Sometimes riding instructors can’t help but feel like glorified baby sitters. Occasionally they bear a striking resemblance to surrogate parents, and more often than not, they feel a certain kinship to rodeo clowns. Sounds glamorous, doesn’t it?
Riding instructors wear many hats, some of which are less than flattering, and I don’t blame you if there are times when even a perfect dressage ride is insufficient to restore your motivation.
This doesn’t mean, however, that you can just toss up your hands in surrender and throw in the towel. You have an obligation to your students, a purpose in life, and you might discover that your problem boils down to one simple mistake:
You don’t think of your riding instruction career as a business.
Why do you teach riding lessons? You likely have several different reasons:
- An opportunity to work outdoors.
- The chance to share what you know best.
- Affection for both horses and people.
- Flexible scheduling.
- An excuse to yell at kids every once in a while.
- The pay ain’t bad.
- Free tickets to Broadway musicals.
Gotcha with that last one didn’t I? If not, you aren’t paying close enough attention.
The point is there are plenty of reasons to enjoy being a riding instructor. Most riding instructors simply don’t seem to remember that they are in business to provide a service for which they are compensated. This is the crux of your horse business, and you’ll do well never to forget it.
When you make decisions about your riding instruction business—when you set your fees and schedule your lessons and plan your events—it is essential that you think about your bottom line. Ask yourself what it will cost you to head in a certain direction, then determine whether the rewards outweigh the costs.
Simple business sense, right? It sounds simple, but that doesn’t explain why most riding instructors find themselves in the red. I’ve worked with hundreds of equestrian professionals over the years, and most of them can’t afford new riding breeches.
The purpose of Riding Instructor University is to teach riding instructors how to improve their game. I want to show you how to retain more clients, charge more money, improve your reputation and develop your equestrian programs. I want you to realize that you can make a healthy living as a riding instructor.
More important, I want to show you what you are doing wrong, and how to fix it.
About the Author: Laura Jane Thompson is the Editor in Chief of Riding Instructor University and the Feature writer for the horses section at Suite101. Follow her EquiTips on Twitter.
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About the Author: Laura Jane Thompson is the Chief Equestrian Officer of Riding Instructor University and the Feature writer for the horses section at Suite101. She believes that any horse business can succeed provided its owner practices smart strategy.
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