Horse riding

duesouthtwin2

Any tips for affording horse riding? It’s my dream to learn to ride and I need to learn for a possible horse related career in the future. Right now I pay £150 per month for x 5 lessons. I’ve looked into volunteering in exchange for lessons- found one place that will let me help out 8am- 7pm in exchange for a lesson. BUT should I do an overtime shift instead? 1 x overtime shift is £150= 5 lessons. But the volunteering would be a all day around horses. How do other horsey people manage it? 

tacpot12

My advice would be to do the overtime shifts to earn the money, then pay for the lessons with the money.

Regardless of the hours you put in at the stables as a volunteer, I think the instructor will always consider that you are getting the lesson "for free" - you are not a paying customer, and hence the lesson might not be taught as well or be cut short if the instructor has personal commitments that come up. As a paying customer, you have a right to expect a professional service. I would set this up so that you can pay for the lessons. 

You can still volunteer at the weekend, but then you are doing it to be with the horses.

Christianne1957

As a longtime horse owner I'd say go for the overtime!

On a livery yard, the horses are turned out in the morning and brought in the afternoon. The time in between is spent filling haynets, mucking out, poo picking the paddocks, cleaning, filling water troughs - all very hard physical work & no contact with the horses themselves.

In my experience - however nice the owners are - they will think they are doing you a big favour letting you help all day and it will be rather tricky to subsequently get you "free" lesson from them as its perceived as yet another "favour"

Maybe look for a part share or loan horse to get you started and get some hands-on experience but be aware "there's none so queer as horsey folk"! 

duesouthtwin2

Thank you -my riding school said I can help out around my lessons which is great 

Mimi_Arc_en_ciel

I'd go for the over time 

Does the riding school do "loan days" - Ours used to either do these as a one off day, or you could loan the horse for 3 days a week where you would be responsible for the horse. Lessons were also cheaper on your loan/own

Undervalued

No direct experience with horses but I have been involved in similar dilemmas in other expensive recreations.

Unless you know the owner very well indeed and are 100% confident I would always suggest earning the money elsewhere then paying for your lessons and other services from the stable just like any other client.

MrsStepford

You'll get more respect as a paying customer from instructor, staff and owners. I worked with horses and young people get exploited.

If you're serious about a career with horses, why not look for an apprenticeship with a BHS approved riding school, or look at racing college or trainee in a polo , eventing or showjumping yard.  

Groom Pathway | British Horse Society (bhs.org.uk)
National Horseracing College | Horse Racing Courses | Equine Careers | The NHC
Groom with Riding Pathway | British Horse Society (bhs.org.uk)
British Racing School (brs.org.uk)
British Showjumping
Courses | Hartpury University and Hartpury College equine courses

sheramber

MrsStepford said:

You'll get more respect as a paying customer from instructor, staff and owners. I worked with horses and young people get exploited.

If you're serious about a career with horses, why not look for an apprenticeship with a BHS approved riding school, or look at racing college or trainee in a polo , eventing or showjumping yard.  

Groom Pathway | British Horse Society (bhs.org.uk)
National Horseracing College | Horse Racing Courses | Equine Careers | The NHC
Groom with Riding Pathway | British Horse Society (bhs.org.uk)
British Racing School (brs.org.uk)
British Showjumping
Courses | Hartpury University and Hartpury College equine courses

You are replying to a thread that is  a year old.