Am I being cheeky asking for money?

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HaffiesRock

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I don't think I am but wanted other people's opinions.

I have a sharer for my 2 ponies. She does Monday and Wednesday where she can ride both ponies, but tends to ride one one day and one the other. Then Saturday and Sunday she hacks out with me.

She asked me a few weeks back if she could bring her friend up to ride one of my ponies and hack with her. I said I would want to see her ride first as my gelding is a difficult ride and my pride and joy and my mare is newly backed and although an easy ride I don't want a novice on her. To cut a long story short nothing more was said.

I am currently laid up for 6 weeks after an operation and she text me and asked if her friend could go up and ride with her tomorrow. I again said no, I want to see her ride first before I would consider it. I also said it would cost her friend £5 a day to ride. My sharer replied OK, I'm guessing that means I pay a fiver less then?

I haven't replied yet but my sharer only pays £15 a week for 2 full days where she can do as she pleases with 2 ponies, her only chores are putting hay in the field and feeding, and muck picking which her boyfriend tends to do for her. At the weekend, I do all the jobs, she just rides out with me. Originally she only did 3 days, hence the £5 a day, £15 a week so she already gets a free day so to speak. I don't mind at all as its nice to be able to hack at the weekend with both ponies.

I don't think its unreasonable to charge her friend £5 to ride and ill probably ask her to do some muck picking too. I am not a charity providing free riding. My ponies are my pride and joy and I am very paticular about who I let ride them. I also don't think I should reduce my sharers money as she is still riding and further benefiting with her friend riding.

My friend at the yard thinks I am being cheeky asking my sharers friend to pay to ride. I pointed out the going rate at the local riding school is £25 for a hack. It's not about money, I don't need the money, its more the principle that you riding isn't free!

What do you you think?

My alternative, and probably what I will do, is say no. But I cant risk losing my sharer while I am out of action.
 
I would make an effort to see how sharers friend rides, it could be abig help in the long run, and if you are happy she rides well you could then say she can ride in future but it will be £5 a day, and to the sharer who does 3 days it is £15 so still still £5 a day, so shouldnt be a problem
 
I think you might be opening a legal can of worms charging for the friend to ride. I understand not wanting to run the risk of losing the sharer, but equally the sharer should respect you, your horses and the fortunate position they are in :o
 
damn right you should ask for money! Wouldn't get a riding lesson anywhere NEAR £5 so the friend should be well chuffed!
 
There is no way I'd let the sharers friend on without seeing her ride. Sounds like your sharer may just want to enjoy one ride with her friend. If the friend wants more riding than that and is a good rider then you could offer her a share at the same rate, that seems perfectly reasonable. As to reducing the sharers pay, that's just cheeky. Shes paying for a certain number of days. If she doesn't want to ride them both on her days then that's her problem. £15 a week is pretty cheap for 4 days and 2 ponies anyway. At the end of the day they are your horses so you're perfectly entitled to charge what you want for riding, horses cost a lot to keep and like you say, you're not a charity.
 
No I don't think you're cheeky.

I have mine on loan, and a friend asked if she could bring her friends daughter over to ride. I said yes and it turned into a weekly venture, during which I would be practically ignored and it really upset me (I know I should have put my foot down, but the friend in question turns him out in AMs for me ATM as I don't drive.)

I would also make sure she has some kind of insurance, because otherwise she could turn around and blame you if something goes wrong- especially if you DO charge her. (this will form part of my reasoning when the lighter eves come and the ask again).
 
Can i share with you? so sharer pays £15 aweek for 2 days of to 2 ride and sat &sun riding out with you? omg where are you :) Asking her friend for £5 to me seems fair. If she doesnt agree tell her to go to a RS. You may have a sharer but youre not a charity. BUT check legalities please.Check rider out to.. Please can i share please :)
 
Don't worry, I always insist on insurance. My sharer and her friend are having lessons as part of the riding club they are in at Uni so she wants another day a week to ride and practice what she has learned.

I had my foot broken and pinned 2 days ago so I cant get up to the yard for at least a couple of weeks. I think I feel a bit annoyed she has asked when she knows I cant get up and she knows I want to see her ride first.

Saying all that, she is a fab sharer so want to keep her.
 
I don't think you're being cheeky at all. Maybe it's just me getting old, but there are a lot of cheeky people out there expecting something for nothing! Winds me right up!
 
Thanks all.

If I let her ride, it would be after I had seen her ride, checked her insurance and given her an agreement, just like the girl who shares.

Maybe I am just being over sensitive as I am stuck at home, in pain, and unable to see my ponies :(
 
I guess from her point of view she is paying to be allowed to ride both ponies on a Wednesday and Monday, as you said she can do as she pleases on those days, and ride both if she so wishes.

