Am I being out of order - offering a free horse to ride???

S

Sunny08

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I am pregnant and so have put up adverts looking for an experienced person who may want to ride my beautiful 5 yr old mare, with bags of talent and potential, for free. I am not expecting payment from them and they can ride as frequently as they like and equally I am not expecting to pay them.... I have had people now contact me saying they will ride her for £XX per hour???
Before I could afford my own horse I would have jumped at the chance to ride a horse for free on a regular basis - am i mad or has the world changed??
 
I would've bitten off your hand and spat the rings out to be offered a free horse to ride.

I dunno what it is like in your neck of the woods but one thing, I would make sure you have insurance that is sewn up tighter than a tight thing that is tight because this is a suing culture we now live in. Also anything your horse does to anyone else - you are liable whether you are there or not.
 
I would jump at the chance of a free ride!, I'm also in kent, riding 7 years but a nervous rider, so i dont think your mare's for me.

Advertise at riding schools, theyre paying to ride, i'm sure someone will want to use their experience to ride, for free :)
 
Nope, not mad at all! there are just some odd ones (who clearly can't read!) on the internet.

You might have better luck if you advertise her again but with a (nominal) cost - perhaps a fiver a week - might weed out the ones who expect to be paid and again, weed out the joyriders who will say they will ride but will find they can't be bothered.

Best of luck finding the right person & contrats on your baby!!
 
Thanks - I am just outside between Ashford and New Romney in Kent. Just can't believe I cannot find a decent person...... And yes I have got the insurance and contract already written out to prevent being sued! I want to do this so I don't have to sell her as I really don't want her wasted is a field for a year and my OH is very worried about me riding whilst pregnant - so I respect that I won't ride.

Glad I'm not going mad!!!
 
No way - someone will have your hand off!!
I used to pay for my part loan but don't any more - we have an arrangement where we both do things to help each other out.
You'll definitely find someone who will keep your girl moving for you :)
good luck and congratulations!
K x
 
no - i share yr pain - tried very hard last autumn to find someone who wanted free hacking on my VERY well behaved weight carrier - no costs/no stable duties apart from feed her - couldnt find anyone at all:(
 
My experience is that it takes time and effort to find a good horse/rider match whether selling, loaning or looking for a rider.

I have always found word of mouth best, rather than adverts. Does you farrier take adverts? Have you told - given picturedetails to local Riding Instructors/Friends/Local Livery Yards/Riding Club/Pony Club, etc, etc. Rack you head and let them all know - its just a numbers game!!

Finally, if you want to keep your horse going while you are pregnant have you thought about any local Colleges, they can be bad/great depending on horse/college, but worth an investigation! (Or maybe they have pupils wanting a horse to ride, who knows!)

Good luck
 
ridiculous - honestly some people!!!!!!!!!!
To be able to ride anytime you want with no financial outlay - heaven!
peopel never fail to amaze me - cheeky so an so,s expecting you to pay them.
Im sure you will find someone soon xxx
 
I'm suprised no1 has jumped at the chance-i ride 2 horses for someone at the moment, and count myself really lucky.It always seems like there are lots of people looking to ride horses Im sure someone right will turn up.
 
CalllyH said:
agggrh id kill for this!!! and I do all horrid jobs too with a smile on my face still!
Click to expand...

Me too! I currently pay £40 a month and do all jobs for 2 ponies in order to have unlimited riding of one of them!!

Believe me, we are out there. Go for word of mouth though, both the shares I have done of this type actually approached me and directly asked me if I would be interested... not the other way round :)
 
Not at all. I used to ride a couple of horses and not pay anything towards them nor was i paid. The owners needed the horses exercised more due to lack of time and i was looking for a horse to ride. It was a win-win situation. I also rode another and i only paid £10 per month towards shoes (owner didnt want anything but i said it wasnt fair for her not to be riding her horse and having to have him shod for someone else to ride) But i know of many people who would jump at the chance to have a horse to ride, for free!
 
I would advertise for a sharer raher than a rider and you might find what you're looking for.

you can then state on the botom of the ad 'no financial contibution expected or requested for the priviledge of riding my lovely mare' or something along those lines...
 
I think people must be blinded by their expectation - they expect to either have to pay or be paid for the privilege. Odd - as others have said, I'd have jumped at the chance.

I'm sure you'll find someone. Congrats on the baby. :)
 
I'm another that would take the hand off someone if they offered me a horse to ride for free. Yes I'm having lessons every week and have my own horse but she is a youngster and wont be backed until next summer. A horse to ride for a year would be ideal for someone like me :p :D

Shame you're in Kent though
 
Have got someone riding my cob,just dropped on her really by word of mouth. She does not pay anything and I dont pay her, She was really happy and takes him to the local show,she does pay her classes.
When I was younger Id have scrubbed the floor with a tooth brush to have a ride on anything,even to help all day sat at the riding school just to ride them back to the field.
Biked for miles when horsey friends went on holiday,just to brush and check them.
We seem to be in a world where all want paying.
Some one will turn up ask at your saddle shop or feed merchants or try the blacksmith,some are minds of info
 
Im still looking in nottingham and I refuse to pay someones whole livery costs as a sharer - contributing fine but when they treat you as a skivvy / groom too I am not paying £100 a month to do that
 
What is the world coming to! People just dont seem to appreciate things anymore. One of the teens at my yard wants to start riding other peoples horses for them and she said that no way would she do it for free. I'm affraid I told her a few home truths!!!

Ah well, in the words of Bob Dylan "the times they are a changin"!!!
 
Try contacting your local riding clubs especially if you have a club that leans towards your chosen discipline. someone may have a young horse not ready for another year or so or have a horse out of action.
 
Sunny08 said:
I am pregnant and so have put up adverts looking for an experienced person who may want to ride my beautiful 5 yr old mare, with bags of talent and potential, for free. I am not expecting payment from them and they can ride as frequently as they like and equally I am not expecting to pay them.... I have had people now contact me saying they will ride her for £XX per hour???
Before I could afford my own horse I would have jumped at the chance to ride a horse for free on a regular basis - am i mad or has the world changed??
Click to expand...

Sunny, if I was in your possible I would firstly contact my farrier as they have so many contacts, then equine dentist. Then contact your local riding clubs or bridleway group (including Pony Club) - they may include something in their next newsletter or website. Finally if you have no luck then put adverts in local tack shops and feed merchants.

Good Luck in your search - there will be someone out there.
 
I'm in the same boat - I have a really good horse available (been placed on all riding club teams etc ) as I have a couple of young horses and he is being neglected a bit - only a minor contribution to shoes in return and noithing!

I hope you find someone soon!
 
I ride two wonderful horses for free ( both free for me and free for the owners!)

I benefit as its my favourite thing to be doing! The owners benifit from me being able to bring on the horses, and them getting excercised.

Its def a win win!!

I placed an ad in the ad trader, saying id be more than happy to excerise and bring on troubled or young horses, or even just those they owner doesnt have time for, but that i couldnt contribute financially ( i have offered to pay for shoes etc but they wont let me! :eek:) I got loads of responses and finally settled for these lovely pair!

I hope you find someone soon!
 
Not at all , there are just a lot of oppertunists out there. I once offered my sons pony free to ride to keep him exercised , knowing that as a kid I would have jumped at the chance of a free ride. One child told me she wasn't interested as the pony was coloured and she only really liked bays!!!!!!!!!!! It takes all sorts and the right person for you is out there.
 
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