7 Horse Riding Careers to Consider : Equus Education

So you want to make a career out of riding horses, ey? Well here are 7 horse riding careers to consider. Some offer consistent work and wages. Others will be successful only if the horse in question being ridden is successful in its given discipline.

1. Exercise rider for racing
  This is a person who rides horses in their morning workouts. Often this will be for thoroughbreds galloping on the track in flat racing, or jumps racing. Riders are generally paid per horse that is ridden and can get work 6 – 7 mornings a week.
2. Jockey
  You need to be qualified to ride in race work and your earnings will be based on the performance of your mount – as well as the class of race. Rides may be over weekends or during the week, depending on race meetings.
3. Eventer
  Many of these riders need to be sponsored and the performance money is a lot less than in race riding. Still, it is possible to ride competition horses for a living. An eventer focuses on dressage, show jumping and cross country riding.
4. Catch rider
  For the owners who have a horse that needs to be ridden, a catch rider can come in handy. They ride the horse in its competition event for a fee – and hopefully the horse receives points/ribbons in the classes it is entered.
  
  7 Horse Riding Careers to Consider | Equus Education
5. Educational rider/trainer
  Some horses have issues with regards to their education or the way they’ve been ridden. They may be acting up because they are in pain or fearful. Some trainers manage ‘difficult’ horses beautifully, getting to the root of the problem and enabling owners to move forward with their riding goals.
6. Trail ride guide
  Perhaps you’re the sort of person who loves getting out and about, seeing beautiful places on horseback. You also love interacting with people and can teach beginners a thing or two. And maybe you enjoy riding with more experienced horse people, too. Taking people out for trail rides may be a job worth considering! It will often involve matching strangers to appropriate horses, tacking up horses and taking groups out for a ride. Then you will be dealing with the horses and putting them away again. Many trail places do 2-3 rides in a day or some overnight rides for the more experienced clients.
7. Mounted police
  It is worth noting that if you want to get into this area, it can’t be solely because you want to ride! Mounted police officers have to serve as a police officer for a few years before they are in a position to consider the mounted department. It can also be quite competitive. Love of the law needs to be your focus, with getting to ride a bonus 😉
The 7 horse riding careers to consider listed above touch on different disciplines and different working hours. Have you considered another? I’d love to read in the comments about other riding careers you’re interested in!