Opinions On Ideas?

[Le_Equestrian]

Hello!
I’m needing to find a way to raise myself money for riding and shows as a kid in high school. Unfortunately with sports, school, just life, I’m unable to work a regular job. I’d like to do something related to horses, and would like to know what people think of some of these ideas I have. Or if you have a specific thing I could probably make that you can’t find more other places lmk!

Belts (the elastic surcingle type- there’s lots of others who make this im afraid)
Tailbags
Treats
Saddle covers
Stirrup covers
Bit warmers
Helmet covers/bags
Boot trees
Polo wraps
Rope Halters
Browbands w/ jewels or beads

[Foxglove]

Any type of hand crafted item, I have learned, to be a poor return after one subtracted the materials and time from the purchase price. Instead, consider more lucrative jobs such as house cleaning or child care. Both could work around ur school/sports schedule. And consider the “cost” of the sport. Some sports require tremendous time commitment-- swimming is one, basketball another. While “fun” the sport may keep u from a good paycheck with no real advantage to ur life goals. One girl who works for me (exercise rider) was a good basketball player, but quit the team to continue to ride for me. I paid her well and she got to ride good horses. Basketball paid nothing, but the early morning daily practice and after school games kept her time in the saddle for me to almost nothing.

[Scribbler]

I agree, craft products take a long time to make and are not easy to sell, since commercial and secondhand versions of all these items are very plentiful. And people tend to already have enough.

I agree that you need to look at your schedule especially the Just Life and Other Sports parts. After a certain point you can’t really keep competing in multiple sports at an increasingly high level. At a certain point you need to prune and specialize, and be strategic. Especially if your parents can’t afford to cover all your costs for everything.

It sucks but it’s part of learning to adult. Prioritize and figure out how to earn the money to fund your hobby priorities. The house cleaning and babysitting and perhaps yard work as well are good ideas. They might or might not pay better than cleaning stalls.

[clanter]

if you can make those products you might make more money in less time by teaching classes on how to make these things

my daughter in law makes a near fortune building custom lamps in what was once her spare time which now has become a thriving business

[soloudinhere]

I made a ton of money in high school clipping horses. Even just trimming legs and pulling manes could get me $75 a day here and there which helped a lot.

[Le_Equestrian]

Thank you for this! Do you remember a certain pair of clippers you recommend? I’d love to be able to do this, but am afraid due to a lack of other hunter barns near me it might not be realistic. I’ve clipped & pulled before, but will need more practice. (Luckily I have 2 very very fluffy ponies I’ll be riding soon that need clipping & manes pulled).

[Le_Equestrian]

My sports include Cheerleading & Riding. Cheer takes up about 2 hours of my afternoon. The problem with babysitting is I don’t have my licenses which many people want and my town is tiny (6,000~ people) and there is almost a monopoly on house cleaning.

Thought I would edit- my parents can afford to support my riding, but I have ambitions of rated shows which are not financially supported.

[Scribbler]

Why rated shows? At what level? I know folks will travel to rated shows just to do the 2 foot hunters or training level dressage etc but honestly I don’t see the point in paying rated level prices to compete at the beginner level.

Do you have your own horse? Do you compete now? What level? Does your barn compete? When you say rated show is there something local and rated you have your eye on that your barn attends, or would it mean travel? If travel does your barn go? What are the costs you are looking at?

From what I’ve read on COTH traveling to rated shows costs thousands of dollars for one show. What’s the goal here? Just go to one as an experience or are you wanting to attend a series and try to qualify for a championship?

Honestly I don’t see a way for you to earn the thousands of dollars for this, and I also don’t see the point. If you have access to a horse, lessons, basic gear, and the opportunity to learn and perhaps compete locally in unrated shows sometimes, that’s a great way to become the best possible rider you can be.

[PNWSunnyDay]

Are you old enough to drive and stay on your own? People in my area are always looking for farm-sitters and you could accept jobs during your summer, spring, and winter breaks. Good money and a fun gig.

[Le_Equestrian]

I am unfortunately unable to drive yet, at that point I will be able to have a “real” job. I’ve been able to do random house/pet/baby sitting in the past, but most people want someone who can drive unfortunately. That’s a good thing to keep in mind tho!

