Established in 1963, Meredith Manor offers training in dressage, jumping and western disciplines for those who wish to become trainers and instructors, as well as courses for those who want to pursue barn management, farrier work and massage therapy. Students have riding, theory, showing and barn classes. The full program consists of six 12-week courses for a total of 72 weeks, though students are not required to complete all six courses.
Meredith Manor International Equestrian Centre, Inc.
147 Saddle Lane
Waverly, WV 261884
800-679-2603
meredithmanor.com
The Arabian breeding and training farm Al-Marah offers a two-year apprenticeship program recognized by the United States Department of Labor that is open to 12 apprentices at a time. In this program, the apprentices work on the farm alongside the Al-Marah staff to learn about breeding, training and horse care. Students stay at Al-Marah and are compensated minimum wage during the two years for working full-time six days a week. The first three months are a probationary period. Students in the training part of the program can work with either English or western horses.
Al-Marah Arabian Horses
4101 North Bear Canyon Road
Tucson, AZ 85749
(520) 749-1162
al-marah.com
If your focus is dressage, jumping or both, consider going to Germany and enrolling in the German Riding School at Warendorf, which is run by the German government. This program is for potential trainers and riding instructors. Students learn through three-year-long apprenticeships with master trainers at stables throughout Germany combined with attending a recognized vocational school. Examinations in the middle and at the end of the terms are completed at the school in Warendorf. Students do not have to be citizens of Germany to enroll.
German Riding School at Warendorf
Sassenberger Str. 11
48231 Warendorf, Germany
02-5816-3690
landgestuet.nrw.de/en/das-landgestuet/deutsche-reitschule/