*We do  have some exceptions to living on the property.  However, we do not have increased pay to compensate for the loss of value

RIDING LEVELS

All employees must be evaluated on riding several horses.  None of our horses are unbroken, but horsemanship is a very complex thing and something that must be learned over a period of time.  Riding is something that you can only learn by doing it over and over again.  Like learning to fly an airplane, that kind of experience is very expensive.  You must also ride different horses.  No one every becomes an accomplished horseman riding just a few horses.  Finding a place to get the kind of experience it takes to be a trainer is difficult and expensive unless you find an apprentice program such as ours.  Riders who come at one level may move up, but don’t expect it to happen in six months.

We require a long-term commitment of six months to a year at least.  Riders are welcome to stay as long as we both agree we enjoy working together.  Most good trainers have apprenticed for many YEARS.  Riders who have been with us six months or more and who are at level 2 or higher, may go to horse shows and show some of the horses they are working. 

“Work” shall consist of feeding, cleaning stalls, building and maintenance, unloading hay, and other necessary jobs around a farm such as worming, or giving medication.  Grooming, washing, etc. is generally not considered work unless it is specifically assigned. 

We break riders into 5 categories, and it has nothing to do with the amount of hours you have ridden: 

1.   Beginners

a.      Does not ride well

b.     Lacks balance

c.      Lacks confidence

d.     Must be supervised on a horse

e.      Does not canter or lope with confidence

f.       Has trouble controlling the horse

g.      Has limited scope in riding horses ~ can only ride certain horses

h.      Horse has a tendency to get the advantage and use it

This type of rider is of the least use to us as a rider.  They give horses bad habits instead of curing them.  Consequently, we do not pay these riders.  We will take one or two such riders in this category IF they will work on the farm, basically to work off their lessons.  In addition, at least 50% of our applicants fall into this category, so we have limited space.

If the rider is willing to come and live on the property, we figure that it takes 40 good hours of labor to work off 10 hours of riding.  This IS a 50 hour a week.  If the rider wants to have a $200 a month stipend, that does require an additional 10 hours or work. 

Riders who do NOT live on the property, may work 20 hours a week for 5 hours of riding, or 10 hours a week for 2 hours of riding.  We include Round pen work as part of riding even though it is not actually ON the horse. 

All riders MUST be reliable, show up at their allotted time, work at a REASONABLE rate, (believe me, I have done EVERY job on this property enough to know how long it should take.) and work enough hours that it will make a difference to our operation.

We do have programs for those who do not have time to work, but want to learn to train.  Weekend clinics, or ongoing lessons to develop proficiency is the best solution.  These programs are listed on the website and are at a cost to the rider.

2.   Progressing

a.      Able to walk/trot/canter and average horse with confidence

b.     Can put miles on younger horses without spooking or harassing them.

c.      Rides with confidence

d.     Has good balance

e.      Can use legs effectively

f.       Can work in circles

g.      Has a good attitude for learning more

h.      Has a positive attitude toward the horse.

This kind of rider will learn a LOT here.  Miles in the saddle is what will take them to the next step.  We look for riders who have confidence and a POSITIVE attitude toward horses.  It has been our experience that if you are always trying to say how BAD the horse is to make yourself look good, you aren’t going to focus on making the HORSE better.  The measuring rod for any horseman is not how HE or SHE looks, but what they can get the HORSE to do!!!!  A better horse means the rider is good. 

We can use these riders to put good miles on young horses.  The horses they ride are not difficult, but they will learn how to correct occasional problems.  These riders do not need constant supervision and are often expected to work horses without supervision.  We will oversee on a regular basis, check to see the progress being made and evaluate the horse and rider.  Lessons will help these rider strengthen their skills, but, like the horses they work, hours in the saddle will also help move them to the next level.

These riders work 25 hours and ride 25 hours. They may ride more hours if they wish, and if we have appropriate horses.  Riders who live here may receive a $200 a month stipend, by working an additional 10 hours.  Additional riding does NOT count. 

3.   In Control

a.      Can generally control a horse

b.     Are confident at all three gaits, understands collection. 

c.      Has a feel for a horse’s mouth and can ride a number of horses.

d.     Can ride over low fences

e.      Can school some horses

f.       Have good enough balance to stay with basic shying and crow hopping

g.      Have enough confidence to ride most of our horses.  (Our horses are considerably easier than the general horse population.)

h.      Is beginning to learn to give lessons and can start to see problems in riders and know what to do about it. 

i.       Has the confidence to push a balky horse into performance.

This kind of rider will also learn a LOT here.  Miles in the saddle is what will take them to the next step.  We look for riders who have confidence and a POSITIVE attitude toward horses.  It has been our experience that if you are always trying to say how BAD the horse is to make yourself look good, you aren’t going to focus on making the HORSE better.  The measuring rod for any horseman is not how HE or SHE looks, but what they can get the HORSE to do!!!!  A better horse means the rider is good. 

We can use these riders to evaluate new horses.  They will learn how to clean up some problems, put good miles on horses that are out of condition, take horses to the next level, put on brakes and steering (Which is a common “project” area for our horses.)  The horses they ride are not difficult, but they will learn how to correct common problems.  These riders do not need constant supervision, but they will have plenty of help in making decisions on what to do and evaluating what a horse needs to work on.  They will then be expected to work horses without supervision to accomplish the task.  We will oversee on a regular basis, check to see the progress being made and evaluate the horse and rider. 

