Working pupil positions are still widely advertised across the equestrian world, including by some of the most high-profile yards and riders. They are often presented as an opportunity to gain valuable experience, training, and hands-on education in a professional yard environment.
However, questions continue to be raised about the reality behind these roles and how they are structured in practice. Concerns have previously been highlighted that many working pupil arrangements do not clearly align with standard employment protections, with issues such as unclear pay, lack of formal contracts, and inconsistent definitions of training versus work.
Seven years ago, the British Grooms Association (BGA) drew attention to these concerns through research into working pupil roles, which indicated widespread inconsistencies in how these positions were being managed across the industry. That work suggested that many individuals in such roles were not receiving the legal or contractual safeguards typically expected in employment relationships.
Despite ongoing discussion since then, the question remains whether meaningful change has taken place across the sector.
To explore this further, the BGA has now launched a new anonymous survey focused on on-the-job training within the equestrian industry. The aim is to understand what it is really like for grooms, working pupils, working students, and apprentices who are learning while working with horses.
The survey seeks to capture whether individuals feel they receive genuine training as part of their role, and whether their experience matches the expectations set when they began the position. It is anonymous, takes only a few minutes to complete, and is intended to highlight where improvements may still be needed.
At its core, the issue raises an important question for the industry: are working pupil roles delivering structured training opportunities, or are they operating in a grey area between education and employment?
As awareness grows, the hope is that more clarity, consistency, and protection can be established for those entering the profession.
Complete the survey here