1

Riding Instructor Jobs (NOW HIRING)

next page

Showing results 1-20

Riding Instructor information

See salary details

$9

$16

$27

How much do riding instructor jobs pay per hour?

As of Jun 5, 2026, the average hourly pay for riding instructor in the United States is $16.22, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $14.42 and $17.31 per hour, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What Does a Riding Instructor Do?

As a riding instructor, your primary responsibilities are to provide lessons to students. You often work with both the horse and the rider to teach them skills and help them bond as a pair. Your duties include sharing technique and teaching riders how to communicate with their horses. You also teach horse ownership skills, like saddling, grooming, and cleaning stables. Although no formal qualifications are required, you may need certification through an entity such as the American Riding Instructors Association (ARIA) or the Certified Horsemanship Association (CHA) to find employment. Other than horsemanship skills, you also need excellent communication and organizational skills.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as a Riding Instructor, and why are they important?

To thrive as a Riding Instructor, you need strong equestrian skills, knowledge of horse care, and relevant certifications such as BHS or CHA accreditation. Familiarity with safety protocols, tack and equipment, and lesson planning tools is essential. Patience, clear communication, and the ability to motivate and build trust with students are standout soft skills in this role. These skills ensure effective, safe instruction and foster positive learning experiences for riders of all levels.

What are some common challenges Riding Instructors face when working with students of varying skill levels?

Riding Instructors often work with students who have a wide range of abilities, from beginners to advanced riders. A common challenge is tailoring lessons to meet each student's individual needs while ensuring safety and engagement for everyone. Instructors must be patient, adaptable, and skilled at clear communication, as well as adept at managing group dynamics and addressing nervousness or fear in new riders. Building trust with both students and horses is essential, and progress may require creative problem-solving and ongoing assessment of each rider’s development.

What is the difference between Riding Instructor vs Horse Trainer?

AspectRiding InstructorHorse Trainer
CertificationsRiding certifications, teaching credentialsHorse training certifications, equine behavior knowledge
Work EnvironmentEquestrian centers, riding schools, stablesTraining facilities, farms, stables
Employer & Industry UsageEquestrian schools, riding academies, private lessonsBreeding farms, training yards, professional trainers

While both Riding Instructors and Horse Trainers work with horses, Riding Instructors focus on teaching riders of all skill levels how to ride safely and effectively. Horse Trainers primarily work on training horses to improve their behavior, performance, or suitability for specific disciplines. The roles often overlap, but the main difference lies in their focus: rider education versus horse development.

What cities are hiring for Riding Instructor jobs? Cities with the most Riding Instructor job openings:
What states have the most Riding Instructor jobs? States with the most job openings for Riding Instructor jobs include:
What are popular job titles related to Riding Instructor jobs? For Riding Instructor jobs, the most frequently searched job titles are:
Infographic showing various Riding Instructor job openings in the United States as of May 2026, with employment types broken down into 1% As Needed, 18% Full Time, 78% Part Time, and 3% Temporary. Highlights an 99% Physical, and 1% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $33,728 per year, or $16.2 per hour.
Junior Riding Instructor

Junior Riding Instructor

GIRL SCOUTS OF NORTHEAST TEXAS

Palestine, TX • On-site

Other

Posted 26 days ago


Job description

About Girl Scouts of Northeast Texas:  

Girl Scouts of Northeast Texas (GSNETX) offers amazing opportunities for talented, forward-thinking individuals who share our vision of helping girls and young women change the world for the better. 

Here's your opportunity to enhance your career while making a difference in girls’ lives and in the world. At Girl Scouts of Northeast Texas, you can build a rewarding career in everything from working hands-on with girls, to accounting, human resources and project management, to marketing, research—and more. 

Job Summary:  

Summer camp at Camp Bette Perot runs in the months of June and July. The camp holds 210 bedspaces and a thriving equestrian program, situated on approximately 1,300 acres of piney woods in East Texas and has been open since 1970. The Junior Riding Instructor is responsible for participating as a member of the Equestrian Program team in the operation of the summer Equestrian program as delegated. The Junior Riding instructor is responsible for the safety of campers and fellow staff, daily care of the horses, daily program and badge work and camp duties as assigned. This position ensures compliance with all GSNETX, ACA, and state health department guidelines while creating a safe and supportive environment for fostering a love of horses.   

