Catch Rider Team

Creating opportunities for progressive young riders and green horses in a team atmosphere

Information for Horse Owners:

Rates From $125/month, board and training inclusive

  • Includes 1-6 training sessions per week, as requested
  • Get your weanling halter trained, your broodmare restarted, or your young pony riding and showing with kids
  • All breeds welcome - Welsh, POA, GRP, BRP, Shetland, Hackney, New Forest, Gotland, Gaited, Mustang, etc
  • Promote your pony locally, on the Welsh Circuit, and/or on the A-Rated Hunter/Jumper Circuit (some show fees may apply)
  • Receive extensive photo and video materials for marketing your breeding program and sales ponies
  • Advertise your pony on the PonyPros website at no additional charge
  • Get help with online marketing for a 10% commission on pony sales

Information for Prospective Team Members:

  • Rates from $100/month with occasional work to ride options
  • Get show experience
  • Learn advanced riding skills like jumping, flying lead changes, and lateral movements
  • Get experience working with a variety of breeds and horsenalities
  • Learn to train with love and respect using natural horsemanship methods
  • Spend almost unlimited time around horses
  • 1 year minimum commitment

What is a catch rider?

Cath Rider, Krystal, and a green pony at their first show over fences Catch riders are riders who help bring along an inexperienced horse or pony. PonyPros help students learn how to catch ride by teaching them about working with green ponies and riding to show off the pony's potential.

Catch riders help to sell green ponies by riding in video shoots where footage is taken to market Catch Rider, Sage, and Kali helping a 4 year old fily walk out on her 5th rideponies to potential buyers. Students who make good catch riders keep their aids and cues virtually invisible to the camera and can demonstrate how much fun the pony is to ride. A good seat and a smile goes a long way.

Catch riders are riders who are solid at the walk, trot, and canter, and are ready to start riding green ponies. They also help train ponies on the ground doing sensitizing and desensitizing exercises. PonyPros catch riders receive lessons in advanced areas of riding like flying lead changes, jumping, and the lateral movements, as well as an education in ground training that will prepare them to start colts in adulthood. Catch Rider, Donielle, and Misty working on staying straight on a loose rein

Catch riders may be asked to ride sales ponies in the show ring to help the ponies gain experience and recognition. Riding in shows will get you noticed by other training programs, which may lead to more opportunities to catch ride. Warming up Dusty

Being a catch rider is an elite privilege offered to students few and far between. These riders must have the softest hands and legs, exceptional balance, a good sense of horse movement, an innate ability to understand horses, and an unquenchable thirst for knowledge. At the same time, if you do not have a great deal of experience but are a bright, caring, engaged individual, who is ready to make horses your primary activity, we will still consider you for PonyPros catch rider team.

PonyPros will support catch riders in applying for their school's "exceptional athlete program" if one is in place. Exceptional athletes can replace PE classes with ride time.

Please contact us for more information on becoming a PonyPros Catch Rider and to set up a time to interview.