Advice on sharing / loaning and how much?

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RedVendetta

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My YO is very funny about us having part loans / sharers etc but Im going back to uni in Sept for a year and will not have time for my horse so I will either have to move him to loan him or beg her to stop being unreasonable, which I think she will as we get on generally very well.
My DIY livery including everything is about £250 a month (averaging out summer / winter) and shoes every 6 weeks £60 and feed £25 a month.
I need someone 3-4 days a week and will even consider a nearly full loan for the 9 months Im doing my PGCE. I really really dont want to loan him but there is no way on earth I will have time or money for him during the 9 months I will be studying, for my career of a lifetime. And I certainly wont be selling and very reluctant to move him. I wont be letting them compete him except at very low level and they will have to have lessons every now and then, as I do and dont want his schooling going to pot. I would still like to hunt every now and then over the winter and maybe do a few local shows to keep me going.
He is a truly excellent horse but needs a confident person as he is easy to ride but can be difficult to handle on occasion and needs sensitive handling and riding due to an old back issue.
So what I want to know is.... how much should I ask for a month? If they are doing 3-4 days? And where can I find such a person? Needs to be an adult who can drive who has lots of experience and someone I can rely on! Help!
 
maybe put the word round at your yard as it sounds like you are after a particular type of person! i was offered a horse for 150 a month with the same bills as you but i thought that was a little too much for 3 days a week (mine only costs 200 a month and i have him all to myself)
 
sadly i think dianchi is right - maybe put an ad up and see - you may have more luck in finding someone who doesnt have to pay you so much if the money isnt an option. ie you might be able to get someone experienced to school him and keep him to the standard you want - round here if you want someone who is a very good rider you need to pay! Unfortunately i found that most people experienced enough already have their own horses. Put the word round thats probably the best way.
 
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Does sound like want an awful lot and arent really giving much back in return.

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I dont really understand this comment, as thats precisely why Im asking how much I should be asking for!
This person will have to be experienced and willing to muck out etc, because of the situation I keep him in, so thats why I want to know how much I should be asking...not the loaners fault I keep him at an expensive yard! But then again, the facilities are truly fantastic.
Its also why Ive started looking now even though this person is not actually needed until around October time, although they could start straight away.
 
So basically you want a sharer to keep your horse fit for when you want to hunt/compete it and what them to pay for the priviledge? You also want them to be a really rather good rider, but not give them the opurtunity to compete at a level other than low level?

basically if you want a sharer awho is totally competant, wont ruin your horse and want them to pay half, you have to give them half....... ie hunting/competing every other weekend etc etc........

If you want someone who is just happy to pootle about and keep your boy ticking over then I wouldnt try and charge them toooooo much!
 
Im going to start with asking if anyone at the yard is interested, and I can think of someone so that might be good.

Ive not asked for anything yet! I am going to work part time to keep the horse to the standard he is accustomed to as well so the loaner would not be paying for everything unless they had him on full loan.

I was thinking about £150 a month and they can pretty much have him to themselves, just dont want him on full loan as I wont be able to have any in put and I want to carry on doing the odd thing with him on the odd weekend. I think thats pretty fair.
 
But that is basically what being a sharer is though isn't it? I share, am a very experienced rider who is helping bringing the horse on, do chores etc and I pay. Sure, it costs a fair bit of money, but ultimately, for various reasons I can't commit to having my own horse at the moment and this is the closest I can come to it.
 
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But that is basically what being a sharer is though isn't it? I share, am a very experienced rider who is helping bringing the horse on, do chores etc and I pay. Sure, it costs a fair bit of money, but ultimately, for various reasons I can't commit to having my own horse at the moment and this is the closest I can come to it.

