Generally speaking no. However I go off more experience than age. The problem is its easier to have more experience if youve been around longer. Not to mention kids under 18 normally are being funded by their parents and this kind of takes away from their level of repsponsibility.
I trained and gave lessons when i was 19 and worked with 4Hers younger than that but they were people I knew to some extent.

 

No, I would not. Not to train at least. However, if I had to have a horse exercised regularly and I couldn't do it and I knew a teenager that was a good rider and dependable, then I would consider it.

 

I personally wouldn't. It has nothing to do with age...but the typical demeanor of a 17 year old advertising that they ride well enough to train is not what I like training my horses. Horses need patience. Not know it alls. While there are exceptions to this rule (like you!) most young people think they know everything there is to know...when they are only just beginning.

We had a young girl run my friends horse in barrels. He can be a real handful and my friend is older and not really interested in it. It was just a fun show but the girl rode pretty well. Took her time, wasn't afraid of him, and ran a decent pattern. My friend asked her if she would like to come ride him at the farm sometimes...just for fun (no payment!) and she happily agreed.

She came out one time. She was pushy and overbearing with Izzy. She pushed him way too hard and was hauling on his face. Her excuse "He needs to give to the bit...you guys aren't doing a very good job with him". Game Over. She left my friend a 2 page regimine of tasks that she would like her to complete with Izzy before she came back. Things like lunging him into the ground and running him over the hill 10 times a day. Otherwords...totally rediculous and pointless. She was told to not come back.

She started out as a nice girl with a good seat. She got a little too full of herself and ruined what would have been a nice situation for her to learn. He is a green horse with lots of potential but he doesn't tolerate bad handling.

 

Depends on the circumstances. I agree, you tend to find WAY more ads by misguided teenagers then adults where they think just because they caught the neighbour's loose wild horse once and someone said they were gifted, magically they think they can train anything. Though it's alarming how many ADULT ads I find like that as well.

I've met a few kids in my lifetime I'd trust to train my horse - however, these are almost entirely and exclusively range ranch kids who've grown up with horses and been riding (and usually competing) since they were knee high to a grasshopper. The only problem is that it's usually THESE kids who understand how much more they have to learn and won't take on horses to train. Kind of ironic eh?

I also can't help but wonder what sort of legal action you're facing if your horse severely injures an under age kid? I imagine the judge isn't going to understand that you paid the kid $100 to train Snicker Doodle so the kid must be a legitimate business right?

Frankly, with the legal repercussions present nowadays, I wouldn't let anybody but a professional trainer on my horse. Anyone who doesn't have a business number to go with that swagger can sue you in an instant if your horse piles them!

 

From 15 i was working for an international eventing horse trainer and I rode for her and then when I was almost 17 local studs started hiring me to break in their horses, train thema nd ride them at shows. I also got called to fix problem horses. I never once advertised or big noted, i just quietly did my thing and got noticed for it. then I got sick and got fat and am now ont he road to recovery agian and am almost 23.

 

I'm 16 and I actually agree with the adults. I wouldn't let someone younger than 18 train any of my horses. Although it does depend on experiance. I am 16 and I have already broken in one of my horses and I jsut got another young horse. I am actually being paid to work someones horse. he's 4 and has no sense of bend and rarely gets his canter leads so yes I a training him. But i've been riding for 10 years and have an olympic coach. it does depend on experiance.

 

=) these were the answers I was expecting. Generally in my area it's the kids who really aren't very decnt riders that want to train other people's horses when theirs aren't even winning. I only started the mare I had because I couldn't get my mom or grandpa to for me lol. I got told I did a good job on it by alot of people I look up to. But I'm handing my colt over to my mom to be started on barrels. I don't fancy myself a trainer, I was just thinking taking on maybe one horse next summer for extra money or offering to give lessons to younger kids who wanted to learn barrels.
And Corniowalk, I'm only the way I am because I've only ever had green horses that I've had to watch my mom train and pick up where she left off.

 

barrelracer your like me though i feel I can train a horse. next year i'll be going for my instructors which will make me certified to teach by equine canada.