Hi! I’m hoping someone may have some advice! Growing up I rode everyday, lessoned, showed, leased horses etc., but once I entered college riding slowed down to one lesson a week due to money. I have a trainer at school and a trainer at home, and always offer to both if they ever need help exercising horses I am fully available, but I seem to always get forgotten. I would love to ride more than once a week again and if possible would love to show again. I don’t know if there is anything I could do to expose myself to more riding and showing opportunities without costing me too much money. I am fully willing to work in exchange for riding, but was wondering if anyone had advice or ways to approach my trainers. Thanks!
Hmm. Have you tried putting up an “advertisement” of some sort? There must be somewhere to do that! Have you also tried having a firmer yet still kind conversation asking them your questions and telling them you are serious about this? If they don’t have anyone for you to ride, then I suggest that you should find someone else. It’s a bit of a difficult time to be going to new places, but if those trainers could maybe recommend a local barn or someone who does need riders, maybe that would work? I truly wish I could give you information that was more helpful… Good luck and best wishes!
If you have made it clear to your trainers that you want to ride their horses for free, but they have never taken you up on that offer, I think the message is clear.
Most of us adult ammies have to pay our way, meaning we take lessons, lease, or buy a horse.
“Free rides” are rarely free; they tend to go to working students or assistant trainers, in exchange for grunt labor.
It’s the rare adult ammie who is horseless but is also known to improve horses enough that they can essentially trade schooling for free rides. Are you that adult ammie who has almost-pro skills? More importantly do your trainers think so?
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I agree with Scribbler here. Rarely do trainers give up their horses for free rides and usually when their horses are ridden by them or someone else, It is for training or profit somehow. I’d try and look elsewhere like springgreypony has suggested. If you have a rescue or therapeutic riding organization nearby, then I’d start by volunteering your time there as sometimes they will allow trusted volunteers to school the horses.
And yes, free rides in the community usually don’t come from luck, although I have seen a few that have. Often, they are offered to people who have a really good reputation of being a skilled rider. For you, I’d work on networking in the equestrian community right now any way you can. Asking about working student positions could be a way to do that; however, are you able to dedicate that much extra time without affecting your school work?
Free ride for you is lost income for trainer. Most people, unless they are becoming professionals, have periods in their life when they can’t ride much, if at all. Your skills will get a bit rusty but they will still be there when you are in a position to get back to riding and your current once a week will keep you ticking over. Your life has obviously been heavily focused on horses up to now but college is a time for new things. Have you tried a new sport? Equestrianism is very poor at learning from other sports but many physical and mental training practices are useful for riding. You can also volunteer. I know that comes up frequently in response to these sort of questions on COTH but there is a reason. As a volunteer you are around horses, you are putting something back into your sport, you meet people and it is fun. It might even contribute to your college life.
Take the free time you have to work at the barn (to pay for free rides) and get a job at McDonald’s or the grocery store. Use that money to pay for more rides.
In my experience, free rides are given to clients that have a certain amount of potential to become more invested clients. For example the client that is considering to buy and board a horse in the near future. That client is getting the free rides. Not the college kid who probably won’t be buying a horse for another 5-10 years. Heck, even the client that already has a horse in board / training is going to have higher priority on free rides.
With the sharp increase in costs of horse keeping, the farms with mobs of ottbs needing rides that are kept on the back 40 are fewer and far between.
I think there are options for you though. If you have time, you can work part time mucking and perhaps get a perk of a free hack included. You might find a private individual looking for a rider to go on trail rides with them in their second horse. You might volunteer at a horse rescue or therapy program.
I think showing on the cheap is probably right out though. I might pay show costs to let a kid or junior show my horse as it would increase my horse’s value (maybe). But another adult? Naw.
Horses are a big money hobby. Honestly your best bet is to focus on establishing a career so you can afford this hobby.
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Depends on the barn, IME (assuming you are at least a strong intermediate rider who is capable of riding just about anything that needs to go). I have ridden at barns that don’t have a pro rider on staff and there was rarely a day that I didn’t have a ride if I wanted it. Other barns have pro riders, very skilled Jr or Am riders in line before you, and barns with few or no “extra” horses hanging around. Schoolies may very well not need to go on days they don’t have lessons. Clients often don’t want other amateurs riding instead of the trainer or a very skilled peer they already know.
I would do a bit of research and networking to see if you can identify other barns that may be thrilled for the help. But be aware that most good programs/trainers are not just going to take your word for it. You’ll probably have to invest in some lessons and become familiar to them first.
