How To Become A Horse Trainer or Riding Instructor
A horse training career is within your reach--if you've got the skills and the business-building information you need.
The first thing you need to know is this:
A horse trainer or riding instructor is a self-employed professional.
Read that sentence again.
Many talented riders decide that they have the skills to train horses and give lessons. And then they search the want ads for horse training or riding instruction positions. Or they place "position wanted" ad, listing their skills and hoping a prospective employer will call them. But the truth of the matter is that the vast majority of horse trainers and riding instructors are self-employed, by necessity, because paid positions with benefits are few and far between. They are self-employed professionals.
So let's take a closer look at those last two words: self-employed professional.
"Self-employed" means that you work for yourself. You set your own schedule, build your own clientele by establishing your own reputation, pay your own taxes, and so on. Many would-be trainers are surprised to find out that salaried, benefits-included jobs in the equestrian industry are thin on the ground. If this is the kind of job you're looking for, you will need to look in large metropolitan areas that have established equestrian communities.
How much do horse trainers and riding instructors make?
According to the GlassDoor.com, trainers earned a median annual wage of $58,000 as of April 22, 2024, and the salary range typically falls between $44,000 and $82,000. They also report that horseback riding instructors earn an average of $87,000, with a range of $65,000 to $120,000. Keep in mind that these figures are skewed heavily by top level horse trainers and instructors. The average for mid-tier trainers and instructors may be much lower. The average fee for horseback riding lessons varies across the states, ranging from $55/hr (Michigan) to $100/hr (California). You can read more about that here: https://www.horsefactbook.com/fun/riding-lesson-cost/
In most facilities, trainers are independent contractors.
That is how talented and passionate horse people pursue a horse training career. They are not employees of the facility, but instead offer lessons and training there (as well as other facilities) for set fees, a portion of which goes to renting use of the facility. This is the plain economics of pursuing a horse training career. Very few facilities take in enough income to pay a trainer salary plus benefits. If you are self-employed, this means that your income depends on the number of horses you train and sell, and the number of lessons you give. Some facilities will have lesson horses for you to use, but many won't. You will be expected to give lessons to people who board there, people who trailer in with their own horse, or on horses that you yourself own and keep for that purpose. The horses you train will either belong to other people or will be horses that you yourself show or sell.
What does it mean to be a professional trainer or instructor?
"Professional" means that you have adequate training and expertise in a particular skill such that you can teach others or perform a service for others. If you don't, pursuing a horse training career can be a dangerous endeavor. Many countries in Europe have strict licensing procedures for horse trainers. These procedures are much like getting a college degree in the U.S., including coursework, tests, and so on. The U.S. doesn't have this type of system, so anyone can hang out their shingle as a trainer. Some disciplines have their own certification procedures, such as the United States Dressage Federation. But even certification can be no guarantee of success as a trainer or instructor. For this reason, you need to have adequate proof that you know what you're talking about. This usually means that you have to do well at accredited shows or other public venues where your skills are put to the test and judged by experts in your discipline.
Other sources of income that are available to trainers include:
If horses are your passion, then by all means make that passion your life's work. But before you leap, consider the facts laid out in this article so that you set your expectations realistically.
You can find a wealth of proven tips for starting and running a profitable horse business here.
You can find recommended books about starting and running a profitable horse business here.
You can find recommended products to make running your business easier and more profitably here.
Copyright Denise Cummins, PhD September 12, 2009; Updated June 3, 2024
The Thinking Equestrian
A horse trainer or riding instructor is a self-employed professional.
Read that sentence again.
Many talented riders decide that they have the skills to train horses and give lessons. And then they search the want ads for horse training or riding instruction positions. Or they place "position wanted" ad, listing their skills and hoping a prospective employer will call them. But the truth of the matter is that the vast majority of horse trainers and riding instructors are self-employed, by necessity, because paid positions with benefits are few and far between. They are self-employed professionals.
So let's take a closer look at those last two words: self-employed professional.
