Very few apprentice riders stay with the one trainer throughout their apprenticeship these days they seem to move around a fair bit.
I think its time the system was looked at where a kid whos going well shifts to a new trainer. The trainer receives 25% of the riders money which i think is an outdated rule that needs to be looked at.
In the old days the boss would nurture the apprentice and quite often they would be living and dining with them. They chased their rides and the kids stayed for their time.
Times have changed where now-days the boss is just a name, the kids have heaps of freedom and soon work out they have the power to dictate to the boss. The boss is scared he will lose his 25% and lets the kid please himself in most instances.
Its time to trial a new idea imo something like say racing nsw or qld racing having an a few apprentice riders where they can have a mentor map out trackwork and a schedule for them, they could also chase rides and liaise with trainers. The apprentice would receive the normal wage and trainers would be billed for the services of the rider.
Track riders are getting harder to find and im sure the bigger stables would be happy to pay say $15 a gallop for their race track apprentice who would be available 5 mornings a week to do 6 - 8 horses each morning.
The trainer simply books in the gallops with the mentor
The advantage and attraction for the apprentice is he is she would revive the 100% of moneys earned and not be tied to one boss, sometimes making them clean boxes when they could be out riding work and building bridges.
