After useful info re: sharing my horse

[Willywoo's Ma]

I hope someone may have some useful advice or info in relation to sharing a horse. Due to my financial situation I am seriously thinking of having to do part/half share to help with the bills. I am protective over my boy so know that I will have to relax a bit if someone else is involved!

Im just not sure where to start and any advice to help me off the starting blocks would be greatly received

 

[Vixstar]

Hi there

I part share a horse, the owner actually contacted me as I had an advert on Preloved.com (I know other members will recommend this site).

I went to see the horse and rode him and fell in love! I share him 3 days a week inc 1 weekend day for £15 a week. Now this is quite cheap but there are no facilities. However I have seen some adverts for £30 a day!! When it's "my" day I do everything that needs doing, feeding, rugging, mucking out, poo picking, riding etc. The owner doesn't come up on these days.

If your quite precision about your horse (who isn't?!) set a few rules that you would like the sharer to stick to; like only the sharer can ride the horse etc.

Really recommend having a contract - however I don't - stupidly.

Good luck and hope you find someone that suits you and your horse

 

[Samantha008]

Ive both shared horses in the past and had people share my horses since and i have to tell you, its not an easy ride for either side! Always remember that the person is paying you, youre not doing them a service. When i was sharing out my horses, i tried to remain out of the equation as much as possible. Sharers want to know what its like to own a horse, not have an owner breathing down their neck. Having said that, you do need to lay out rules, and be there for the first couple of weeks to make sure that they are getting on ok/safely. Perhaps recommend people to hack with etc.

Sharing out your horse due to financial circumstances is hard, because you dont actually want to share them at all. Its not like you have too many horses and are grateful to whoever is helping you. But remember that the sharer is making it possible to keep your horse and you should be grateful for that.

In the end i moved to a yard that was much cheaper so i didnt have to share out my horses and now im doing kjust fine

But im very protective lol good luck!!!

 

[Hobbitpony]

I've been a sharer for several years now, my advice would be think carefully if you really want to share? There is nothing worse as a sharer than paying money to ride and then being resented for it. Hence most of my 'owners' have been of the cash rich time poor variety. Other than that;

1) Run your plan to get a sharer by your YO before you start advertising to make sure they are on board with it - assuming you are on a livery yard
2) Draw contract for the sharer or at least a list of rules
3) Have a calendar in the tack room or diary in the grooming kit so you can put in holidays etc and its quite nice to leave notes; done XYZ today dobbin very well behaved.
4) See if you can find a nanny on the yard to keep an eye on your sharer for first week or so.
5) Pet plan do a rider only insurance that provides third party liability cover, some vets bills and tack, might be nice to know worst comes to worst your sharer can cover any accident/injury.
6) Payment should be direct debit into your account, don't faff around with cheques or cash.
7) I always appreciated the occassional outing as a treat even if its just a local show or boxing with someone on the yard to somewhere different to hack out.

Good luck