I can't afford to buy let alone keep a horse, I spend my EMA money on one riding lesson a week. I have been taking lessons for almost a year but don't know if I'm good enough to loan and know I don't have the stable experience to work at a yard or loan. What can I do to have more time with horses?
2007-11-16 04:12:32 · 7 answers · asked by Anonymous in Sports ➔ Horse Racing
you could probably volinteer at the stables where you get your lessons, either feeding treats or cleaning the stalls maybe. and if u get lucky they might let you just go in to spend time with all the horses, cus they need to socialize too...
2007-11-16 04:27:53 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
I was about to answer your question but I was going to tell you the same thing as everyone else - volunteering lets you hang out with horses without paying anything and you learn a lot. Sometimes my favorite part of a lesson is at the end when I get to brush him off and spoil him with apples and carrots. Even if you don't know how to muck a stall (it won't take you long to learn this), groom a horse or take care of and tack up a horse, most volunteers will have started in the same position as you and are generally friendly and willing to teach you (I still can't figure out how to put a bridle together and I've been shown many times). Not only is it fun, but these are things you will need to know if you ever do buy your own horse. Also, some stables will give you "lesson credits" instead of paying you to help out: mucking; grooming; sweeping or whatever else needs to be done. This is great because, in addition to the experience you get working with the horse, you earn credits that you can use to take extra lessons.
2007-11-16 13:49:56 · answer #2 · answered by Sightseeing 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Many barns allow people to volunteer to work around the stable mucking stalls and doing other tasks that need done. I did this when I was younger. I mucked out stalls and worked around the barn. In exchange I gained experience and I also got a free lesson for each day that I worked. You might see if a stable near you offers such a program. Since they are not paying you in money you usually don't need experience, they are willing to train you for free help.
2007-11-16 07:58:21 · answer #3 · answered by Rags to Riches 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
As others have said, volunteer. But expect to do hard work. Most barns don't need people to feed treats or brush an occasional horse. Many don't want you to feed treats without permission.
Learn to muck stalls and clean tack. A lot of barns are willing to set up schedules and for so many hours of work you get saddle time. Others may actually hire you (if you're of working age) and you can pay for add'l lessons out of your earnings.
Read everything you can about the care of horses. Offering to willingly do the unglamourous grunt work and do it well will make you VERY welcome around most barns!
2007-11-18 18:56:05 · answer #4 · answered by L Y 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
If you know some owners, you can offer to help them w/ their horses while they're away on holiday. Also offering to help those people who don't get the chance to come to the barn to see their horses that often is a good idea. These can also earn you money too!! Just make sure that the horse isn't too much for you to handle, because most of the time you won't have your trainer standing right there to help you with it.
2007-11-18 12:39:55 · answer #5 · answered by Runner_4_Him 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Ask if you can work for free at the barn in exchange for some ridding time. That is what I do. I muck stalls, feed, turn out, water, and hand walk horses for some riding time in the afternoons.
2007-11-19 06:17:56 · answer #6 · answered by pointskelly 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Volunteer at your local stable. You can be around the horses and gain some experience at the same time.You might have to muck stalls, but you might also get to groom horses or be a lead out or feed them.And it might lead to a paying job later.
2007-11-16 04:28:36 · answer #7 · answered by newtex 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