A few question about free lance riding?

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hannahkirkhill

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Is there a demand for free lance jockeys, esp ones who can school to a high standard and ride sharp / naughty horses.
If you could have some one who was experienced in backing horses help you back yours at home rather than send it off to livery to be done would you. Same question with a horse you were having problems with and needed ''re schooling'' .
And how much do think it should cost, different I suppose from schooling a easy horse than say, helping back one?! would you charge extra for the first hr for fuel / traveling then a set rate for more hours, or a set rate per hr and a certain amount for fuel / traveling depending on how far?
Random questions I know, but would love some input
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thankyou !! (also in CR)
 
I would think there would be a demand - I am an experienced rider, but recently had a horse that needed re-schooling, and due to time issues I would have loved to pay someone else to just get him over the problems - for a re-schooling problem horse, I would have been happy to pay £20 for half an hours riding, and scale it up to £40. I would have obviously always insured said horse was in, groomed and ready for the rider.
I know that in our local Countrywide, there are usually loads of adverts looking for 'sharers' or 'riders' for youngsters or project horses, so there is a demand for competent jockeys, but a lot of people seem to want someone to help them out for free!
I think as a customer, I would prefer an hourly rate, plus a fuel charge if I was outside of your usual working area.
 
i think there is definitely a market for it. i know a dressage rider who charges £18 to go and school horses for people (am guessing for an hour)...i'd be willing to pay about £20 with possibly a bit more for fuel. i think the idea of getting someone up to back a horse is brilliant- that way could work 'with' the owner so they know how to progress once backing process is done...guess you'd have to see what yards charge for taking horses for breaking and judging it that way- obviously it would be minus livery but plus petrol costs...don't think you'd be able to do it per hour as obviously different when breaking a baby- maybe a set fee for each week and in that you do the work that is necessary for the particular horse- £100 a week?! sorry a bit vague...but a good idea!
 
I was thinking / hoping it would be a good idea... as I hate having breakers in, getting a bond, then sending them off home to the ''un known'' lol
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it would mean you could stay in touch with the horse a bit more and possibly help through more than just the breaking in period if you know what I mean. I was also thinking I would possibly not need to be there all the time with a good baby, as they could spend some time doing what I had shown them to do for a few days then go and see how they are getting on and progress that way, so they had loads of input them selfs which would surly help in the long run - or am I just being romantic
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!! Its the cost thing im finding hard as well, suppose it would be very individual!!
 
yes definitely could work like that. when i broke in my baby i did everything myself but had issues with getting him ridden away with no-one leading him (kept bronking me off
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) so he went away for 10 days to someone who could stick on him during his paddies but i was pleased i'd done all the leaning over etc myself- would have much preferred to get someone up to give me a hand than send him away
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I offer schooling alongside my freelance teaching and find there is some demand but it is fairly limited. Also I pnly charge £15 (plus travelling in some cases) and will tack/untack for this so the owner does not need to be there. Most the people I school for have lessons as well as one without the other is fairly pointless IMHO.

Finally you will need at least Care, Custody and Control insurance as the owner won't be insured if you are riding and charging them, if you offer any advice/intruction you will need full freelance insursance. (about £300 per year if qualified but not on BHS register)
 
My full time rider used to be a full time freelance - teaching, schooling etc. He was busy as hell through the summer and it tailed off badly through the winter ....

He still does some freelance riding and teaching after work and on days off - but he won't do breakers at people's homes because there is a stage during backing when you need a good assistant who can be relied upon to do everything right!! Having someone screw up at that crucial stage puts rider's safety (and horse's training) at considerable risk! SO now if someone asks him to back a horse, it comes here for at least the first couple of weeks or he won't touch it. He can then help the owner (on a freelance basis) when horse goes home - either with occasional lessons or schooling.

He charges £20 an hour - whether it's teaching or riding - in his local area.
 
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