How do TOP riders get paid?

[ParadoxFarm]

As I was reading an article on Daniel Coyle and Lothlorien Farms ( https://horsenetwork.com/2025/06/ariel-grange-i-was-determined-to-hate-daniel-coyle-for-a-while-there/?utm_source=Horse+Network+Email+List&utm_campaign=fe26af5cda-july_8_2024_COPY_01&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_5694ca6b0c-fe26af5cda-85279295&goal=0_5694ca6b0c-fe26af5cda-85279295&mc_cid=fe26af5cda&mc_eid=88a6faa618 )

(https://www.farmersjournal.ie/focus/agri-careers/it-can-be-very-tough-in-ireland-daniel-coyle-258139 ) It made me wonder, how do top riders who work for a specific farm get paid? I’m just curious. Do they receive a salary if they work for a single farm, for a single owner? Do they get paid by bonuses if they win? How does that typically work? Or is there no typical – they all differ?

[kenyarider]

If they don’t come from inherited wealth, it’s like any other job, a negotiated agreement between rider and owners of the horses. It’s capitalism after all, so they get whatever the market (the owner) is willing to pay and whatever the rider can negotiate. I assume it’s salary, commissions and prize money in varying amounts. I know of one who years ago, charged owners flat rate (not much because I was paying) and made up the difference in prize money and sales commissions.

[Red_Dust]

they often get a % from the sale of their projects.
It’s all a matter of agreement.

[junesj68]

I read somewhere that the rider typically gets 10% of prize money won- but outside of that I’m not sure what typical pay is like

[nutmeg]

In the last century I worked for a private owner whose rider was rumored to be on a salary of $100k/year, an unknown share of prize money, and a large commission for moving both sale horses and ones suitable for the owner to jump. In addition the rider had two family members to train regularly. He was a very hard worker and every bit the athlete that a bazillion dollar baseball player is.

[ParadoxFarm]

@nutmeg

In the last century I worked for a private owner whose rider was rumored to be on a salary of $100k/year, an unknown share of prize money, and a large commission for moving both sale horses and ones suitable for the owner to jump. In addition the rider had two family members to train regularly. He was a very hard worker and every bit the athlete that a bazillion dollar baseball player is.

Thanks. This makes complete sense. I just hope riders are getting paid their worth. I think at the top, hopefully they are.