Stunt Rider – Horse Jobs

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There are a wide range of professions that can employ a stunt rider position, including everything from big Hollywood films, to stunt acts to traveling shows.

Ouch!

A challenging job for even the most athletic person, this is a position which requires a rock hard constitution and bones made of rubber. Beyond the obvious, a stunt rider needs a solid relationship with a well-trained animal and hours and hours of practice falling off a horse.

Truly Earning Your Oats

Above all this job requires someone who is willing to go the extra mile and remain in top physical condition while continuously learning and training with their mount. Plus the obvious must be stated, this is a dangerous job and injuries are common, a good medical plan can’t hurt either.

Job Description

The actual job description will vary from place to place & contract to contract.

Stunt riders are employed as stunt-doubles in movies, working with western stunt shows as well as traveling performing groups. Often on a contractual basis, this job has a wide variety of options.

Perhaps the main common theme among them all is an emphasis on safety, understanding the mechanics of your own & your animal’s bodies as well as their limitations. Because this is a dangerous position it’s important that each job is approached methodically with a strong emphasis on the safety of everyone (both animal & human) involved in the stunts.

Responsibilities

That said, responsibilities can be across the board, but here is an idea of some of the basics.

• Remaining in top physical shape
• Constant practice & training
• The ability to mimic the behavior of actors
• The care of animals left in their charge
• Planning for & ensuring safe stunts
• Choreographing & executing stunts
• Consulting about potential ideas & shows

Requirements

There are not any official requirements to become a stunt rider that I could find. However it will take hours and hours of tireless practice (and maybe a broken bone or two) to work in the profession. More than anything experience is what will matter.

Resources

Luckily there are a few places who will have more information.

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Extreme Horse Riding
British Horse Surfing Association
A list of different stunt work with horses
Film Horses
Independent Horse
Indian Stunts

The Right Job For You?

If this isn’t your dream job, there is a long list of different careers that involve horses. Each one requiring a different skill set, schooling requirement and amount of contact with the animals.