These riders work 20 hours and ride 30 hours. They may ride more hours if they wish..  Riders who live here may also receive a $200 a month starting stipend.

They will also learn to give lessons, to spot problems in riders, and match horses and riders.  They will be included in sales, and will attend shows.  This group should move into #4 within six months.

4.   Confident

a.      Has a good enough seat to be able to stay with any of our horses.

b.     Has enough confidence to ride what we have here

c.      Understands seat, hands and leg use

d.     Can ride a course over fences.

e.      Has good hands and can feel a mouth

f.       Can anticipate problems and take steps to correct them

g.      Can ride a variety of horses

h.      Can teach students and talk to buyers

i.       Enjoys horses and can decide on own how to cure many common problems

j.       Works well with or without supervision

k.      They shall be expected to oversee riders at levels 1-3.

This kind of rider is very useful to us and probably fits out program the best.  We look to encourage them, teach them the business end of the horse industry, teach them working with customers. 

We can use these riders to evaluate new horses.  They will learn how to clean up some problems, take horses to the next level, put on brakes and steering (Which is a common “project” area for our horses.)  The horses they ride may be a little difficult, but they will learn how to correct problems, and to evaluate when to make the decision that the horse will NOT make it for our programs. 

These riders do not need constant supervision, but should be open to suggestions.  They are expected to be self-motivated and to work horses even when no one else is around.  We will oversee on a regular basis, check to see the progress being made and evaluate the horse and rider. 

These riders will show horses, putting show experience on green horses.  They are expected to show on the flat, over obstacles and over fences, depending on the seat.

These riders work 10 hours (I work 10 hours a week ~ horses are work and even the best trainers do some of their own stable work.  We are looking to produce successful trainers, not diva riders!) and ride 40 – 45 hours a week. They may ride more hours if they wish.  Riders who live here may also receive a $400 a month starting stipend.

They will also learn to give lessons, to spot problems in riders, and match horses and riders.  They will be included in sales, and will attend shows. 

After six months (or upon moving up from Level 3 if they have been here six months or more.) these riders shall receive additional pay in terms of:

1.     $10 per person for lessons.  If we have a family riding, or a group lesson, the instructor shall receive $10 for each rider.

2.     3% of the sale price of a horse they have trained or supervised

3.     2% of a horse they have shown and helped sell

4.     They may take on horses for training.  (We do get many requests and can get more.)  These horses are usually unbroken, green, or problem horses.  Riders will never be forced to take on horses, but we charge $400 for training,  half of which goes to the trainer. They should work on this horse in addition to their working Hidden Creek horses.

5.     Riders may keep one horse at a time of their own investment.  They should work on this horse in addition to their working Hidden Creek horses.  Hidden Creek will board the horse, market the horse and help sell the horse just as if it were one of ours.  Hidden Creek shall receive 10% of the sale price to cover our expenses, the balance shall be kept for the rider/owner.

5.   Accomplished

a.      Can ride and train independently

b.     Can ride a full course and show

c.      Has experience with horses of all kinds

d.     Can spot what TYPE of horse fits each buyer and understands how to evaluate a horse and rider fit.

e.      Can take on new, green, or young horses for training

f.       Can cure basic problems in spoiled horses.

g.      Has experience giving lessons

h.      Has experience talking to buyers about horses

These riders are basically experienced trainers in their own right.  We look to encourage them, teach them the business end of the horse industry, teach them working with customers, marketing, making sales, matching horses to riders. 

We can use these riders to evaluate new horses.  They will learn how to clean up problems, take horses to the next level, put on brakes and steering (Which is a common “project” area for our horses.)  The horses they ride may be difficult, but they know how to correct problems, and to evaluate when to make the decision that the horse will NOT make it for our programs. 

These riders do not need constant supervision, but should be open to suggestions.  They are expected to be self-motivated and to work horses even when no one else is around.  We will oversee on a regular basis, check to see the progress being made and evaluate the horse and rider. 

These riders will show horses, putting show experience on green horses.  They are expected to show on the flat, over obstacles and over fences, depending on the seat.

These riders work 10 hours (I work 10 hours a week ~ horses are work and even the best trainers do some of their own stable work.  We are looking to produce successful trainers, not diva riders!) and ride 40 – 45 hours a week. They may ride more hours if they wish.  Riders who live here may also receive a $500 a month starting stipend.

They will also give lessons, make sales, and will attend shows. 

After six months these riders shall receive additional pay in terms of:

1.     $10 per person for lessons.  If we have a family riding, or a group lesson, the instructor shall receive $10 for each rider.

2.     3.5% of the sale price of a horse they have trained or supervised

3.     2.5% of a horse they have shown and sold. 

4.     They may take on horses for training.  (We do get many requests and can get more.)  These horses are usually unbroken, green, or problem horses.  Riders will never be forced to take on horses, but we charge $400 for training,  half of which goes to the trainer. They should work on this horse in addition to their working Hidden Creek horses.  They may charge more for any horses they take in on training and the additional fees shall be theirs to keep.

5.     Riders may keep two horse at a time of their own investment.  They should work on this horse in addition to their working Hidden Creek horses.  Hidden Creek will board the horse, market the horse and help sell the horse just as if it were one of ours.  Hidden Creek shall receive 10% of the sale price to cover our expenses, the balance shall be kept for the rider/owner.

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This site is updated several times a week, including whenever we add or sell a horse, or when we learn something new about a horse.  We are constantly riding, trying, testing, showing and trail riding our horses so we know what they really are before we sell them.