers are more likely to start at 3 feet, not spend whole junior and ammie careers at 2 foot 6.”

@Scribbler, a very sad commentary about the state of the American sport today. There was a time (through the 1980s) when you had to be jumping 1.1meter just to go show because that is where it all started. If you wanted to jump smaller you went to local shows.

It is even sadder that folks feel going to Europe is a better education than being in the US now. It is similar to the concept European horses are somehow better than American bred horses. I agree about the need to get a variety of experiences.

Yes. I never completed in jumping at our local play day gymkhanas in the 1970s because even there jumps were 3 feet and my little horse refused that. But she’d pop over logs on the trail. If we’d had cross rails or 2 foot I’d have been in that!!