So from her point of view, her riding one and her friend riding one - on one of those days is the same as her riding both, on the same day - ofc subject to her friend being able to ride as well as her!

So under your agreement you are allowing her effectively 4 rides on the weekdays, but she usually takes 2. So her asking for her friend to take the third one, is maybe why she is thinking she shouldnt have to pay.

I don't know if you would be cheeky to ask her to pay or not, Although what I would say though is that even though the sharer pays for effectively "4 rides" during the week, doesn't mean she can sub-rent them out!

The weekend is different because you ride with her, and now you cant - would you want the ponies to continue to be exercised or ok for them to drop off a little?
 
On the other hand they are helping you out with the work and exercising the ponies. Yes you need to know the sharers friend is capable and will not hurt your ponies.
 
I don't think its umreasonable to ask her friend to pay i would also be a little annoyed she asked again seems like shes taking advantage but thats just my opinion
 
I wouldn't let the friend ride full stop. It's a can of worms. What happens when the sharer produces another mate wanting a ride? It's one more stranger on a yard and your YO may not take kindly to that. If I remember correctly the mare is a loan pony? Another rider just adds too much complication to the situation IMHO
 
First of all, sorry to hear you are out of action at the moment. At least you get out of mudlarking for a bit! I think you are being more than reasonable with your sharer and her friend. I would think most people would want to see a person ride before letting them use their horse and £5.00 for a day is nothing these days, it won't even buy a bag of shavings.
 
I think you're within your rights to ask for a token £5 payment, just the other day I considered doing the same for certain people who ask to ride my lovely novice friendly horse, not all people but for some I feel it's an appropriate measure.
 
It depends if its an occasional thing.
Or more regular.

If her friend wants a regular thing then charge the same as current sharer.

If its an.occasional ride with a friend then no.
Don't charge.
 
putasocinit said:
I would make an effort to see how sharers friend rides, it could be abig help in the long run, and if you are happy she rides well you could then say she can ride in future but it will be £5 a day, and to the sharer who does 3 days it is £15 so still still £5 a day, so shouldnt be a problem
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This sounds like a good idea ^^^

Hope you're back on your feet soon :)
 
I don't think you're being cheeky at all! Her friend would have to pay a lot more riding at a stables. It's a good offer from you I think, you could of said no completely! X
 
Just explain again that no one can ride without your agreement, and if there is a problem at the moment ask to speak to the girls instructor, and suggest the instructor comes up and gives both a lesson, provided the girl can ride well enough.
I think your sharer needs to "man up" and ride both twice a week while you are laid up.
I don't think you should be viewed as someone who allows "free riding", these kids are getting a lot of value and their parents should realise it too, they should all learn to accept responsibility for the ponies they are dealing with.
If the second girl wants to become a sharer then she should approach you personally.
 
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Not cheeky at all, your ponies, shoes etc. otherwise ask friend for a bale of hay or shavings . If your share had take over both ponies care 24/7 for you then that would be different but her duties have been kept the same?
 
Your certainly wouldn't get a hack at a riding centre for a fiver!!! I would tell her it's to cover insurance costs, & obviously make sure you ARE well insured.
 
I've read on here that legally if you charge per ride you need the same insurance, inspections and licences as an RS. That said I think your being totally reasonable, particularly as its a fiver. Big deal. I'm sure you could come up with an arrangement where the friends not paying to ride.

Maybe the sharer thinks she is doing you a favour bringing up her friend now so the ponies workload can be maintained while you are out of action.

Hope your back on your feet soon
 
I'm going to go against the grain here. I do think you're being a little bit cheeky. NOT about wanting to see her ride - that is absolutely essential. But if it's a day where the sharer is already riding and has access to both ponies I do feel that it's a bit mean, particularly if it's not a regular thing. If this happens every week, then you should absolutely ask for a contribution, but for the odd ride I really don't see the problem.
 
I don't think you are being cheeky at all, if anything your sharer is the one being cheeky. Personally I wouldn't get mixed up in 'hiring out' your horse to the friend, at all, it's a can of worms imo.
 
Capriole said:
I don't think you are being cheeky at all, if anything your sharer is the one being cheeky. Personally I wouldn't get mixed up in 'hiring out' your horse to the friend, at all, it's a can of worms imo.
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Given your thinking of a fiver, she is a good sharer and the legalities are a bit worm like IMO its not worth it for a one off.
 
Is no-one aware of the LAW?? Accepting a contribution towards expenses from a regular sharer is PROBABLY ok - but asking for money from someone to ride a horse is in breach of the law UNLESS you're a registered riding school with an up-to-date Council licence. Any public liability insurance you have does NOT cover you for 'charging for hire' - whatever you charge!!
 
Janetgeorge - so how does this apply to stables that you pay livery to and they dont have insurance, intersting if its breaking the law. I look forward to your reply
 
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