Please teach me the ins and outs of catch riding ( rated and non-- if this exists). I know very little. Please don’t forget the financial aspect too.
ETA: Wellington FL and surrounding areas.
Are you looking to pick up catch rides or to hire a catch rider?
If it’s the former:
- ride well where others can see you, like at a show. helps if you win a lot.
- be able to ride/compete many different types of horses, with little preparation
- horse owner or trainer asks if you can show their horse or pony, generally for points, experience or to sell
- show said horse or pony. win ribbons. maybe get more rides
Usually, owner pays for horse or pony. Your costs are getting to the show and feeding and clothing yourself. If you are an amateur, do not accept remuneration unless you want to turn pro. Probably helps if you’re already affiliated with a well known trainer, who has available catch rides of their own or can recommend you to others.
If you own the horse and are looking for a catch rider, find someone(s) whose riding style you like and ask them (or their trainer) if they are available. I think most people would be flattered. If you’re not sure of their riding ability or ability to catch ride, ask their (or your own) trainer or maybe let them have a practice ride/lesson. You would pay for all of the horse’s fees – if you’re asking them, even if it’s a super nice horse, they are doing you a favor. (If you are doing them a favor by providing them with a horse, then maybe you can negotiate the costs a bit, but I think that starts to stray from the definition of catch ride.)
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I’m sorry. Was looking for former. Super odd but I have come across a super talented 9 yr old (I should he specified but wanted full specs). Thank you so much.
I actually needed to know the latter too. I have one that I might be interested in using a catch rider for HITS in the next year or so.
again…thank you for taking the time to reply
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Good luck with your endeavors!
Another thing: you can pay a pro to catch ride too, which just means they pick up the ride on your horse at a show, if they have the time and desire to do so. You’d pay them whatever they charge (find out beforehand!), likely more than what it costs their in-training customers.
Also, when I’ve catch ridden and had a mini lesson/schooling session to get to know the horse, I was not charged for it, even though (horse’s) trainer was setting jumps and giving tips – I don’t know if they charged the owner for this time, though, or if it was already part of their day fees. And for the most part, horse met me at the ring; I was not involved in their care or grooming.
One time, someone paid for my membership fees, which I don’t think is standard, because I had not paid them yet that year (for amateurs, I don’t know if this counts are remuneration? I was a junior so I didn’t even think about that). If it’s non-rated show, I don’t think you need USEF/USHJA memberships?
Have also seen trainers/owners with deep pockets and connections fly very very good catch riders out for junior hunter finals and indoors; presumably, the horse’s camp pays for flight, hotel, etc. More frequently, catch riding is local and often to cut down on stuff like hotel/travel costs.
Oh, and another reason for catch riding is someone filling a class, may be a very last minute thing, but that does not sound like your situation, since you know beforehand that you may have this opportunity.
Catch rides can turn into recurring rides. In some cases who pays for what may be revisited, depending on who benefits more from this arrangement (eg, if rider wants to show the horse more than owner needs their rides, rider may end up paying for their classes or some portion of the show/training bill; some people might then switch the definition to something like a show/“free” lease). And sometimes (especially if rider is pretty much like a pro, except for not getting paid, and shows the horse well), owner continues footing the entire bill.
The term catch rider suggests that the rider is filling in at the last munute, probably a decision made at the show because of circumstances.
But there is also the whole spectrum of riders being asked or being allowed to take a specific horse in a show, pre arranged before the show. I would think that if the rider is able to have lessons and practice rides on the horse before the show, it really isn’t a catch ride, but there is probably a grey area there.
As far as far as financial arrangements those are going to be all over the map depending on the relative bargaining power of both parties.
Working student gets to ride wibderful horse after client gets food poisoning at the show? Expenses already paid and WS is thrilled to ride for no pay.
Talented pro to step in and fix some problems at the show? Probably some payment.
Pre arranged deal to ride a horse at the show? If the deal favors the rider they might be expected to cover expenses and pay a day lease rate. If the deal favors the trainer, the trainer would pay expenses and maybe pay rider.
In other words without knowing the circumstances it’s impossible to say. This is not a clear cut job description with any kind of standard definition or fee structure, at least not across all levels and disciplines.
In my case, I meant 1 short session, day before actual class (this one horse, I was their 3rd or 4th option, due rider conflicts/injury, so it was kind of last minute). To me, not really that different from a warm-up round (though not all catch riders get a warm-up round).
My basic definition of “catch ride” is 1) in a show and 2) not the horse’s regular/recurring rider or trainer, regardless of how many times they end up riding that horse that week*, 3) would not expect to pay a jr or amateur or WS either, or for rider to pay for the horse.
*Like, If I practice on the horse on Wednesday and show it Thursday-Sunday, I feel like that falls under definition of catch ride; same if I only swing a leg over it and show once on Wednesday (but if I did that for numerous weeks, at some point, I would probably stop calling it a catch ride 
(though it is a nice ego boost)). I think someone can catch ride 1 class, a whole division or the whole show (multiple classes/divisions), maybe even a whole circuit – like if someone told me they catch rode a horse for the whole of a HITS series (eg junior rider broke leg, but horse needs points for indoors, so another jr rider “catch rides” until other rider mends), I would get what they meant, even if I didn’t know the particular details of the arrangement. If someone told me they catch rode a horse for months or an entire year, that might not fit my definition. If they don’t show, then it’s just schooling/hacking/doing someone a favor or plain “riding”.
I agree if I had a bunch of lessons/practice beforehand, it’s less of a catch ride and more of a…idk, if there’s an actual term for that. Extra-free lease? Someone else paying all the bills, and you get to take free lessons and show? Parents? :lol: Sponsorship? lol.
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Just wanted to add a note, that, if you want to catch ride while staying on the right side of the amateur rules, you need to pay your own entry fees.
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And also pay for any lessons, schooling, etc - IIRC, getting a “free” lesson from a trainer to get to know the horse could also endanger AA status. Such a tricky web we ammys weave…
We’ve used catch riders (juniors) for a fancy pony needing to do well beyond the level the owner could ride. Our trainer made contacts with their trainers and arranged it. They showed up that day, schooled on the pony and then went in and rode–both times (two riders) with great results. Both girls were 3’3"-3’6" riders (one being a trainers daughter) and both showed ponies before at the upper levels. No payment. The catch rider got to add the championship to her resume, which I am sure will help her get more catch rides. Both are excellent riders and I think viewed it as growth for them.
