Working Students
This program allows older students to work in exchange for extra lessons. This is a win-win-win situation; kids are happy to hang out at the barn, parents are happy not to have to pay for multiple lessons, and we are happy to get all those chores done!
The jobs are assigned by Sara or by a senior working student and may involve grooming and tacking up horses, cleaning the barn, helping younger students, mucking stalls and picking manure from the paddocks and pastures.
In order to be eligible to be a working student you must meet age requirements and you must be a proficient rider with a good understanding and knowledge of grooming, tack, and horse anatomy. I am interested in training young horsemen and great riders so students who wish to work for me should also be making a commitment to riding at least twice a week. Students who are interested in learning these things so that they can be working students at a later time may ask to be in the internship program. The internship will allow students to learn by watching and working and can transition in to a regular working position when the student is ready. These are popular programs with limited space so please let Sara know if you are interested in participating. In general, older students and students with the most experience will have first choice at the working student positions.
A good way to prepare and show that you are ready to be a working student is to read Hunter Seat Equitation by George Morris and Grooming to Win by Susan Harris. Younger students who want to get a head start may read Riding for Kids by Judy Richter. This book is loaded with good information and lots of photos.
