Can anyone help me?

[JeNeSaisQuoi]

Hi,

I am 18 and currently on my gap year. In the spring/summer, I would like to do workaway, and I would love to do something involving riding.

However, I haven't got much experience! I rode a little bit when I was very little (5 or 6), and then probably about twice a year since then. How can I gain more experience? I don't have lots of money to spend on lessons. :(

Will it take very long for me to be 'good' on a horse? Thanks for any advice. :)

[50BalesOfHay]

Sorry, the only way to get good is to have a lot of lessons with a good instructor and it's expensive. Once you've reached a reasonable level you could look for a share, but nobody would let someone with your level of experience ride their beloved nags, so I'm afraid you'll either have to scrimp and save for lessons or pick something less expensive to do. Sorry to be negative, but horses are expensive obsessions

[Booboostoo]

Is there no way you can get a part time job (or even a full time one) and put some money away for a weekly lesson at a decent riding school?

It's very difficult to work with horses when you have no experience because you won't know enough to look after them and may even be putting yourself in harm's way because they are large and potentially dangerous animals.

From what I know from friends working with horses in Australia and South America these jobs require quite a lot of experience riding and handling horses, often sole charge, often supervising clients, and any potential employer would be negligent to hire someone with no experience.

[ThatVikRinA22]

it doesnt have to be mega bucks - if you really want to do it then get a part time job and get lessons - but im finding that proper lessons from a good instructor are a revelation to me, i pay just £20 for about 45 mins, and i go once a week. i realise how much i have to learn, but its wonderful and worth doing properly.

[Pixel]

I have a freelance instructor, she charges £12.50 for half an hour. My teenage daughter gets that for doing her paper round (she has quite a small round, some of them pay more), so that's one suggestion. Even if you go to a riding school you could have a lesson every couple of weeks (or get two paper rounds ).
Maybe with Christmas coming it might not be too late to get a temp job so you can put a bit of money away for lessons later on.

[JeNeSaisQuoi]

Thank you so much for all of your replies!

Looks like I will have to have lessons then. :o I wasn't keen to spend a lot of money because I'm trying to save for uni as well, but if it means I'll make progress then I will look into it.

Thanks again, you've been really helpful. :)

[booksinbed]

Work at a stable - muk out etc in exchance for horse care and or reduced cost lessons......?