Apprenticeship-what's the deal? Where to look? MA

[RCEquestrian]

Hello!
Looking for feedback on people’s experiences with apprenticing. How did you find the person you wanted to apprentice with if it wasn’t a trainer you already knew? What did it entail? Did you find it helpful? Did you end up training on your own?

I live in MA on the North Shore and am looking into possibly apprenticing with someone in Northern MA or Southern NH. I’m not from the area, so that’s why I asked how people found their teachers. Any suggestions from people in MA for hunter/jumper barns?

[Wicky]

I would visit barns and ask. Lots of them on the North Shore. If the Horseman’s Yankee Pedlar is still published, see where the barns are. Or go to Dovers in Plaistow, or the tack store in Ipswich (senior moment) and talk with the sales people for recommendations on whom to contact.

[Ruth0552]

Oi. IMO it’s a useless waste of time which is why I’ve never bothered to do it. It is the ONLY state in the US which requires a riding instructor’s license to be insured and an apprenticeship to become licensed.

It does not indicate ability any more than the written test to become licensed does. I’ve known lots of unlicensed people who are very talented, and lots of licensed people who don’t know a hock from a stifle.

Your best bet is to get involved with a local barn taking lessons and be upfront that you are looking for an apprenticeship. Unfortunately, all the advertised apprenticeships I’ve seen have been for basically unpaid manual labor. NOT COOL.

Good luck!

[RCEquestrian]

I totally agree! I feel like there are many licensed people in MA who I wouldn’t let my dog take a lesson with! Many trainers I have had in the past weren’t licensed but were true horse people who actually knew what they were doing. I totally agree that it is unpaid manual labor. You don’t get to teach nor really work with the “trainer,” you muck stalls and clean buckets. Which is part of it, but I can do that for my horse at home! Gonna keep my options open, but nice to hear others opinions.

[gloriginger]

[QUOTE=RCEquestrian;8194677]
I totally agree! I feel like there are many licensed people in MA who I wouldn’t let my dog take a lesson with! [/QUOTE]

Hum, that’s a pretty snarky comment.

On the North Shore of MA there are a LOADS of hunter jumper farms. Look on Equinesite.com to start for a list of farms. You area also close to NH which does not require a license.

[RCEquestrian]

[QUOTE=gloriginger;8194797]
Hum, that’s a pretty snarky comment.

On the North Shore of MA there are a LOADS of hunter jumper farms. Look on Equinesite.com to start for a list of farms. You area also close to NH which does not require a license.[/QUOTE]

I don’t mean for it to be snarky at all. I just think unfortunately there are some people who don’t know enough to keep horses safe and healthy, nor their riders. I don’t have anyone in mind either, just from my experiences throughout my life as well as the horror stories I’ve heard. Just the way the world works, good teachers and maybe teachers who aren’t so awesome. Like in grammar school! I guess you take each as an experience, whether it be positive or negative

[Ruth0552]

Gloriginger, her comment was agreeing with mine and I stand by it.

I agree that the North Shore is a very horsey area and there are wonderful places to ride up there. However, if one spends most of their time at nice places on the North Shore they might not be aware that there are completely unqualified licensed people hanging out a shingle to teach riding lessons that don’t what the F they are doing.

I’m in the Metro West/Eastern Central MA area and while I know a plethora of wonderful, qualified instructors that know what they are doing I’ve also had experiences with LOTS of licensed people that have no clue.

Just saying, in MA, qualified does not equal licensed or vice-versa. It’s actually kind of dangerous to be honest, because many non-horsey beginner folk see an ad that says “licensed” and assume that the person must be an experienced, knowledgeable equestrian, which is not the case at all. At least in other states that word “licensed” isn’t there to insinuate some kind of level of expertise.

[Ghazzu]

I just heard today that a revision of the MA licensing regs is underway.

[EverlarkDressage]

Just as a heads up, apprenticing in SNH won’t help you to get your license in MA unless they themselves have been licensed in MA. Would hate to see you do your 6 months and 60 hours, only to find that it was with an instructor who couldn’t legally sign off on your apprenticeship Hope this helps!

[amb]

[QUOTE=Ghazzu;8195768]
I just heard today that a revision of the MA licensing regs is underway.[/QUOTE]

Whoa. Short and sweet: https://malegislature.gov/Bills/189/Senate/S460

To quote the text in its entirety: “SECTION 1. Section 2A of Chapter 128 of the General Laws is hereby repealed.” (That’s the one specifying the instructor licensing structure.)

The question is, does it have traction to get out of committee?

(Random other fun bill noticed while browsing: S.426, “If a person engaged in the business of operating a stable leases out space for the purpose of boarding equines and the lessee fails to pay the boarding fees for a period of longer than one month, the equine shall become property of the farm.”)

[m_m1]

Speaking of not knowing a hock from a stifle, when I took my MA licensing exam, there was an arrow pointing to the chestnut, poorly placed, because I thought it was the fetlock. I got it wrong, and remember thinking, “if that’s not a fetlock, I don’t want my instructor’s license!”

(At the time, the test was reviewed while I was there, so I found out why I was wrong. )

[RCEquestrian]

[QUOTE=amb;8196037]
Whoa. Short and sweet: https://malegislature.gov/Bills/189/Senate/S460

To quote the text in its entirety: “SECTION 1. Section 2A of Chapter 128 of the General Laws is hereby repealed.” (That’s the one specifying the instructor licensing structure.)

The question is, does it have traction to get out of committee?

(Random other fun bill noticed while browsing: S.426, “If a person engaged in the business of operating a stable leases out space for the purpose of boarding equines and the lessee fails to pay the boarding fees for a period of longer than one month, the equine shall become property of the farm.”)[/QUOTE]

Okay…so repealed means that they are working on it? I’m sorry, I’m terrible with legal terminology. I swear I’m educated!!! (so embarrassing LOL

[beowulf]

OP, when/if you find someone in MA that would allow an apprentice without expecting outrageous renumeration, please let me know. I busted my butt as a younger BM-person and wanted to get my license with my then-trainer/BO, who expected me to either pay her (after all the 70 hr weeks, no over time!!) or work extra (with what time?!) to cover her apprenticing.

I’ve taught at pony club mounted meetings, stepped in to help coach at shows, taught lessons when the BO couldn’t make it, taught down south when I moved to Aiken, etc - I’m no newbie - but I didn’t want to hang my shingle, I wanted to develop my eye… Everyone I talk to says “sure I’ll sign the paper” (as in sign it without teaching me) or wants $$$ for their time. Good luck!

[amb]

[QUOTE=RCEquestrian;8196132]
Okay…so repealed means that they are working on it? I’m sorry, I’m terrible with legal terminology. I swear I’m educated!!! (so embarrassing LOL[/QUOTE]

It means that if the bill (S460) passes, the laws about Massachusetts instructor licensing will get entirely repealed. No more riding instructor licensing. (Stable licensing would stay, though.)

Lots of people file lots of bills in the state. A whole lot of them get assigned to committees in the legislature and don’t go anywhere after that. I dunno about that one.