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Thanks for this... and I agree. My horse cost a LOT to buy, as he is very experienced and still only 10, and my saddle alone is worth £800, for example. I dont expect them to bring the horse on or anything like that, just keep on top of his schooling so that hes not plodding around. I bought him for me, and if necessary will work ever hour god sends and stick him on full livery, but that kind of defeats the object as he enjoys a 1-2-1 relationship and it would be easier for him just having 1 other person looking after him rather than 'whoever is working that day'.
When I say I want to go hunting I will probably only get out 3 times next season if that, and why shouldnt I take my superstar to the odd show... just dont want him out competing all the time as its a chance to give him a break over the winter as well.
 
I share 2 horses, I do 3 days a week and on those days I try and ride both (one is 23 so depends if hes a bit stiff or not) I poopick when I can and when needed, groom, clean tack, pull tails, hog, trim hairy legs, bath etc I dont pay anything.

I have been to a show with them and in fact won the inhand Veteran class, I didnt pay for that and I get to keep the rossie and we are time sharing the plaque!! (lol)



ETS..you cna always have a contract drawn up to state how many shows etc what they can do nd if they ignore this they dont get the horse...how does that sound??
 
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So basically you want a sharer to keep your horse fit for when you want to hunt/compete it and what them to pay for the priviledge? You also want them to be a really rather good rider, but not give them the opurtunity to compete at a level other than low level?

basically if you want a sharer awho is totally competant, wont ruin your horse and want them to pay half, you have to give them half....... ie hunting/competing every other weekend etc etc........

If you want someone who is just happy to pootle about and keep your boy ticking over then I wouldnt try and charge them toooooo much!

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I dont want a pro, just not a complete novice! Would be good to have someone who has loaned or had their own before.
When I say a low level I mean Riding Club. Our local riding club goes up to 3'6 so its hardly a walk in the park. I dont want him out every weekend as he could have a nice break too. Hes been working hard all year for me and if I wasnt going to uni I would have let him have a lot of the winter off anyway.
 
I do see where you are coming from in the sense that you do not want your horse ruined etc, but £150 is quite a lot when you are only allowing low level competition and insisting on regular lessons, which on average is likely to be £20 a time if not more.

Again I can see that you need a break from your course so want be able to hunt and everything but there does not seem to be many advantages for your loaner / sharer.

I am just completing the LPC (post grad law) which was of similar duration and seriously intensive and unfortunately my horse had to be put on the back burner, hacking and schooling when time and no competing, but it certainly hasn't done her any harm. I have 3 horses and only get the one in light work, but still got up at 6 in the morning to do them and had very little help, so it is do-able.

With regard to money, I have now currently got someone riding one of mine, purely because I can't bare to sell him but he doesn't do what I want. She will have him to herself, can ride as much as she wants whenever and will only be paying for his shoes (direct to the farrier) and contribution to his feed (probably about £40). She will also not have to do any yardwork.

Maybe I am not asking enough?
 
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But that is basically what being a sharer is though isn't it? I share, am a very experienced rider who is helping bringing the horse on, do chores etc and I pay. Sure, it costs a fair bit of money, but ultimately, for various reasons I can't commit to having my own horse at the moment and this is the closest I can come to it.

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I too am a sharer, I too am an experienced rider, I too do chores, I too pay (albeit a tiny amount), i too have improved my share horses school no end......... but I have amazing owners who pretty much let me do whatever whenever as they see me as a real help/asset

. if i was paying half for a horse and was then restricted to only compete at low levels this would annoy me (if i wanted to compete)....... if i was paying a nominal sum, then it wouldnt. If I had spent time, money and effort on a horse to be told, oh you cant have him this weekend to do that as Im hunting ........ it would annoy me........ so no I dont think that is what sharing is about......... if you are sharing in the truest sense of the word........


If i was OP, I would look for someone to just keep neddy ticking over and cover maybe 1/3 or even 1/4 of the costs, someone who didnt want to school/compete, for piece of mind that neddy wasnt going to be ruined....... but thats just me!
 
Its was more the "only low level local shows" "must have lessons". Plus the you turn up and go hunting.
Just seems a bit demanding to me.
 