Essential Functions:   

Program engagement 

  • Provides Equestrian program activities that follow Girl Scout program standards, safety and security guidelines, and activity checkpoints  

  • Prepares and carries out specific program activities with campers, following Girl Scout program standards, safety and security guidelines, and activity checkpoints. 

  • Responsible for a specific set of horses, and their daily care. 

  • Ensures all badge work that is scheduled for each session is completed. 

  • Serve as a role model for campers, volunteers, and staff by embodying the Girl Scout Promise and Law. 

  • Assist with care of horses, including feeding, watering, and veterinary care.  

  • Must be willing to participate in and or take a leadership role in equestrian programming. 

  • Keep staff living quarters and staff house clean 

  • Create an inclusive and welcoming camp environment for diverse participants.  

  • Contribute to equestrian center’s cleanliness and organization.  

  • Performs all other duties as delegated by the Equestrian Manager or Equestrian Care Specialist. 

Safety  

  • Ensure compliance with ACA, GSUSA, and state health and safety standards. 

  • Remains alert to potential hazardous situations and follows established emergency procedures when required. 

Collaboration and communication 

  • Communicate respectively with all coworkers. 

  • Collaborate as needed with all other camp staff professionally and respectfully. 

  • Report incidents that arise to supervisor. 

Other:   

  • Be active outdoors in variable weather conditions all year, including walking around camp on uneven terrain. 

  • Be welcoming, respectful, enthusiastic, and professional with colleagues, members of all ages, and the public at all times. 

  • Performs other duties, as assigned.   

Core Competencies:   

  • Collaboration and Teamwork. 

  • Time Management. 

  • Must Be able to lift 50+ lbs consistently and over 50lbs occasionally. 

  • Willingness to work in all types of weather. 

  • Horseback riding and saddling ability is required. 

  • Knowledge of the care of and safety of children and horses. 

  • Work with minimal supervision 

  • Self-Starter 

Job Qualifications: 

  • Fifteen years of age or older 

  • 2 years experience in the Tejas Riders EQ Leadership Program (Junior coaching a plus). 

  • Knowledge of and ability to work with children, adults, and horses. 

  • Knowledge / Understanding of philosophy and program of Girl Scouting or willingness to learn about. 

  • Flexible and creative in carrying out responsibilities 

  • Good communication skills 

  • Ability to function as part of a team 

  • Ability to adapt to group living situations 

  • Demonstrate and promote a climate of courtesy, respect and professionalism to coworkers, the volunteers served by this council, and others with whom her/his job puts her/him in contact 

  • Willingness to work a flexible schedule including evenings and weekends. 

  • Adheres to the GSNETX’s equal opportunity and non-discrimination policies, which ensure that there will be no discrimination on the basis of race, color, ethnicity, sex, creed, national origin, socioeconomic status, disability, or age. 

  • Must hold membership in the Girl Scout organization and subscribe to the tenets of the Girl Scout Promise and Law. 

  • Attendance is an essential job requirement defined as having regular, consistent, reliable, punctual and predictable attendance including the ability to work regular hours and shifts, before and after hours, and on weekends, when required. 

  • Must complete and pass a criminal background check. 

Our Organization’s Cultural Values: 

  • We are relevant. 

  • We strive for equity. 

  • We put our stakeholders first. 

  • We collaborate to get the best results. 

  • We own our work. 

Girl Scouts of Northeast Texas is an equal opportunity employer and supports a diverse, inclusive work environment. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to protected characteristics, including race, color, religion, sex, national origin, disability, veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or age.   

Physical Demands and Work Environment: 

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodation will be made as required by law in an attempt to enable an individual with a disability to perform the essential functions of this job. 

While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to sit/stand for prolonged periods of time; key and/or control objects; interact extensively with internal and external customers; occasionally lift and/or move objects weighing up to 50 pounds; and occasionally travel within the state. 

Certifications/Licenses: 

  • First Aid/CPR/AED certification 

  • Protecting our Girls GSNETX Training