to ride? or not to ride?

So, I recently sold my horse due to personal and financial reasons. Any ways, I have been dying to ride again , especially babies or off the trackers like my last one. I love teaching at least ground manners and the simple bases of walk trot canter and what ever else I can to the extent of my knowledge .( If I need help, I always have a trainer I can consult who I trust and respect. So I am never doing thins truly on my ) Any ways, I've recently had two offers. One I can ride and help break babies with a lady that I know. That would be wonderful and everything i'm looking for! BUT its about 4 hours away. She has a place I could stay and live at on the property, BUT I would not be getting paid... but I also think it would be a great experience and really help me grow into being a better horsewoman (since we all know we always have room to grow!).. I don't have a problem with that except i'd have to leave my apartment and i'd have to stop when my husband comes home from deployment. And I wouldnt want to do that...


Option Two.

I've recently been given an opportunity to ride an amazing little green OTTB. He's so smart and SO willing to learn. I believe the lady has kind of been screwed over being told he's being "trained" but for being in training for two months, I couldnt even get him to circle nicely, bend, walk calmly, trot nicely, just basically, I feel like im riding a completely fresh off the tracker... I worked with him walking, circling, serpentine's, and trotting in circles and transitions, and he finally started to calm down and get it after about 30 minutes of walking and 10 or so of light trotting with lots of transitions. The trainer WONT give her a schedule that he comes up and the lady has no idea about horses... basically I'd have no idea when the other guy is coming up, and its a two hour drive for me to get to him to ride, but im ok with that because its near my family and id be able to stay here. Yadda yadda any ways, turns out she didnt want to pay me, and she wants me to ride him three days a week...

Moral of the post? Should I do either one? I really want to ride, but I don't want to spend the money on gas to get to option two, for nothing other than a ride, I could go spend it on a lesson.... but id be doing what I wanted which is working with a project.

I just don't know if its stupid of me to do either one... I do need a job that pays... but I want so badly to work with horses. .


Edit! She also says that when the guy does come up and ride he rides for 15-20 minutes. And!!!! Disclaimer I am in NO way bashing this trainer or anything. I don't know the deal or anything that's going on. Its just my opinion.

Should I do either one? Or just go take lessons and work on me more?

Option 2 seems more ideal for you from what you have said. Maybe you can work something out with her about money. Tell her its what you really want to do but financially cannot do it and want some sort of compensation for gas each week.

thats what I was thinking... I just don't want to seem rude... but I guess it is benefiting her since she can't even ride her horse... haha

Option 1 appeals to me if all the other stars are aligned.

There are not many times in one's life where this would be doable. Once you have children, own a home, need to consider your and your spouse's careers, and many other factors the opportunity for you to take up an offer like that would not be feasible.

Go for it.

If she where to send her horse away it would be thousands, you can bring that up. Really all you want to ask for is some kind of compensation for gas, since time spent around horses is the best time.

If you need a job that pays money, you could also take option 2 then work the other 4 days of the week. Or work a full time 5 day a week job and tell her you can only do 2 days. Since its free she would probably be willing to work around your schedule.
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Thanks guys for your opinions. There's alot more to option 2... its...complicated as i've been talking out with my parents idk how good option two is. Hahahah