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I share 2 horses, I do 3 days a week and on those days I try and ride both (one is 23 so depends if hes a bit stiff or not) I poopick when I can and when needed, groom, clean tack, pull tails, hog, trim hairy legs, bath etc I dont pay anything.

I have been to a show with them and in fact won the inhand Veteran class, I didnt pay for that and I get to keep the rossie and we are time sharing the plaque!! (lol)

If I was paying to share then I would expect more of a free rein or have a bit more say in what horse does....as im not I just do as Im told..lol!

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Thats fair enough. Dont get me wrong Im not saying they cant compete! Just dont want him out every weekend getting hammered with his jumping as I dont do that and he has been showjumping all his life so Im very very careful about how much he does. He is so easy to jump that it can get very tempting to jump all the time as well as hes a lazy beggar on the flat!

I dont think I would have complained about being able to go to local shows on a really good, safe, horse where the chances are you will win or get placed! Just dont want him out doing BSJA or anything.
 
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Its was more the "only low level local shows" "must have lessons". Plus the you turn up and go hunting.
Just seems a bit demanding to me.

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I just said low level competing, I meant RC. Dont think there is anything wrong with that. I dont want him affiliated as I bought him to reaffiliate him myself next year so it would kind of defeat the object. Like I say I probably will only get out hunting 3 times in the whole of next season if Im lucky due to money and time, he did cost me a lot of money to buy so I dont see why this is demanding.

I dont think saying someone has to have lessons is demanding on a very well schooled horse!! I think it should be made standard. Im a great believer in lessons and they would only have to have one every now and then.
 
I am asking how much I should charge, that is all... and
I have been drawn into a debate!
Please can someone answer my question rather than debate with me. If I so unreasonable I am unlikely to find a sharer so this would be my problem!
 
Well I do 3 days a week, but could do 7 if I wanted to i do chores, have helped with schooling etc and I pay £50 PCM.... I expect you'd be wanting more than that but I have no idea what others are willing to pay for a share!
 
Sorry didnt want to see as a debate just wanted to make you aware that what your asking for might not be achieable.

Sharing you wont get as much as a full loan, which if you want him kept fit for when your ready to continue again might be best.
 
Maybe you could put it as like "happy for him to compete at local RC, maximum of 1x month". i don't think its unreasonable to expect a sharer to have regular lessons on the share horse, its good for the horse and good for the sharer. I am assuming that regular wouldn't mean twice a week every week, more like once or twice a month, just to ensure that everyone is still singing from the same hymn sheet as it were.

I have to say, i don't really get the bit about the value of the saddle. I assume the horse is worth a good bit more than £800, and you'd trust the sharer with him, so what's the value of the saddle got to do with it, really?
 
Well, if it is any help, I pay £120 a month for sharing 3 days a week - she is a 5YO ex-racer and I do a lot of schooling her, including a lesson once a week (though this is my choice, not the owners demand). I am allowed to jump though the horse is not very experienced so she is not at a competition level yet - but if I asked I would probably be allowed to take the horse to a local show unless her owner had something else planned for her. The owner is a nice person which is really important. This is near London though, maybe it is more expensive here, but I don't think you are asking for anything unreasonable particularly if you are willing to let them compete. But if the sharer actually ends up riding/training the horse more than you, just be aware of this and be sensitive and reasonable as you can when you want to ride/take the horse to outings. But I am sure you would be!
 
Personally think you'd be better putting him on full loan for the 9mths stipulating you want him to be kept at the current yard and set yourself up for not riding for the 9mths. It's not forever, you have a contract for the 9 mths and then the loaner takes on all the bills etc so there isn't any argument. think it would be easier for both parties concerned. Maybe consider loaning to someone who had their own place too.

I sent a pony away on loan to a lovely girl who adored him but it was only for about a year as he wasn't consistent enough to compete in PC comps (he's a bit of a loon) so we took him back then. I have also had a pony on loan years ago and had great fun on him and would loan again if I had the time, I'd have yours even
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. However, have a miserable, 'top dog' pony who causes mayhem when introducing new horses!

