This is exactly what I plan on doing, horse sitting (perhaps also an in-home board of sorts? I’m not quite sure what to refer to that as, it would just be me coming out and caring for the horse, most likely while the owner is at work). You have a valid point on recruiting young riders to exercise horses
I employ both a trainer and an exercise rider. I expect my trainer to know more than I do about the discipline where the horse will perform, and know how to make a horse/rider successful or at least competitive in that field if he/she decides to take me on as a client.
. I expect my exercise rider to do exactly what I say for the amount of time I say she’s to do it. I spend time teaching my exercise riders how to ride “like I do” --what she (currently a girl) does is work my second horse so that I have more time with the first one. We alternate horses. She works on fitness (walk, trot, canter) while I work on transitions or specific skills the trainer has suggested. The exercise girl saddles and bridles, cools and washes the horses. She also brushes the two retired show horses and spends an hour a week with each doing things that make them feel special --hand walking, feeding treats, braiding flowers into their manes . . .sometimes she sits on them bareback while they eat grass… I’m pretty sure she kisses them when I’m not looking . . .
The trainer is expected to tell me what I am doing wrong, what my horse is doing wrong, and what I can do to fix it. With his help we set specific goals each year and work to achieve them. Without a trainer, I tend to get into a rut --neither I nor the horses get better.
Word of advice: I hire a trainer based on his/her success record: his personal show record, the show record of horses he’s worked with, and the show record of his riders. I would not pay a trainer who couldn’t show me proof of his accomplishments. BUT all successful riders are not good teachers or trainers. I need someone to work with me who can communicate well. I don’t need to be told I’m wonderful --but I do need to know why what I’m doing isn’t getting the result I want.
I hire exercise riders based on their ability to follow directions and use their time well. One exercise rider was “heavy handed” --and did not understand my instruction to to lighten up. She didn’t last.
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OP - I admire your determination and planning! I would say you should focus your sights on Young Riders. Even if you have been riding since you were 5, you still do not have enough experience to turn pro. Stay a junior until you are 17 and then can become a Young Rider. You can charge for your services as an assistant while you are coming up through the ranks. If you are in Young Riders, you can do so until you are 21 without damaging your potential amateur status.
Then, if you want to turn pro, that would be the time. Especially if you can get on a NAYRC team. But don’t be in such a hurry to turn pro. I waited until I was in my early 20’s, married and settled down and you know what? Now, nearly 40 years later, I wish I had stayed an amateur much longer.
At 15 (I presume you are turning 16 soon?) you may be certain of your life path, but you may not. Life has a way of throwing curve balls at you when you least expect it. Meeting someone to marry, having a child, going to university and finding a new direction entirely. Lots of things can change.
I wish you nothing but the best. I have a feeling we’ll hear about your successes in Eventing!
I think that a reputable training facility can get insurance that covers all their employees while they are on the property and covers the junior employees whether coach or assistant trainer as they are under supervision of the head coach.
This insurance doesn’t cover the various employees if they go off property without the supervision of the head coach, so no setting up in business on your own.
I think it would be smart to continue working at the eventing barn. If they won’t pay you to ride their horses, then why would a random member of the public want to pay you to train?
I agree that this is probably true, and if there is a claim, the junior rider probably isn’t named as a party because they are a minor. Without an adult/facility that is the primary insured party, I doubt it is possible that a minor can obtain liability insurance.
So, essentially it would require the parent to take on the liability - which, isn’t necessarily a good idea if they are not an experienced professional capable of making judgment calls about suitability of riders to horses, etc.
A lot of people are seriously underinsured, and are only lucky that no claims are made. Not a position I would allow myself to be in, especially with something inherently risky like horses.
