Working in exchange for lessons

I'm thinking of taking riding lessons this spring and I was thinking of doing work around the stables in exchange for riding lessons. I could train foals, yearlings and older horses as well, and do anything else that was needed. Has anyone done this? I just thought this would be a good way to take lessons and I could save my money for other things. I'll probably talk to the instructor soon about this but I was just wondering if anyone on here has worked around a stables in exchange for lessons and how that worked out. Is that something I should even suggest? And how many hours of work usually in exchange for one lesson? I would probably be doing more the training aspect like with weanlings and yearlings. Thanks!

I started doing that in January. I emailed them off of craigslist and asked if they were interested in doing so and they asked me some questions about my knowledge of horses and now I work on sunday mornings feeding and cleaning 8 stalls for 2 hours in exchange for a 30 min dressage lesson. It is working out nicely.

I work for lessons also. I started way back in 2002 grooming miniature ponies and walking them. Then I started lounging the big fellows, teaching some of the younger kids, cleaning LOTS of tact, etc. I think that working for lessons is great, you learn alot too!

Thanks! I will talk to my instructor about working off at least some of my lessons. It would be nice to get extra experience with the horses at the same time as not having to pay for my lessons.

I work for lessons as well. I find it nicer because not only am I getting "free" lessons, I get to spend more time around the horses and get to learn a lot about taking care of them.

Thanks for the replies! I talked to my instructor and we worked out a plan where I will train her foals for a couple of hours and get a lesson in exchange for that. I'm really excited, as I love working with the foals and will be getting lots of experience as well as a "free" lesson. I'm going to make up a list of the goals I want to accomplish in training the foals and then I'll give it to my instructor. I'll probably be starting Monday, now that our weather is FINALLY warming up!!

Thats awsome!
I'm moving back to my parents for a while to work with my trainer. She's prego and due this summer. She's taking outside horses and going to train them, I'm going to be helping and making part of the profit. I'll also help work some of her horses in return I get free lessons, and board for my horse. I'm also going to be working off a pair of english boots from her haha. Can't wait to start! I start in April, unfortunately she doesn't have an indoor arena so I'll only be able to work on the nice days, and clean tack on the wet days haha.
Its an awsome oppurtinity and soon I think I'll be going to a wb facility to work for a lady and if I stay there for a year I get a free horse! Haha.

You'll learn alot, and working with different horses all the time is great cause then you learn to find new ways to do things and stuff so when it comes time for a new horse its not so scary. Good luck with the foals, you'll have fun!

Yes, I think I'm really going to have a lot of fun! And that is true, since every horse is so different it is real good experience trying new things for each horse. That is wonderful you are going to be able to work with your trainer. That's awesome if you could get a free horse too! Wonder if I could work that out someday with my trainer!

Yes, I think it is going to be a lot of fun. And such great experience working with all types of different horses. I guess it won't seem to much like work lol! That is wonderful you are going to be working with your trainer! And that would be awesome if you got a free horse later too. Wonder if I could work that out someday with my trainer!

Sorry for the double post! My computer is being real difficult this morning.