"Self-employed" means that you work for yourself. You set your own schedule, build your own clientele by establishing your own reputation, pay your own taxes, and so on. Many would-be trainers are surprised to find out that salaried, benefits-included jobs in the equestrian industry are thin on the ground. If this is the kind of job you're looking for, you will need to look in large metropolitan areas that have established equestrian communities.
How much do horse trainers and riding instructors make?
According to the GlassDoor.com, trainers earned a median annual wage of $58,000 as of April 22, 2024, and the salary range typically falls between $44,000 and $82,000. They also report that horseback riding instructors earn an average of $87,000, with a range of $65,000 to $120,000. Keep in mind that these figures are skewed heavily by top level horse trainers and instructors. The average for mid-tier trainers and instructors may be much lower. The average fee for horseback riding lessons varies across the states, ranging from $55/hr (Michigan) to $100/hr (California). You can read more about that here: https://www.horsefactbook.com/fun/riding-lesson-cost/
In most facilities, trainers are independent contractors.
That is how talented and passionate horse people pursue a horse training career. They are not employees of the facility, but instead offer lessons and training there (as well as other facilities) for set fees, a portion of which goes to renting use of the facility. This is the plain economics of pursuing a horse training career. Very few facilities take in enough income to pay a trainer salary plus benefits. If you are self-employed, this means that your income depends on the number of horses you train and sell, and the number of lessons you give. Some facilities will have lesson horses for you to use, but many won't. You will be expected to give lessons to people who board there, people who trailer in with their own horse, or on horses that you yourself own and keep for that purpose. The horses you train will either belong to other people or will be horses that you yourself show or sell.
What does it mean to be a professional trainer or instructor?
"Professional" means that you have adequate training and expertise in a particular skill such that you can teach others or perform a service for others. If you don't, pursuing a horse training career can be a dangerous endeavor. Many countries in Europe have strict licensing procedures for horse trainers. These procedures are much like getting a college degree in the U.S., including coursework, tests, and so on. The U.S. doesn't have this type of system, so anyone can hang out their shingle as a trainer. Some disciplines have their own certification procedures, such as the United States Dressage Federation. But even certification can be no guarantee of success as a trainer or instructor. For this reason, you need to have adequate proof that you know what you're talking about. This usually means that you have to do well at accredited shows or other public venues where your skills are put to the test and judged by experts in your discipline.
Other sources of income that are available to trainers include:
- Horse sales: This is by far the most lucrative part of the training world. If you have a good eye for young horses, and sufficient expertise to bring young horses along in a particular discipline, the profit gained from the sale of a single well-trained horse can equal many, many months of lesson and training income. This is an excellent way to pursue a horse training career.
- Brokering horse sales: Trainers typically charge a fee to evaluate a horse for a buyer. For example, a student may be interested in buying a horse, and would like you opinion on the horse. In that case, you might consider charging a fee (usually about 10% of the purchase price) to accompany the student to see the horse, ride the horse, and ask the current owner for purchase-relevant information, such as the horse's health and show records.
- Clinics: If your reputation warrants it, traveling to other barns to give clinics can be extremely lucrative. A clinic essentially consists of several individual or group lessons given back to back. The trainer usually negotiates a set fee in advance along with a limit of number of lessons to be given. If you are truly a talented trainer/instructor with a track record of successful horses and students, this is a terrific way to pursue your horse training career. Not only do you derive income from the clinic, but you get great media and word-of-mouth advertising.
- Professional grooming: This is particularly important for show grooming. Horse owners will frequently need assistance in pulling and braiding manes and so on.
- Training aids: You may have an idea for improving horse training or instruction. If so, on-line marketing of your product can be lucrative.
- Videos and articles: Instructional video clips and articles can be lucrative if marketed properly, such as to magazines that pay for copy or websites that pay-per-click for video content.
If horses are your passion, then by all means make that passion your life's work. But before you leap, consider the facts laid out in this article so that you set your expectations realistically.
You can find a wealth of proven tips for starting and running a profitable horse business here.
You can find recommended books about starting and running a profitable horse business here.
You can find recommended products to make running your business easier and more profitably here.
Copyright Denise Cummins, PhD September 12, 2009; Updated June 3, 2024
The Thinking Equestrian