[Le_Equestrian]

My barn goes to one or two rated shows per year. I want to be able to go have fun with my barn at the one or two non Arabian shows they do yearly. I understand how much shows cost (the reason I’m trying to find ways to make money for them). We have a weird situation with riding right now (although I am able to ride at least 3 times a week). Our shows are maybe 3 hours ago. I’ve attended a rated show before, know how much it costs, know how enjoyable it was and want to continue doing them. I’m not a point chaser, I enjoy going and showing. When I say rated, I would like to clarify, we do the smallest rated (C rated) shows or we do locally rated shows. I’ll be showing in the jumpers hunters and EQ. I know I want to show, I’m asking for ideas to raise money not to be discouraged from showing.

If you think it’s unrealistic for me to make money from crafted items just let me know

[Scribbler]

Ok it sounds like this isn’t the really expensive A rated circuit so more affordable. I assume you don’t have your own horse? A first step is to get an accurate statement of the total cost from your trainer. That would include entry fees, transportation, coaching at the show, and if it’s your horse braiding, stalls, care, transportation, at the show. If you are going to be sharing a lesson or half lease horse there will probably be a set fee for the show. Get an accurate full cost from your trainer, and write it down. It may be much more or much less than you think.

Crafts don’t make money for most people. Add up the costs of buying materials retail, then your hourly wage to make them, then how much you can sell them for.

It sounds like you are boxed in now with no reasonable job prospects. Can you go work at the barn? Clean stalls? Can you go to the shows as a paid groom, especially the Arabian circuit ones that don’t interest you as a competitor?

[clanter]

@Le_Equestrian

I’ve attended a rated show before, know how much it costs, know how enjoyable it was and want to continue doing them. I’m not a point chaser, I enjoy going and showing.

I know there are not many if any people who these days take in youth to help them gain the experience. But we did, we had the horses who knew show world and were idle so we would cover the expenses of the horse and often the entries for the rider. We had one horse who was the same mount in three years for three different kids at the same A show who all were the high point Youth. The horse was just very good at her task.

The last kid had less experience that OP, my daughter was out to prove a point to all the show stables that her horse was really, really good at the job.

[gertie06]

Are you near any A-rated shows? If so, learn to braid! You can do that at nights and on weekends. The good ones are paid handsomely.

[Le_Equestrian]

I’ve realized that about the craft type jobs. I may be able to groom at the Arab shows & see if my barn needs help with stalls, and maybe grooming for my trainer on weekends? I’m also into photography, so maybe getting good at that?
Currently I just ended a lease, and am in the process of getting a project horse, who might be ready for shows this year, maybe not. If I wasn’t able to take her, I have another horse who I could take to the shows for free in a catch ride type situation.

[Le_Equestrian]

I’m getting a project horse, who may or may not be ready for shows this year (we’ll see lol) but if she can’t show this year, I have a catch ride type horse set up. I’ll have to pay all show expenses, but they’re not making me pay a fee for the horse at least.

[Le_Equestrian]

I’ve heard of this! (From the braided and the clients point of view) This is a good idea! Once my horses mane is pulled & clean i think I’ll start practicing!

[Foxglove]

@Le_Equestrian, as @Scribbler wrote, you appear to be boxed in with the choices you are making. One final try here —you wrote that “everyone expects child care workers to drive,” not true in my area --if it is, then why not ask your parents to drive you? Apparently they are willing to drive you to your sports practices --seems as if they would be willing to drive you to a job --especially if you pay for gas out of your earnings. You said that the house cleaning business is monopolized in your area --why not contact the businesses and see if there is an opening for you to work? Office cleaning is a big part of house cleaning work in my area --and that is done on weekends and “after hours.” Suggest you “put the word out” by telling your coaches, teachers, friends, and friends’ parents that you are available to do child care --you can even make it clear that you would need a ride --same with house cleaning --when I had children/grandchildren living with me, I had many sitters too young to drive --FYI

[Le_Equestrian]

Alright, thanks for that. I’ll reach out to people. With babysitting most in my area want people who have a drivers license to drive their kid to different activity’s, and I wouldn’t be able to have my parent drive me and the child all over the place. Thanks for the advice though.

[Scribbler]

Oh babysitting here is more nanny or after school care. That makes sense. When I was a kid babysitters were weekend evenings when parents were going out together to somethung adults only, a party etc. They always drove babysitters home after.