Horse Trail Riding Lessons?

Pocahontas47 · 05-26-2008, 01:49 AM

Well im not really sure im posting this in the correct spot but its got a little bit to do with trail riding. My 15yr old daughter was trying to think of was toearn money this summer and she came up with this idea, im not sure it will work but shes eager to try it. Shes got a dead broke 5yr old Tennesse Walking horse gelding. She rides him anywhere, she can ride him standing up she crawls under him, she lays on him, she can basically ride him anyways she want including backwards He doesnt spook at anything, dogs dont bother him the only thing that he really doesnt like is cows. He loves kids. Well my daughter was thinking bout starting a thing where kids that dont own a horse to ride all the time or would just like to learn to ride could ride her horse. A lot of local kids ride him a lot, she goes through town and kids always ask to ride theres also a 8,7 and 5yr old that ride him regurlarly. Shes thought a lot about it. She plans to only ask people to pay what they can, people can rode for however long they want according to their experiance level. No one takes the horse off by themselves, ym daughter would always be with them whether walking beside, riding on the horse double or riding her other horse along with them. Kids that were just learning to ride would just ride around our yard and close to our house, kids with more experiance could ride with my daughter along some of our back roads and places that dont have many cars or anything. She already thought of writing up a form that parents would have to sign saying that the were completely responsible for anything that may happen, bacause as everyone know accidents can happen, the form would basically state that we couldnt be sued or anything if something goes wrong. Im not sure if its a good idea and im not sure she would get many people interested as we live in a very small town. I would love to here your thoughts or comments on this. Thanks for taking time to read,sorry for any spelling errors im typeing fast and my computer is being stupid.

Carri · 05-26-2008, 06:54 AM

I think it sounds like a really good idea, and I am sure she would do well with it, but I honestly don't know about the liability issues.

ahlihaff · 05-26-2008, 08:38 AM

Your daughter is generous to want to share her horse and give others a riding experience.

I'm not 100% sure, but I don't believe those contracts people sign hold much water when it comes right down to it. I believe you can still be sued if someone was injured.

fuller_meadows · 05-26-2008, 08:49 AM

Check with your homeowners insurance, But I know around here that if you are just doing it for donations, that you are covered, when you start actually charging then it can make it tricky. I would also check with a lawyer on the contract to just make sure it is a legal binding contract just to cover you a$$. You may have to spend alittle on the lawyer, but it will pay for itself in the long run, cuz as mentioned, horses can be very unpredictable, even the most bomb proof horse can freak out over something you don't expect them too. It sounds like your daughter may be some kind of entrepuner (sp). she has got the right frame of mind for it I think!!!! Good luck to your daughter.

kshnooks · 05-26-2008, 08:51 PM

agreed, check with your homeowners and a lawyer. If she does do this and something happens, I would hate for you to have to pay for a loss out of pocket. Liability losses can be extremely expensive.

sherriawright · 05-28-2008, 11:03 PM

Illinois had a equine liabliltiy (sp?), check and see if TN has it and make sure that the PARENTS get a copy and sign that they got the copy and understood it. All that aside, I think she would make a fortune with this and would also make the service available to "older" people also!

HorseDork · 05-29-2008, 01:01 PM

insurance is INSANE for kids to give lessons or have any kind of "buisness" there are loopholes, but to really be protected you have to buy insurance, which starts at $500 a year

for minors. talk to your insurance company and if your horses are insured, you could ask the people who insure them if they have any suggestions.

alliebath · 05-29-2008, 04:47 PM

I'm with everyone else - the liability could be emmense. The child could be hurt, the child could ride the horse over someone/into someone and injure that person, get hit by a car, etc. Check it out and make sure you are covered. Another idea might be for her to ride other peoples horses - I know I would love an experienced person to help me keep my four legged up.

breburtch · 05-31-2008, 06:22 PM

In order to do something like that you will need a waiver form but you also need liability insurance. Also how many days a week does she plan today this, and for how many hours a day. I think it would be hard on the horse if it was being used 5-7 days a week for more then 3 hours a day depending on what it is doing. If the kids are just doing walk and some trot thats ok but if there doing lots of trotting cantering riding in rough terran etc that will break your daughters horse down faster. Not to mention some horses are great beginner horses etc but they will get bored with doing the same stuff over or gt sick of beginners hauling on there mouths and kicking them and riding wrong and there for the horse can become nasty and unhappy. You want to make sure this is something your horse wont get fed up with, and have to be ready for all the issues that can arise from doing something like this.
Just make sure you have both investigated into this fully and know what your getting into and make sure your ready for any problems to arise. Doesn't matter where you are or who you are there will always be atleast one person who will try to kick up crap and make and issue out of anything.
As someone who has given riding lessons worked on tons of farms most of which were lesson barns etc I know now that there will always be someone whos not satisfied or is just there to cause problems and looking for trouble.
If you guys do decide to go through with this I wish you the best of luck.

