STALL CLEANER:
You son or daughter may not want to spend a lifetime shoveling manure, but this is one of the easiest jobs to get at a stable especially during the busy summer months. Your child will learn about horses by observation, build upper body strength, and learn about the different type of flies in a stable and their reproductive habits.
Eleven-year-old Drew in addition to his own pony's corral cleans two additional stalls everyday. He's also responsible for the keeping the horses' water buckets clean and full. "I can make two dollars in fifteen minutes." Drew states, "I'm saving for a GameBoy."
Many stables or busy horse trainers pay by the corral or exchange riding lessons for hours of labor.
ASSISTANT GROOMER:
This job requires more equine knowledge on the part of your youth. Your child would be responsible for brushing the horse's coat and mane, cleaning its hoofs, giving it a bath, and sometimes hand walking. Ask your local stable manger, trainer, or 4-H leader how to become an assistant groom.
Your child may be paid in cash ($4-$7 an hour depending on experience and local) or riding lessons/ extra time on horseback.
EQUIPMENT CLEANER:
You're kid will need soft rags (old socks or T-shirts work well) and leather cleaner like Saddle Soap. Have them hang flyers at your local stables offering their equipment (also called tack) cleaning service. Parents you will need to help set a fair price for leather cleaning business. Horse owners like fast, friendly service. If your youth does a good job the first customers will tell their friends. Word of mouth advertising is the best source for new customers.
EXERCISER:
Hand walking, lunging, and riding horses requires experience. Ask your local trainer if your youth help exercise their horses. Most of the time they won't be paid in dollars (unless you have an Exerciser resume'), but your youth will gain valuable knowledge and get to ride for hours a day without you fitting the bill for lessons.
SHOW CARETAKER and GOPHER:
At a horse show, this job could include helping groom horses, clean equipment, feed and water horses. Your youth may also be asked to pick up paper work or awards and fetch lunch from the cook shack. This job is unpaid, but they'll learn a lot about showing horses and the trainer may even exchange free or discounted lessons for helping out all day.
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