Catch Riding, What is it really all about?

[Horselover127]

From watching A/AA horse shows quite often, I do see catch riding happen a lot.

How does it happen?

• I’m guessing the owners of the horse contact the rider, right?
• Paid or unpaid?
• Is it just a one-time thing, or if the first show didn’t go well, will the owners find a new rider for their horse?
• Is the owner at the show pretty much like your trainer for that horse since they know their horse the best?

How does someone who wants to be a catch rider get that first opportunity?

• Is it just more like, “If we see you at shows all the time and you do pretty well, and you are well-known”?
• Could catch riding essentially make you well-known in the future?

I know you have to be very good to catch ride and adapt to the new horse right away.

What happens at the show?

• Does the rider or owner keep the ribbons/prize money/trophies?
• Is the catch rider responsible to get the horse ready and tacked up?

I do realize some of these questions are probably things that would be worked out between the owner and rider, such as being paid or unpaid, and prize money, etc.

Sorry if this is a lot of questions to answer. This has always bothered me that I didn’t know much about catch riding. I would love to be a catch rider, but obviously need to learn a lot more about it first! :lol:

Please give me as much info about it as you can!

Thanks!

[findeight]

Usually the trainer of the catch rider sets it up with the trainer of the horse. Important that the horse is shown by somebody who rides in the same kind of “program” the client and his/her trainer do so the horse can be shown to its best advantage.

Typically the catch rider is going to be a Junior who can accept money or services in return for their riding. If they are older, they have to declare Pro status to accept money or services in return for riding. Prize money generally comes off the owners bill in the office.

Need to network with your trainer and others to pick up catch rides and work to polish your own skills in the show ring at the jump heights you are interested in catch riding at. BTW, unless you are a working student or take a job as a Pro rider, catch riding is sporadic at best. Nothing you can count on.

[kmcnam]

Are you referring to professional catch rides, or catch rides as a jr/am?

[Kat]

How does it happen? Owner contacts some party of the rider and asks to have the horse ridden in X division. Riders are generally hard working, talented and well connected in one way or another
- I’m guessing the owners of the horse contact the rider, right? Sometimes the rider, sometimes the parents of the rider, sometimes the trainer.
- Paid or unpaid? Usually unpaid, but sometimes paid, plus perks (other than just getting to ride and show)
- Is it just a one-time thing, or if the first show didn’t go well, will the owners find a new rider for their horse? Depends on what the owner is trying to accomplish by having the horse catch ridden. Generally if the horse/rider combo doesn’t get along, the owner will find another rider.
- Is the owner at the show pretty much like your trainer for that horse since they know their horse the best? Depends on the owner/ the program the rider is in. usually they give some input and depending on how much instruction the rider needs, they are instructed as needed.

How does someone who wants to be a catch rider get that first opportunity? Its all about connections and making yourself known as a useful hardworker who is humble and talented. People like that get lucky, are given the opportunity by their trainer/ a really nice owner who has noticed them
- Is it just more like, “If we see you at shows all the time and you do pretty well, and you are well-known”? Depends on the owner, but it is more than that because there are a million people the owner can choose from.
- Could catch riding essentially make you well-known in the future? There are some people who are well known for their ability to catch ride, and it gives you more ring time=more visibility

[I]I know you have to be very good to catch ride and adapt to the new horse right away.

What happens at the show?[/I]
- Does the rider or owner keep the ribbons/prize money/trophies? Usually the owner but sometimes they’ll give the rider something
- Is the catch rider responsible to get the horse ready and tacked up? depends on the program, usually the owner/ agent is responsible IME