would you/have you ever done this? or know of anybody that has?

It seems like a great opportunity!

I am a little hesitant though with CL adds. Guard your safety at all times.

Call and get basic info without giving too much of yourself away. If you can get a name, ask about her horses etc. What is expected of you....When you have her name (I am not kidding) go and ask the local vet if they know her or about her. Say that she wants you to ride with her and you just want to make sure she's a legit person. Ask at the local tack shop.

If you have horses, people know about you somewhere!!

If everything checks out and you want to do it, bring an adult to the first meeting.

I would trust it, as I have done it. Twice. The first I had too many horses and needed someone to help exercise them with me. The second-I broke my leg and needed an advanced rider to work my horse for a couple months.

I've responded to a similar advert, but this one was a horse that needed bringing back into work. My experience has thus far been negative, as, though the advertiser was a lovely, genuine lady, she vastly underestimated the problems with her horse, and they are probably beyond my modest capabilities; the horse has never been broken properly and is not the sweet, considerate but nervous horse described to me - she is a disrespectful and uncontrolled mare who laughs at human handlers. I fell off the first time I got on, because the owner forgot to mention that she takes off and is capable of entirely ignoring her rider's aids. Though I had expected a trying horse as she had been only in very light work, I had expected a horse that understood and would obey basic aids.

Make sure you're asking all the right questions. See the owner ride the horses first, and then agree to try one out. Make it clear that you are not happy to get on an inexperienced or dangerous horse - whilst you accept the risks involved with horsemanship, make it clear that any accidents resulting from this lady's judgement will be followed up with legal action.

I've seen people looking for someone to ride their horses like this before. It can work out as a win/win situation for both the owner and the rider, as the owner gets their horses worked for free and the rider gets to ride for free.

Have your mom make the call on your behalf, and find out all the details, and definitely have her come along until you're both satisfied the situation is safe. This sounds like no money would change hands, but make sure you've got that very clear before starting. You wouldn't want to get started then suddenly get asked for money without working it out in advance. That said, if she did want a small contribution from you, that wouldn't really be too much to ask. Just make sure it's all settled up front.

I know a few people who have done this.

In my friend's situation, she wanted a trail buddy so she didn't have to ride alone. It didn't work out too well. She only got responses from children and from complete newbies.

Another acquaintance picked up a new job with crazy hours and it left her little time to ride her five horses. So, she put up an ad for an exerciser. She had a young lady contact her and give her all the details about her riding, she sounded quite experienced, and it sounded like a good fit. When she viewed her working with the horses, she was shocked. This lady couldn't ride a horse, let alone exercise one properly. She had "fibbed a little bit" about her horse history and experience.

So, from this end of the deal, I haven't seen it work out well. From the other end of the deal, the end you are on, you have to ask yourself WHY this lady is saying she needs help with her horses. Personally, I don't trust anyone I don't know on my horses. Secondly, what is "help?" Help riding them? Help breaking old Bucky's bucking habit?

Post the ad so everyone can give you a more accurate response as far as compensation, and whether it seems legitimate or not.

I have done this before, I used to trail ride with a lovely woman in just about the exact same circumstances as you listed. But I would definitely ask lots of questions and bring someone along for the first few times, just in case.

I suggest you do some research first, if she has a few horses she is probably well known in the horse community in ur area. She really may need people to ride. Call her see how you feel over the phone, go visit her barn with a friend. If ur a minor take a parent. Go with ur gut if u dont get a good feel over the phone then dont go

I wouldn't trust that because if you really needed help with your horses why post it on craigslist. But if you really want to do it set up a meeting with the person but make sure you have someone with you in case things go wrong.

The first thing that popped into my head was that she doesn't have the best grammar...just saying. Also, I suggest you call him/her and explain everything a little more in detail. Ask to come and check the place out with a parent or guardian just in case.

You could call and ask about it, but if you do decide to go I would take someone with me preferably a guy just in case it doesn't turn out to be what you think.

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