[Open_the_Gait]

i was just reading the other post and i was thinking, 'hey i should do that' i know a lot of kids who would really want lessons, and i would only charge like 5 bucks a lesson or something. but how can i do it right?
i know id have to start with stuff like posture, and listening to the horse, and knowing about tack, how hard would it be?
am i going over my head? ive only been riding for 3 and a half years but i think i have learned really fast. i ride like every other day and i go horse camping alot and i have lots of people to teach me new stuff or correct me all the time. ive helped break a couple horses, and trained a couple too. and now im training my yearling.
what do you guys think? if u were a beginner would u be willing to pay me for lessons?

[Dawn]

Well my first question would not be how long have you been riding, but how long have you been taking lessons? That's not to say that you couldn't be an excellent instructor without ever taking a single lesson, but much is learned through observation. Do you show any?

You would also need to make sure that you get through all of the legal red tape. If there is a shortage of beginning instructors in your area, or if many are overpriced for someone just starting out, you might be able to do it.

[TheNaturalWay]

u should go for it, wat is ther to loose. If i was a kid round ther, id love to have lessons. You just got to mabye think about the business of things. Umm and sort some horses out and advertise, and away u go

[Sandra-A1]

There is a LOT more to giving lessons than simply saying 'Hey I can do that!"
Besides your experience & qualifications for your resume...and with deciding on the types of lessons you will be offering and what you will or will not be furnishing, lets talk Facilities & LAW SUIT...! eek!

You will still have to look into getting liability insurance coverage as well as release forms drawn up....preferably by an Attorney.

If you are going to be giving lessons someplace other than your own facility you will need to discuss this with the owner of the facility you will be using and discuss a rental fee and/or set up some sort of contract with them that includes releasing them from any liability involved with your giving lessons on their property.

I am not trying to talk you out of it or get you discouraged...but you have to really think things out and have a plan....and the plan must include protecting yourself from any type of lawsuit as well as insurance which will cover things usually never thought of until it is needed! If you have that covered then by all means sit down and create your lesson plans as well as advertising plan and get started!

I know I really did enjoy it when I was giving lessons. I still like to mentor young people along with adults who are finally realizing their childhood dream of horse ownership, riding and showing!
GOOD LUCK!

<small>[ October 17, 2003, 07:02 AM: Message edited by: Sandra-A1 ]</small>

[Dawn]

This is not completely off topic, but I thought I'd just add it in here. My instructor doesn't have a lot of "riding" land. It's all on a hill. So, we set up a jump course in her sister's field which is next door. She of course takes all of the necessary precautions with paper work and release forms. I don't believe she had liability then, but it wouldn't have helped.

Anyway, this girl was in the field jumping during a lesson. She was riding this bombproof school horse that you would about have to try to fall off of. So, she fell off. Said she was hurt, blah, blah, blah. Took her to the ER. They said she'd ripped some ligiments in her shoulder. (A whole nother story, but I know it wasn't true.)

Anyway, she moved away (still owing the instructor for 3 lessons.) My instructor's brother-in-law got a letter a few weeks ago from her lawyer saying she was sueing them. You never know what people are going to do even if you think you know them. In between the incident and the letter, she has gotten liability. She has now added her sister onto it and has posted a "ride at your own risk" sign on their property.

[Open_the_Gait]

ok heres the deal:
the reason i wanted to give lessons is that i am a volunteer instructor at a handicap riding place, and you may have read my other post about how most of the young volunteers there really have no idea what they are doing, so slowly those sweet bombproof horses are becoming sour. i try to teach them as we go along, but its too hard with so many at a time. i asked the board of directors if i could give lessons to some of them this winter and they said yes!
they already have the liability realease stuff, but im sure we will have to get something to protect for specifically my giving lessons. i think even that their insurance will cover me, but id have to find out for sure.
there are a few places where people can get lessons, but i dont think these kids' parents would pay that much or drive that far. they are already used to coming here and i would make it really cheap.
i myself have never taken formal lessons, but i learned from someone who really knows her stuff, and who shares knowledge abundantly wink
and i wouldnt need to advertise cuz i dont want very many to start out with, i have 3 specific kids in mind, and if it goes well with them, i will add more. also i wont have a lot of time cuz i got my first job with a vet and im getting another one at this same barn when they start renting it out for people to ride in in the winter(both are less than 20 hrs a week). and its very possible i could give lessons during the time im working there.
so its just the liability thing and im good to go!
but my other question is- can u help with the lesson plans? im sure ill do ok, but if there is anything important u think of lemme know please.

THANK YOU EVERYONE for the help!

[Sandra-A1]

I would contact your local 4-H or County Agent's office to see if you can get a copy of the 4-H Horse Division instructor/leader manual.

Also you can buy a copy of the Pony Club Instructors manual and Members Manuals and test booklet here:

My Horse Stable Books

BC Horse Council Bookstore

[QHGirl]

Another thought, You might not show, but if you ever did, you will loose your novice or amature status for taking money for lessons and training. SO this may not apply to you, but maybe someone else who is reading this post. Make sure you read up on all the "legal" issues reguarding the type of showing you are going to do in the future, so that way you don't loose your status of Amature or Novice for a few dollars a week wink

[Open_the_Gait]

wow thats good to know!
what kind of shows would it affect?
i guess the only shows i might go in would be little local shows, the state expo, and the big international rocky mountain show. would it affect that last one? i mean its not like im giving lessons on a rocky or even lessons on how to gait... but they do have classes 'AMATEUR owned and trained'. but it wouldnt be the end of the world if i couldnt get in that, id just go in the big classes that actually count.
hmmm.....

edited to say...
i guess i wouldnt really matter cuz ive already been paid for training horses frown

<small>[ October 20, 2003, 08:38 PM: Message edited by: Open_the_Gait ]</small>

[QHGirl]

That is a touchy situation... if you did the work at the volenteer place and did get some pay, it could be classified a little different. I am not sure how your breed classes go, but AQHA and ARAB and Paint shows are like that, if you get paid to do so much horse stuff, you can't be classified as a trainer. NOT that I am telling you other options, but I do know of a few people that give lessons on the down low, and they still show in amature and novice classes. (Paper trails in that are bad) ... I think also if you get paid to judge you are not considered a novice anymore. Doesn't matter if I give lessons to backyard horses, i still can't show novice in QH circuit, hope that sounds clear, probably not wink

So I would contact your breed show to find out specifics on what each status is (novice, open, etc) and follow what they have as guidelines!

Any one else have some advise????
Good luck!