Hmmm Feu Folet has been thinking again (be careful forum members)

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Agent XXX999

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Now FF would like to know and answer to this question please -

"What makes a proffesional rider?"

Only I have been placed British Novice, schooled young horses, broken, re trained, and ridden all sorts, both for myself and other people (not paid, clearly I am stupid) - but still consider myself quite an amateur (would help if I could spell it....)

Which leads me to my second question...

"How much experience does someone need before you let them school your horse?"

More experience than me, I would say - because otherwise what is the point, you may as well do it yourself. My instructor has ridden all over Europe and knows more than I ever will, for example.
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No matter how good (or bad) you are, once you are paid for riding someone else's horse, then you are "professional". If you don't get paid, then you are not a professional, although you may very well BE professional (if you see what I mean!).

I don't think ability has anything to do with it!
 
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"What makes a proffesional rider?"

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A Professional " Having great skill or experience in a particular field or activity"
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Rider "One who sits on, controls and is conveyed by an animal or machine"


I cant read. I cant wright. But that don't really matter, cos I come down from somerset and I can drive a tractor
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How much experience does someone need before you let them school your horse?"

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Experience is just one criterior(
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avoiding the question
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)
 
ummm, difficult one... I am a qualified BHSAI, have been around horses since I was 3..BUT would not call myself a professional because I am only "part-time" ie. I work as a Legal PA but ride as my "hobbie" albeit every day etc... I have taught and when I have time (now regularly competing at long last!) I will teach BUT again I have regular lessons x 2 a month or so (money depending etc...)
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by whom I would call professionals...people who are in the horse business ie. work in the horse business, compete regular. I would only let someone school my horse if I had seen them ride, teach a lesson and know that who ever they are teaching is making progress.
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If I do not make progress with that person then I know it is down to me or my inability to take their instruction
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... if that makes sense!!
 
I worked with point to pointers, jumped schooled and qualified them on the hunting field so i was considered a professional and couldnt ride in amateur races. There is no way I was a professional but as I was paid to ride out and muck out I was penalised. Daft if you ask me. Mairi.
 
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so if i get paid to ride, but not to compete, am i professional?

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I would say yes, but that is only my view. If you are generating income from something, then you are usually considered to be professional.
 
Good questions, made me think. I work in a riding school/ livery yard. I have both BHS and NVQ qualifications, started working with horses at 16, now in mid 30's. I would never ever allow myself to be called profesional rider by anyone as I dont think I am very good at it, I do a lot of teaching, especialy nervous adults and kids, but still wouldnt say I was a pro at this. But I do event groom for the YM and this is what I know I am good at, wouldn't object to the pro label for this side of my work.
 
I think if someone called themselves a professional just because they had been paid to do something, it might show them in a bad light. It is up to others to judge the professionalism of an individual.
 
Hmm, I always wonder about question 1, as technically I am a professional rider. I school horses, not as a career but as one of my 2 part time jobs, for my YO, in her adverts she writes "professionally schooled" referring to schooling done by me. But I only consider myself an amatuer, I do PC, RC & low level affiliated, and would never be able to make a career as a rider....

Question 2 - Well the word "school" infers that they'd be doing it only to train my horse, and therefore must be a better rider than myself. I dont mind my instructor working him through a problem, but I dont think I would ever send a horse away to be schooled - Im of the attitude - he's my baby and I school him, if Im incapable of doing that, I would sell the horse...
 
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This is why I hate the term 'professional'.
It somehow manages to signify that someone is good at what they do. The fact of the matter is they are just getting paid to do it - no matter how good or crap they are.

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Precisely!
 
The thing that really annoys me is when I see an advert that states 'professionally broken'.
People seem to take this as god has actually appeared on earth and broken it in himself!
What I take it to mean is, 'I am not capable of doing it myself, so paid someone else to do it. Being clueless, I wouldnt know if they did a good job or not'.
 
not strictly always true
You could be in my shoes - have broken mine in the past but now have a heart condition and osteoporosis and am the wrong side of 50 so I pay pros to take the falls - not a muppet - just age and illness stops me doing it myself any more - however knowledge does make me VERY selective as to which 'pro' I would use and I also use 'horses for courses' - i.e. person dependent on the temp. of the young horse concerned.

i also still do all the preliminary ground work myself - just not the actual backing or riding away.
 

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I school horses, not as a career but as one of my 2 part time jobs, for my YO, in her adverts she writes "professionally schooled" referring to schooling done by me.

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I 'd say the same as the YO. You are doing a job for her in return for payment. she is obviously pleased with the results and advertises the fact. I don't think you have to have a career as opposed to a job to be professional


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Well the word "school" infers that they'd be doing it only to train my horse, and therefore must be a better rider than myself.

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Yes, but we can pay for a variety of services, it doesnt necessarily mean we get them done better than we could do them ourseves. It just means someone else gets to do it. You choose someone or someone chooses you.
 
'professionally broken' ?

Option One 'professionally broken' OMG you actually paid money for this. Sometimes along with "But we paid £****.** to have him schooled you know"

Option Two 'professionally broken' Yes I thought so You must be very pleased he/she is going beautifully.

So its 'professionally broken' is it.
 
This is tricky....I think that different show circuits will define it differently. In a perfect world everyone would be honest and fess up to being a "professional", however that is not the case.

My opinion, in most but not all cases, you are a true professional when it is your main sourse of income. Mucking stalls or grooming to me doesnt count. If you do some riding or teaching on the side, whether it be starting young horses, legging up horses, or actually schooling a horse for someone you need to be doing in it full time for me to see you as a professional. HOWEVER that doesnt mean that everyone who has a full time job and teaches/rides is not a pro.

You know what I dont think there is a right answer to this question...I see it as a very grey area!
 
I wasnt having a go at anyone who pays to have horses broken in.
It simply annoys me that people seem to imply. that because they have paid someone else to do the job, it was done properly and potentially adds value to the horse.
 
I have decided that I am a professional amateur.

Saying that, I am not even that - there are people far better than me.

Maybe I am just a horse rider who can ride and doesnt just think I can ride?

Saying that, people would beg to differ. I think I am alot better on the floor than I am mounted (probably the safest)

I really think that there should be some sort of legislation like BHS exams to determine professional riders - otherwise you could get every Tom Dick and Katy advertising.

Or could I just advertise? I will sit on anything and make it go - so does that make me pro (the joys of growing up on a dealing yard and being shoved on anything and told to kick- )

I have confused myself now.
 
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surely a professional is just when they make a job out of whatever the skill is?

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Yes that is exactly it. A professional horse person is someone who makes their living from horses. They may be good or not so good, that is irrelevant though, as to what job title they have.
 
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