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Working for lessons

2K views 7 replies 6 participants last post by  HorsesOnTheRun 
#1 ·
Hi:-p
I am wondering if it is possible to work at my stables for free and get paid with free lessons.
I am a kid so not like a real job, just like cleaning the stalls, untacking and tacking the horses, grooming, etc.
My stables has grooms already, so do you think they would still need help?
Plz help!
 
#3 ·
I did just exactly that when I was 16, but after my 3rd lesson my mother wouldn't let me go back. Every tome they put me on a horse. They put me on psyco a 7yo georgous Qh heardbound mare. She was very green and wouldn't even do as the trainer wanted. This horse had issues and this "trainer" couldn't even fix them. Well for this last lesson my mother came to watch. I saddled up psyco and took her to the round pen for our lesson. Once in the round pen our lesson started. Psyco was all riled up being away from her pals and was only half listening. Once we got to a certain spot in the circle she would try to stop and stare at the other horses. Well my instructor decided we must go from a jog into a lope since psyco was trying to stop at that certain spot. I ask her for a lope and get one until we reach that area again where she puts on the brakes and won't budge. She starts rearing. I stay on until the lesson ends. The whole time this horse was acting a fool. Reared at least 7 times.
Right when I got off I knew something was wrong because I realized my mom had disappeared to the car. I thought I was in trouble so I hurried to untack psyco. Once I got in the car my mom said she wanted to pull me off that horse. She said that my trainer was not very good and I had to find a new one.
I knew that would happen once she saw how psyco acted. In the three short weeks I'd been at the stable I'd even taken that crazy on a long trail ride where my horse was the only one acting a fool. The trainer jumped on psyco once to see if the horse acted better w her. NOPE. so she make me the green rider get off her well behaved horse and make me get on the one that's jigging sideways down the trail.
Ya know I actually miss that horse and I'm pretty proud I was the only one who could ride her on the trails and get her away from the barn. Also I never thought about it before but for being so green at the time I'm glad I was able to keep her from taking off with me!
Make sure that if you have to work for lessons that its a reputable barn and they won't put you on the craziest horse they have!
Hope your current stable will let you do it. I'm sure they could always use. The extra help.
Thanks for reading my rant.
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#4 ·
I agree, ask. Worst case, they say no. I have a student that works off part of her lessons, her brothers get suckered in by her to help too, which is awesome when its time to put up hay or build fence :)
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#5 ·
I know some stables around give this opportunity to kids (and even adults). So I'd approach a trainer and politely ask if it would be something possible.
 
#6 ·
I worked at a barn up in nebraska and bartered for cutting lessons, a saddle and some of my lease on a horse i bought (the owner owed the barn money so i worked it off for her as part of a lease agreement). It never hurts to ask, so go for it! like said above, the worst they can say is NO.
 
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