Just wondering… If you’re a trainer of horses and people, and basically your own boss, responsible for finding ways to make your own money… and you get injured really badly and have to take time off… What happens? If anyone has any experience with this I’d love to hear it.
Edit: Not injured! Just one of those curious people that have random things pop into their brain.
Most trainers I know work through injuries and end up with chronic pain.
And that’s in Canada where there is some amoubt of social safety net.
Dang. :nonchalance: Well, guess I gotta up my pain tolerance…
OP, what did you think would happen?
You are self-employed. Some of the options available to people with employers may not be available to you and, as self-employed you need to make sure you “cover” yourself.
Hard but maybe true.
Uhhhh ya you either suck it up despite suffering or ‘starve’…if you are the rare lucky gem you have some disability insurance to help a little bit. Basically you are up sh!t’s creek with out a paddle.
I am self employed and 1099 contracted through another company (for this specific reason). I have GERD, IBS, among other GI faults, and have worked through many injuries, including broken bones. If you can avoid it, do so. You’ll only end up causing more issues in the long run. If you cannot avoid it, see if you can space things out.
I was not self employed back in the day but worked in vet clinical. Benefits were non-existant. 1/4 of my income went to paying for a medical coverage plan. Taxes went towards workmans comp, which covered time off I needed after a minor surgery. Because of this I exited the clinical community with zero savings or long term funds.
trainers are no different. They must pay their taxes and it would be best they invest in a medical policy via ACA or their state health insurance org so that they have medical coverage. If they are injured they need to have paid into state taxes which cover their temporary disability and they should be looking towards long term retirement security via a serious insurance policy.
much like anyone else, if you think that your social security benefits will cover you in your golden years, you are sorely mistaken.
the bottom line you really are not going to be spending your income on glamorous vacations and posh ponies, you really need to plan for a huge disaster. The disaster may not even be a fall from a horse. That pesky lump in your breast probably should not be ignored etc etc etc
dont rely on Go Fund Me to cover your disaster
Start building an emergency fund and have some sort of medical coverage and contribute to a 401k I have always had medical benefits through my job (not self employed) but always wondered if professional horsemen ever gave any thought to this subject before they turned pro. OP I hope you are young enough to start saving for emergencies and retirement or maybe to consider a career change. Stay safe and good luck.
How badly were you injured? Can you work at all? Do you have family or friends nearby?
I don’t have experience with this. I am sorry you do. I’m sure it’s very worrisome. Good luck!
This is exactly why I believe our govt should provide free health care to everyone. (I had parents who paid all and then a career that paid and I still pay health care in my pension each month. )
I’m always freaked out that in our country people live and die without healthcare. And go hungry. And get lousy education. I used to ask these questions in church. Never got the answers
it is not socialism to want people to be healthy. Even the old drunk white bums on the streets of Atlanta.
Start a gofundme. I used to get our great tv reporters in Atlanta to do stories on people needing help. Those with dogs and horses got extra attention
Even if you are not self employed it still throws a monkey wrench into your life. I can remember teaching with broken ribs, on two occasions. As a real adult, getting injured is something to consider. Even thinking I had a broken neck and trying to take time off was hard.
After the last election I have to admit that socialism is looking way more human and a better option. I payed over a third of my paycheck anyway and could still be ruined with a horrible accident, like a car accident. I think health care is a human right, like electricity. We are the only country who does not regulate the prices and leaves it to privat insurance and hospitals to decide what we owe with no choice or explanation…
Where did electricity come in as a human right??? I must have missed that somewhere in my civics education 
As someone who is self employed I am working on getting to the point that I actually own businesses not just my job. Soon I will have my businesses to the point that I could pay someone to do everything but office work and still make money should something happen to me. If you aren’t going to be able to get to that point I would bow out and do something else. Short term disability insurance before something happens would be the best route and a pile of cash with no debt. Sorry but other than your government not being allowed to steal your stuff and press you into service I don’t feel you are entitled to anything.
FDR’s rural electric co-ops.
Medical insurance, AFLAC, welfare and food stamps if you don’t have the other two. Training horse is a tough, dangerous job. And not one you get rich at.
Again, where did electricity become a human right? I didn’t ask where it came from… where is it a right???
SassyPony, sorry to hear you are having a rough time. It is not clear from your posts on whether you actually have a business or are training freelance. If you have a business, I think a S-corp is the best model for folks who don’t have any employees. An S-corp requires that you pay quarterly tax, social security, etc., and may, depending on your state, allow you to drawn unemployment benefits. Also, Medicaid was expanded in many states under ACA and, depending on your income, you may qualify for health benefits. Otherwise, you need to buy private health insurance. Running your own business is not easy!
And, to the back-and-forth between Wher’sMyWhite and cloudyandcallie, electricity has to be continuously generated and transmitted, which is not free. It is a purchasable commodity and not an entitlement.
Thanks everyone! haha, just wanted to state I do NOT have a business of any sorts, probably won’t for a good while. I’m just asking because it was on my mind, (I’m the kind of person that stresses about college in middle school!)
Definitely young enough.
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