advice please!!!

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narkymare

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I have a problem and cannot think how to handle it

I have a cob who is 7, hes my first horse and im a novice.

He has improved his napping and spooking and ive learnt to handle him better since havign weekly lessons and ive been bragging about how well he and i are doing
Now, my friends little girl - she is 9, wants to ride him.

I really dont want her to - I cannot 100% guarantee her safety - he may still spook and id hate it if anything happened to her, even on a leadrope i just wouldnt be comfortable

The mum doesnt understand - she is non horsey and because ive been saying how good he is now she says her daughter will be fine.

She is willing to risk it but im not - he is so not a donkeyride, the little girl has never ridden before and i cant guarentee i can hold him if he does spook.

How do get out of this without losing a good friend????

i wish Id kept my mouth shut now and said he was still really bad!!!
 
I'd say you are sorry but although the pony is coming good for you doesn't mean he will look after a novice child and you couldn't live with yourself if anything went wrong.

If the kid really wants to ride suggest she has lessons at a riding school where they will have suitable horses.

i think its quite natural for us to be elated when our horses make progress but it definately is not saying the horse is suitable for all.
 
Yes your all right - half of me was thinking to just take him in school and let her sit on him, ride him round but its just not worth it.
Thanks everyone, I will explain why i cant and if she gets the huff she gets the huff - better that than an injured or petrified little girl xxx
 
you could give her a quick shot round an area he is used too with you leadin and two responsible people -one on either side of child holding legs if necessary.
this may shut her up lol x :) or it may make her worse :( not sure which way to go
you could also say that she isnt insured :D
thats my ideas lol x
 
Tell her frankly she wouldn't be insured and you cannot guarantee the childs safety... that should be enough to put her off. I wouldn't entertain putting a small child on an unproven horse... After owning my cob for 5.5 years, I have only just started to trust her with non-riders, but then I know my girl follows me like an overgrown labrador..she goes where I go, but I still "pick the moment", ride her first if she's fresh etc etc...

Better to upset your friend now than risk hurting her child....
 
I would say no.

You are responsible as the owner.

If you are not insured or the child is not insured and **** happened, folk these days seem to look for someone to blame.

I wouldn't touch it with a barge pole.

If you have to explain nicely to your mum, show her this.....

"Because of a decision in the House of Lords in 2003, you are now liable for any damage or injury that your horse does to others regardless of whether you are negligent or not. This is inline with the Animal Act 1971. As a horse owner or horse rider you could be prosecuted if your horse kicks someone and injuries them or if your horse escapes from his field and causes a road accident as in the Mirrahedy v Henley case in 2003. "

It was a biggee and changed the whole horse riding insurance business.
 
I am tellign her its not safe - he has actually only improved sinc ei had lots of lessons to learn how to hold his contact correctly and learn how to control his spooking - what to do when he does etc.
I just wondered if I was being mean but you have all confirmed Im not - ty x
 
You've made the right decision. It is just not worth the risk.

Luckily at the yard I am on, you are not allowed to let anyone ride your horse. The owner and up to 2 sharers are covered by the yard rules and that is it. So, for me saying 'no' is easy.
 
Tell her that yes, the horse is good, for YOU, because you have been having lessons to learn to ride him. Friends daughter has not had ANY lessons, so it's not going to work...
You're being a very good friend in my mind, doubt she'd be your friend for long if her daughter came off and was injured!
 
Just say that you have been advised that it is a question of insurance and that it could invalidate your insurance if you did such a thing. During the summer holidays I am sure there must be pony camps or even intro days at places that cater for children - maybe if you offer to help find details of something like that, it would "soften the blow" of refusing your friend. Good Luck!
 
I had similar thing last year, just bought a newly turned 4yr TB and she did have her nutty moments settling in, my OHs friends very novice girl friend wanted to ride her, had to exaggerate mares behaviour by tellinga fib about how she was that day- it soon put her off!!
 
trakehnersrock! said:
Just say that you have been advised that it is a question of insurance and that it could invalidate your insurance if you did such a thing. During the summer holidays I am sure there must be pony camps or even intro days at places that cater for children - maybe if you offer to help find details of something like that, it would "soften the blow" of refusing your friend. Good Luck!
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Excellent idea - xxx
 
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