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05-26-2008, 01:49 AM
Pocahontas47 Newborn Member Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Huntland,TN Posts: 20	Horse Trail Riding Lessons? Well im not really sure im posting this in the correct spot but its got a little bit to do with trail riding. My 15yr old daughter was trying to think of was toearn money this summer and she came up with this idea, im not sure it will work but shes eager to try it. Shes got a dead broke 5yr old Tennesse Walking horse gelding. She rides him anywhere, she can ride him standing up she crawls under him, she lays on him, she can basically ride him anyways she want including backwards He doesnt spook at anything, dogs dont bother him the only thing that he really doesnt like is cows. He loves kids. Well my daughter was thinking bout starting a thing where kids that dont own a horse to ride all the time or would just like to learn to ride could ride her horse. A lot of local kids ride him a lot, she goes through town and kids always ask to ride theres also a 8,7 and 5yr old that ride him regurlarly. Shes thought a lot about it. She plans to only ask people to pay what they can, people can rode for however long they want according to their experiance level. No one takes the horse off by themselves, ym daughter would always be with them whether walking beside, riding on the horse double or riding her other horse along with them. Kids that were just learning to ride would just ride around our yard and close to our house, kids with more experiance could ride with my daughter along some of our back roads and places that dont have many cars or anything. She already thought of writing up a form that parents would have to sign saying that the were completely responsible for anything that may happen, bacause as everyone know accidents can happen, the form would basically state that we couldnt be sued or anything if something goes wrong. Im not sure if its a good idea and im not sure she would get many people interested as we live in a very small town. I would love to here your thoughts or comments on this. Thanks for taking time to read,sorry for any spelling errors im typeing fast and my computer is being stupid. __________________ Pocahontas & Blazer(tnwalker) are together- night riders!!!!

05-26-2008, 06:54 AM
Carri Bombproof Member Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Alpharetta, Georgia Posts: 10,086	I think it sounds like a really good idea, and I am sure she would do well with it, but I honestly don't know about the liability issues. __________________

05-26-2008, 08:38 AM
ahlihaff Greenbroke Member Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Western MA Posts: 3,635	Your daughter is generous to want to share her horse and give others a riding experience. I'm not 100% sure, but I don't believe those contracts people sign hold much water when it comes right down to it. I believe you can still be sued if someone was injured.

05-26-2008, 08:49 AM
fuller_meadows Halter broke Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: kalkaska, Michigan Posts: 169	Check with your homeowners insurance, But I know around here that if you are just doing it for donations, that you are covered, when you start actually charging then it can make it tricky. I would also check with a lawyer on the contract to just make sure it is a legal binding contract just to cover you a$$. You may have to spend alittle on the lawyer, but it will pay for itself in the long run, cuz as mentioned, horses can be very unpredictable, even the most bomb proof horse can freak out over something you don't expect them too. It sounds like your daughter may be some kind of entrepuner (sp). she has got the right frame of mind for it I think!!!! Good luck to your daughter. __________________ I wasn't dropped on my head as a baby, ...I was thrown across the room and bounced off a wall!!!(Larry the cable Guy)

05-26-2008, 08:51 PM
kshnooks Coming two Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: California Posts: 1,865	agreed, check with your homeowners and a lawyer. If she does do this and something happens, I would hate for you to have to pay for a loss out of pocket. Liability losses can be extremely expensive.

05-28-2008, 11:03 PM
sherriawright Weanling Member Join Date: May 2007 Location: Pekin, Illinois Posts: 459	Illinois had a equine liabliltiy (sp?), check and see if TN has it and make sure that the PARENTS get a copy and sign that they got the copy and understood it. All that aside, I think she would make a fortune with this and would also make the service available to "older" people also! __________________ The art of riding is keeping the horse between you and the ground.

05-29-2008, 01:01 PM
HorseDork Yearling Member Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: San Diego Posts: 561	insurance is INSANE for kids to give lessons or have any kind of "buisness" there are loopholes, but to really be protected you have to buy insurance, which starts at $500 a year for minors. talk to your insurance company and if your horses are insured, you could ask the people who insure them if they have any suggestions. __________________ loves~hopes~dreams~horses

05-29-2008, 04:47 PM
alliebath Yearling Member Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Leavenworth, Kansas Posts: 580	I'm with everyone else - the liability could be emmense. The child could be hurt, the child could ride the horse over someone/into someone and injure that person, get hit by a car, etc. Check it out and make sure you are covered. Another idea might be for her to ride other peoples horses - I know I would love an experienced person to help me keep my four legged up.

05-31-2008, 06:22 PM
breburtch Coming two Join Date: May 2008 Location: Ennismore, Ontario Posts: 1,905	In order to do something like that you will need a waiver form but you also need liability insurance. Also how many days a week does she plan today this, and for how many hours a day. I think it would be hard on the horse if it was being used 5-7 days a week for more then 3 hours a day depending on what it is doing. If the kids are just doing walk and some trot thats ok but if there doing lots of trotting cantering riding in rough terran etc that will break your daughters horse down faster. Not to mention some horses are great beginner horses etc but they will get bored with doing the same stuff over or gt sick of beginners hauling on there mouths and kicking them and riding wrong and there for the horse can become nasty and unhappy. You want to make sure this is something your horse wont get fed up with, and have to be ready for all the issues that can arise from doing something like this. Just make sure you have both investigated into this fully and know what your getting into and make sure your ready for any problems to arise. Doesn't matter where you are or who you are there will always be atleast one person who will try to kick up crap and make and issue out of anything. As someone who has given riding lessons worked on tons of farms most of which were lesson barns etc I know now that there will always be someone whos not satisfied or is just there to cause problems and looking for trouble. If you guys do decide to go through with this I wish you the best of luck.