‘It seems like nobody wants to work’: Jay Halim on the equine industry staffing crisis

Jay Halim and Aragon Z win the HOYS speed horse of the year — Jay Halim riding Aragon Z winners of Class 17, Speed Horse of the Year, during the Horse of the Year Show held at the NEC in Birmingham in UK between 6 -10th October 2021

(Image credit: Peter Nixon)

A brief trawl of social media right now will find posts galore from riders seeking grooms and other stable staff, with many bemoaning a real shortage of workers in the market.

International showjumper Jay Halim is one such rider who has found himself short of a groom on several occasions recently, as he reveals to H&H showjumping editor Jennifer Donald on this week’s episode of The Horse & Hound Podcast.

“The last girl that worked with me stayed for six and a half years, she worked really hard and I gave her opportunities – she got to ride at all the international shows including a Global Champions Tour – because I do try to give back, I feel like I’m really fair. But at the same time she worked extremely hard and deserved the opportunities. I’m not going to bend over backwards for people who don’t work as hard.”

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Jennifer is passionate at showjumping and her role as H&H’s showjumping editor has taken her around the world reporting from shows and interviewing riders, connections and those involved behind the scenes. Since joining H&H from BBC Sport in 2005, she has written on every subject across the equestrian sphere — from turnout rugs to stable management — and has interviewed gold medallists, world champions and winners galore. She also has first-hand experience of working in the equestrian industry as a riding instructor and yard manager.

‘It seems like nobody wants to work’: Jay Halim on the equine industry staffing crisis

“We’ve been advertising for a riding role and a grooming role, but people who come in to ride don’t want to do yard work, or they expect to have a string of horses handed to them. That never happened for me and it’s not real life.

“Serving an apprenticeship with the Fletchers has stood me in good stead because I learnt how to work and I continue to do so,” he adds.

“I plaited the horses up each day and I don’t think a lot of these younger riders could do that on their own,” he says. “Which is fortunate for them – I don’t knock it in the slightest – but I just think that’s how we’re evolving.

“So it’s a really tough one – it’s a generational thing I think,” says Jay. “I’m making myself sound like a moany old man now!”

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