Many barn owners have commented on the many problems they have recruiting and keeping staff for barn support. Stories range from no-shows and excuses, sudden quitting, sloth and laziness, and ineptitude right on up to utter drama. While some of these complaints are decently dramatic, the truth is the whole is pretty par for course because of a number of reasons.
1) This is a low pay profession. It's hard to be a horse person and feed yourself.
2) But let's be honest this isn't rocket science. It's mostly waste management: feed in and poop out. But also because it isn't rocket science it tends to be uneducated individuals participating in these jobs. Not that education is necessary, but typically one who has invested in education is more of a personality type that understands commitments.
3) Equestrian Romanticism: many people don't realize that people who run barns almost never ride for fun. They are honestly surprised it isn't super fun most of the time.
4) Millennials are probably who you are working with. An amazing and motivated generation but they are are keen to make themselves move into a career by jumping from job to job on the ladder upwards. Furthermore, keep in mind that many are mostly motivated by "making an impact/difference" and "leaving their mark" and leave the second they feel a glass ceiling "squashing their creativity."
5) plain and simple burnout.
MY SOLUTION
I developed an internship program. This program recruits young professionals to work at my stables and to do more than just muck stalls. They not only completely run my chore shift but they all must have a personal project to leave their mark on the stables while also developing a portfolio for their future employment. In addition they are integrally involved in all of the "cool stuff" such as veterinary appointments, schooling sessions and field trips.
In return they get to live at the stables for free and get $100 a week stipend. They also get complete access to all of my horses for riding, as long as they provide benefit not burden to the animals.
The benefits of this program has been outstanding:
A) Short Term Employees who are running a sprint and not a marathon. They are only here a short time so they don't burn out and usually work harder as a result.
B) Constant stream of fresh ideas and fresh vigor.
C) Multi-national perspective in our stables!!
D) Super affordable labor.
E) Higher caliber of individuals. Many of the cream of the crop can't commit to staying as a barn hand forever, but they sure are happy to dive in for 3-6 months before becoming Lawyers and Veterinarians and more!
F) Extreme benefit to the individual in terms of resume building: letters of recommendation, leadership experience, hands on training, opportunity to ride and work with many horses, and more.
They work long hours because their personal projects must be on self-budgeted time in between chores. They are driven and committed to the stables and all of them tend to keep in touch years later as they go on to bigger and better places.
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