My sister has been away (in Oz) for a year and I looked after her horse and kept him 'ticking over' basically, hacked out, a few competitions a bit of schooling etc. I think you do maybe just need to let go a bit, your horse wouldn't forget all his schooling in 9 mths and I don't really think you're going to get too many sharers who are experenced and will want to take on a horse where they have to do 'X' & 'X' and yet not allowed to compete at 'X' level and also have you wanting to ride/hunt etc.

I don't think someone taking a loan for 9mths would be likely to affiliate a horse anyway to be honest I just think a full loan seems the easiest option, everyone knows where they stand.
 
I think this sort of thing is always quite emotive and there are strong viewpoints from different people.

At the end of the day is boils down to what the owner is getting out of the deal and what the loaner is getting out of the deal and how it fits in with their lifestyle and needs at the time.

For example last summer I offered one of my horses to a friend of mine.
He is a classy horse, well schooled and experienced at competing. Well above the standard of my friend. I did not need to loan him out, I was happy to keep him pootling around myself with him if needs be. Howeevr my friend had recently lost her horse and had decided she did not want the full time commitment of another, however she wanted to get some dressage experience.

So I offered her my horse. She had full access to him whenever she wanted, could do chores if she wanted but wasn't obliged, had access to my transport, could compete and have lessons whenever she wanted. When she couldn't do him I would do the stable management and said I was happy to exercise/school if that is what she wanted. For that I charged her £150 a month all in. For me I had a bit of financial help, for her she essentially had a horse on schooling livery that she could do what she wanted. It worked for both of us.

When I posted on here there was a camp of people that said she had a great deal and a camp of people who said I was ripping her off.

They key difference I see in your situation is that you NEED a sharer to HELP you. And that you are going to want a fair say in how your horse is done and also want to compete/hunt yourself. I don't think it's unfair to expect a contribution towards keep as, yes they will be doing you a favour but you will also be doing someone else a favour. But do remember that you are attaching certain T&C's to the deal which you might find that to get the right person will mean reducing the financial contribution they make.

Hope that makes sense
 
I have just completed my PGCE with horse on DIY, and it was do able. I thought I would need a sharer but it worked out ok. Dont forget during your time in uni you will have lots of free time, plus the hoidays. Depending on your travelling times you could prob get away with a sharer a couple of days a week. Also at the end of a hellish day in school you may well be very glad of the chance to muck out and ride before you start work again! If you have any PGCE questions let me know, x
 
I think you need to go into sharing with an open mind and a willingness to compromise.
Remember there are only so many decent riders who:
live within a resonable distance of your yard
have not already got a horse of their own or a share of already.
are availalbe to help you time wise
have some spare cash
will see your advert
will get on with you and your horse
Have transport to get your horse to a show - in which case the competing aspect is a red herring.

Depending on who you find and how they ride tailor the stipulations to suit.

You may want to consider loaning to an Equine college for the period.
 
From what I've experienced as a sharer, your conditions are pretty much par for the course for an experienced horse. I would actually see the chance to compete at RC level as a bonus as many owners don't want their sharer to compete at all!
I do however think that £150 is a little steep - but not sure what prices are like in your area these days. Whereabouts in Cheshire are you? PM if you like as I can think of a few people who might be interested, depending on the area.
 
I forgot to say, i am a sharer, my share horse is MUCH more experienced and talented than I am, and although I have virtually exclusive use of her, occasionally (and I mean very occasionally) her owner will ride her or have other people ride her. I LOVE watching other people on her, as it gives me the opportunity to see how she goes from the ground. At one point there was a possibility that she might be going team-chasing, and i would have loved to watch her do that, although thats on a back burner now obviously.

