A question about sharing.........

[kittykatcat]

I am think about advertising for a sharer for my 2 horses to help out with riding and yard duties since my sister has upped and left me for university!

Due to my livery doubling (as taking on sister's horse) i would quite like the sharer to make a small monetary contribution - is this normal practice, and if so, how much? I was thinking along the lines of £100 a month.

If i did charge the sharer, would it then be ok if i expected them to do some yard duties, i.e. muck out the horse they ride/clean tack/poo pick etc, or would the fact they are paying mean that they wouldnt do yard duties?!?!

Help!

 

[ihatework]

I think you need to realise that a sharer will be helping you out a lot, in that they exercise your horse for you, muck it out and pay for the privilage.

Now I expect you will find someone if the terms and conditions are right for them, so if you have a nicely schooled horse that you will allow a potential sharer to have lessons on and compete and won't be a completely dictating owner then yes, you should find someone that will do all that and pay.

If however you want to charge someone to be your groom and you have full control then I think you may be being a bit unreasonable.

 

[lexiedhb]

£100 for how many days? what level of horse? do they get to compete? are the days flexible?

Anyhoo sounds quite reasonable, and I dont think asking them to do yard duties if horses are on DIY unreasonable at all.........

Im VERY LUCKY and pay £50 a month for a 17hh warmblood 3 days a week, but could be more if i wanted.... I do all chores aswell

 

[Geraldine]

I have a sharer for Bob as he was festering in a field getting fat, with the best will in the world I can't ride him as much as I'd like with a baby in tow!!!

She pays £20 a week towards livery and I pay for everything else (although she insists on contributing to shoes). At the mo I can only ride 1 day at the weekend so he's available for the rest of the week. I think his 'other mummy' is riding 4 times a week on a good week.

I struck lucky with my sharer, she's fab. I did feel awkward asking for a contribution but if I didn't I would not be able to afford to keep him.

 

[Moggy in Manolos]

I would think about charging slightly less with this huge credit crunch going on, i think you would attract more interest,saying that if it were a smashing horse i was sharing and had it for say 4-5days a week and could compete on it, and do all chores on those days, i would happily pay £100 a month
Price would depend on what type of horse it is also and what the sharer is allowed to do with it? what is the horse like? all these things would effect price
for example my mare would be cheaper to share as i would have limitations set for her use, where as if i had a young, healthy, very talented horse up for share i would charge a bit more

you need to write down what you want time wise from this sharer, 3days or 7days, you need a set plan of what you want help with, the price would be related to these variables, i would be able to give a better guess with these details included

sharing can work wonderfully well, but conversely it doesnt always work out, i have been there and done it with this and cant be bothered to share as it seemed more hassle, good luck with it, it can be a successful and great option for all involved

 

[kittykatcat]

£100 a month - so what's that - 30 days?! The days when the sharer could ride would be totally flexible as there are two horses - i'd preferably like someone who had the ability to ride both!

Lovely yard with excellent facilities as well....

I'm just very new to this sharing game - i've never done it before, so want to know what the 'norm' is!

 

[kittykatcat]

Ok - some more info...! One is a 16.2hh 10yo gelding, not a novice ride, but a total gentleman. Would love him to go out and compete - could go out and do elementary easily. V good jumper as well. The 2nd is a 14.3hh 14yo Welsh Sec D. All rounder really - does have a pollen allergy and can be a bit head shakey, but neither of them have any vices other than that!

Does that help!?

 

[lexiedhb]

LOL Kitty.... sorry!! Usually sharers get X amount of days a week!! But as you have 2 I guess they could pretty much ride everyday!! Which more than warrants £100 a month, esp with competing being an option!

Maybe looking into 2 sharers could be an option though as your horses sound very different, and might not be suitable for the same rider, although I wouldnt mind!! LOL

Try newrider.com to look for sharers and good luck!

 

[Gentle_Warrior]

a friend of mine pays for shoes and poo picks the field for her horse and she gets to ride 3 times a week. (bonus for her is - horse only has fronts on!)

not sure if that helps

 

[Moggy in Manolos]

ok so if its the whole month you are offering then fine, it was not clear at all
for 30days on average and helping with the two i reckon you would be able to charge £100 a month, asking them to help out about 5days a week for that, doing all chores involved for the horse chosen
i think you would need a bit of a rota so you both know which horse you are doing that day or if you are doing both one day and none the next, you need clear rules in place and a contract, you can get one of the bhs website

 

[Queenbee]

I am just about to take on a sharer (fingers crossed I saw her talking about sharing on her and she responded to an ad that i had place on an advertising site) I tallied up my monthly cost relating to food, bedding, livery, shoes, and worming and split it down the middle it comes to about £110 every four weeks, I would cover all vets fees, dentist, horse insurance general replacement and repair of tack and rugs due to wear and tear. The sharer would be expected to have rider insurance that covers emergency vets fees, third party and death of my horse due to riders actions, and would have to agree that replacement of tack and or rugs and vets fees that happen as a result of the sharer's negligent actions (if this were to ever happen) are her responsibility. I have made sure that the contract states clearly where responsibility lies relating to both parties. The sharer would have my horse for 4 days a week and the lady who is trying her out is currently paying this amount per month for a one hour lesson on a weekly basis. I think for the amount of extra contact with the horse and riding this is not a bad deal, however i have said that i could go to £100 every 4 weeks for the right sharer.