Can you ever make a good living from being a qualified riding instructor????

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eatonbraynat

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I have recently been lookin at my life and stuff, (oh god!!). I have just finished my college course for my AI and have yet to take the exam, however i am looking at my current options and wondereing if i have made a mistake. I am 27 and not getting any younger, i am living at home wit parents.

Can i ever make enough money doing teaching etc to even get me a mortgage? And to live comfortably.

Cookies to all who shove some advice my way!!! lol
 
Are you planning to freelance? Teach in a RS? Or have your own yard etc?

I have just been freelancing for about 5 years, and without wanting to depress you, no I couldn't live off purely what I earn. I could poss house share, but that would be it.... No horse etc.

I have friends who have their own yards so do livery etc too as well as teaching. It's a hard life but they have a mortgage etc etc on that.
 
I teach in a RS and can't afford to move out currently (I'm 23), but me and OH combined should be able to manage it, renting at least - got a lot of saving to do between us before we have a deposit big enough to worry about a mortgage. I only work part time hours and can't have any more at current yard, but updating qualifications to be able to supplement with freelance teaching. If I was on a yard full time I'd be better off financially obviously, which may well have to be the next option, much as I don't want to leave where I am now.

I don't own a horse.

I've spent a lot of the last year seriously considering whether it's pratical long term, or whether to give up horses and go and do something else. But I just can't bare to give them up, not until I really have to. Depends rather on what work OH can get what I have to do.
 
Yes you can and people do you. But its a hard way to earn money.
You need to really sell yourself do lots of clinics, pony club, take lots of extra exams as many as you can.:)
E.g Dressage judge, become accredited with the bs,be,dressage. Etc
If you really what to make it work think on the lines that you need to be the next patric print(BHSF) Think big and work hard.
I earn nothing really just pay for the horses, Husband luckly has a good job:p
 
This kinda confirms what i thought really :( never mind back to the drawingboard. I kinda went into it after splitting with my long term bf and decided not to waste the 6 months following moping around. So i guess at least ill have a qualification to show for it!! lol
 
Are any of you freelance? How many hours/lessons a week do you do and what do you charge? On average what sort of money do you bring home each month??
 
I teach in a RS and make £10pm I have a house and a horse the only thing I am struggling to afford at the minute is a car. It is hard and you so have to be ruthless about the things that aren't necessary but it's do able
 
I taught for many years and made a living from it but found the thing that worked the best was 3 days a week in an office (this gave me paid holiday, bank holidays, pension, security etc) and then teach round that. I had a couple of yards where I would have a block of 3 or 4 lessons which made it worthwhile. If the weather is bad your income can drop like a stone which is where the office job comes in handy.

Obviously when you are newly qualified you need to build up your client base but don't undersell yourself and make sure your clients know you are busy so not to keep you waiting or cancel at 5 minutes notice. I would only give 45 minute one to one lessons as that was enough for everyone, but the extra 15mins was available if we needed to over run or chat things over.

I now work full time in an office :o as life got more complicated and I needed more money :o and wish I was back teaching part time!
 
i have made a good living from horses! but worked bloody hard on the way. and done loads of non horse jobs to make ends meet. i think it really depends on what area you area you are in. how good you are with horses and people and how many hours you put in. good luck it can be done!!
 
I bought my first flat while working with horses (with a deposit from an inheritance). I had nothing left to live on, and certainly wouldn't have afforded a horse.

I think that doing another job is the way forward, and teaching/judging at weekends/evenings to give some extra money is the way forward. Either that or combining it with doing portable livery/grooming - for people in their own yards etc.

The only teaching that I do nowadays is for pony/riding club, which is also a great way to start, and you are covered by their insurance too, so don't need to fork out for that. Even though I don't use it much, I never regret doing my AI - its always there..
 
I am not an AI but I worked with horses, and had my own, for many years. This was a long time ago and I am ancient now, but, if I had stayed with horses I would never have been able to afford a mortgage and car. I got a good job and rented a flat, but when I actually bought a place the horse had to go as well, as I couldn't afford a mortgage and a horse. I suppose it all depends on what you want out of life. The only other problem is working with horses is very tiring, and the older you get, the harder it gets, and if you get an injury, (which is not uncommon!) you could be out of work for a while, so one has to consider how you might manage if that happens.
 
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