A reasonable sharer will understand the connotations of the word "share" and understand that occasionally, you will want use of your horse when it isn't actually your "turn". As long as you make it clear that when you say go out hunting you don't mean constantly, leaving the horse unsuitable for heavy work the rest of the time. Would you also let the sharer take him hunting occasionally, assuming they were competent to do do?

Good luck finding someone. I don't suppose it will be easy to find someone, but if you keep looking the right person will show up. I would definitely state "Financial contribution required" on your advert, to weed out joyriders. Most sensible people know if they want something decent, they need to pay a bit for the privilege.
 
Yep agree - I am really happy that I am allowed to jump and school! And in answer to the original question - I'd say £25-30 a week for 3 days is pretty much the going rate around here.
 
Thank you all soooooooo much, this is the exact response I wanted in the first place!!!

I would consider him going to an Equine College, that would be brilliant but the only thing there is I will lose my place on an amazing yard that I have been on for years and I really dont want to do that. All my friends are there (and could keep an eye on him) and the horse is very happy there.

I would consider a full loan also, its just that I probably dont need to and Im slightly obsessed with my horse! (Im so sad!) I have had a few horses but he is 'the one' and he will be with me always.

If someone were competent enough I would let them hunt him, hes as safe as houses and jumps like a cat! He is grumpy in the stable though and can be bolshy on the ground, so he wouldnt suit a novice as he would take the p out of them.

I have a trailer which I would consider including in the share or loan agreement.

Im not an over demanding person and very approachable so I think it could work out quite well. The only thing I would want is for him to be kept the same way he is now : for example I only jump him every now and then (usually only at shows actually or at home once a week if I need the practice and not competing at the weekend), I dont take him on the roads alone (even though he will go), as the hacking isnt great and he can be spooky so its asking for trouble.

He is a fabulous horse, very well liked and people would queue up to ride him at our yard. He wins more than 50% of the time and when he doesnt win he gets placed, he is an absolute joy to take to a show, and he is patient and very very forgiving! Now maybe you can see why I dont want some numpty coming along and changing any of that! Plus I reckon some people would smack him when he makes faces, which isnt necessary, he never bites, hes just a grumpy old man!

Im just an over precautious owner and yes I do want some things on my terms but only really because Im scared of something happening to my one and only dream horse! Im also not going to miss out on my dream career because I have a horse, if you see what I mean.

I will look at the yard first and then move out to adverts if that doesnt happen. And I will be pm'ing people!

xxxxxxx
 
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I do see where you are coming from in the sense that you do not want your horse ruined etc, but £150 is quite a lot when you are only allowing low level competition and insisting on regular lessons, which on average is likely to be £20 a time if not more.

Again I can see that you need a break from your course so want be able to hunt and everything but there does not seem to be many advantages for your loaner / sharer.

I am just completing the LPC (post grad law) which was of similar duration and seriously intensive and unfortunately my horse had to be put on the back burner, hacking and schooling when time and no competing, but it certainly hasn't done her any harm. I have 3 horses and only get the one in light work, but still got up at 6 in the morning to do them and had very little help, so it is do-able.

With regard to money, I have now currently got someone riding one of mine, purely because I can't bare to sell him but he doesn't do what I want. She will have him to herself, can ride as much as she wants whenever and will only be paying for his shoes (direct to the farrier) and contribution to his feed (probably about £40). She will also not have to do any yardwork.

Maybe I am not asking enough?

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Maybe you arent? Im not sure, it all depends on the persons situation. Our yard is very expensive, but for good reason, it has brilliant facilities and shows, BHS XC and training clinics as well as 3 instructors, all on site. So in my deal, they would be getting an awful lot, and access to an out and out schoolmaster. He has restored my confidence - I wouldnt jump 2 foot last year and now Im out doing opens at riding club, and winning rosettes, all because of him.
On the same note, if you wanted to go to riding school 4 times a week you would pay £20 a go and Im pretty sure that most of the time the horse wouldnt be anywhere near as fun to ride as mine! So if you think about it like that £150 a month is not that much!
 
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