Am I ready for a share horse and what type would you recommend?

[Me_and_Horses]

Hi, so I have been for 3 years twice a week, and I have done 3 camps where I learnt to tack up (I can only do that kind of), untack, groom, and muck out. As for riding I can walk, trot, canter (I'm not the best) and jump 60cm ish (I've never actually measured them it's just a rough guess). I've never competed because I've never had a horse to do it on, but I'm very competitive and would love to compete some time. I have ridden a massive variety of horses (OTTBs, typical lazy school ponies, forward going ponies with a tendency to bolt, horses with a tendency to buck, and even fairly green horses in the process of being reschooled, which I definitely wasn't ready for at the time haha). Although I can't say the rest of my riding is great, I do have a good seat, not to be arrogant, sorry if I seem that way. I have been working on learning about basic horse care and riding whilst I obviously can't ride because of quarantine, and when quarantine is over, after a few months of getting back into riding (after quarantine I'm going to be riding once a week) I am thinking about getting a share horse. The thing is, I don't know if I am ready for that yet or if I should just continue with lessons. Do you think I will be ready? And for when I do get one, what type would you recommend?
Thanks in advance ?

 

[Shay]

It isn't always whether you are ready or not; but more what type of support you have around you and whether you can find something suitable.

You sounds quite young (take it as a compliment if not!) If you are under 16 you need to have your parents sign any share contract - you can't do that yourself. You need to know how you will get the money for your part of the share and what times / days you can realisitically do. How will this fit in with school or work for instance.

You don't sound like you have enough experience to share without support. If you parents are horsey and can help you that would be great. If not you may need to look at something closer to a pony club linked center so you can build your skills but where there is still professional support.

If you are over 14 you might want to think about taking your BHS stage 1 or if you are 12 - 14 the BHS Essenetial horse care certificate. This would give you a good knowledge base of how to care for horses and help convince soemone you want to share with that you are going to be OK with their horse.

Privately owned horses are very different from riding school horses so if this is something you are going to look at perhaps ask your instructor to help you find someting suitable for your age and experience.

 

[Me_and_Horses]

It isn't always whether you are ready or not; but more what type of support you have around you and whether you can find something suitable.

You sounds quite young (take it as a compliment if not!) If you are under 16 you need to have your parents sign any share contract - you can't do that yourself. You need to know how you will get the money for your part of the share and what times / days you can realisitically do. How will this fit in with school or work for instance.

You don't sound like you have enough experience to share without support. If you parents are horsey and can help you that would be great. If not you may need to look at something closer to a pony club linked center so you can build your skills but where there is still professional support.

If you are over 14 you might want to think about taking your BHS stage 1 or if you are 12 - 14 the BHS Essenetial horse care certificate. This would give you a good knowledge base of how to care for horses and help convince soemone you want to share with that you are going to be OK with their horse.

Privately owned horses are very different from riding school horses so if this is something you are going to look at perhaps ask your instructor to help you find someting suitable for your age and experience.

Thanks so much, this is really helpful I will definitely look into taking the bhs certificates, and if I did end up sharing then I would only do it if I had experienced people to help me. If I get to share then I will hopefully share a horse on either my riding school yard because it is also a livery, or at the same yard as my knowledgeable friends ? I will definitely try to get more experience riding non-riding school horses before sharing, but if my riding school do it then I will definitely think about sharing one of the riding school horses. Is this a good idea? Again, thanks for your help xx

 

[Shay]

Sharing a riding school horse really depends on the terms you are offered - and it can be quite a con!

If you share a private horse you pay a contribution toward costs in exchange for a set number of days, whatever chores are agreed between you etc. On those days you can pretty much do what you want with the horse subject only to what the owner says.

If you share a riding school horse you will be asked to pay a contribution toward his costs - it can be quite a lot. You may be given set days on which he is "yours" but in practice he may well be used by others for lessons on that day too which might mean he isn't available to you when you want him, or he is too tired to do much. You may be able to do chores with him - but you might not.

If you are looking at sharing an RS horse just look very carefully at what you are getting for your money (actually that is true of any type of sharing!) In particular look at whether the horse actually is yours to do what you want (within reason) on a set day and that he would not be used for anyone else on those days. The contribution to an RS horse can be quite significant - often more than for a private share unless you are looking at a competition lease. Add to that not being able to actually ride when you want to becuase he is in use for others - it can be a bit of a scam if I'm honest. But your riding school might be different.

 

[meltb]

honestly, the best way for you to progress is by getting a part-loan, or seeing if anyone needs help 1-2 days a week (where they don't want contribution, this is like gold dust but there are some out there!!) which would also mean you could continue w/ a riding lesson on a school.

riding schools can be good for the basics and to get started, but i always found that you can only progress so far with them... you will learn more with a 'real' horse IMHO.

 

[Me_and_Horses]

Sharing a riding school horse really depends on the terms you are offered - and it can be quite a con!

If you share a private horse you pay a contribution toward costs in exchange for a set number of days, whatever chores are agreed between you etc. On those days you can pretty much do what you want with the horse subject only to what the owner says.

If you share a riding school horse you will be asked to pay a contribution toward his costs - it can be quite a lot. You may be given set days on which he is "yours" but in practice he may well be used by others for lessons on that day too which might mean he isn't available to you when you want him, or he is too tired to do much. You may be able to do chores with him - but you might not.

If you are looking at sharing an RS horse just look very carefully at what you are getting for your money (actually that is true of any type of sharing!) In particular look at whether the horse actually is yours to do what you want (within reason) on a set day and that he would not be used for anyone else on those days. The contribution to an RS horse can be quite significant - often more than for a private share unless you are looking at a competition lease. Add to that not being able to actually ride when you want to becuase he is in use for others - it can be a bit of a scam if I'm honest. But your riding school might be different.

Thanks, I will definitely make sure that the situation is right and that I can use the horse when I want and take care of it on those days

 

[Me_and_Horses]

honestly, the best way for you to progress is by getting a part-loan, or seeing if anyone needs help 1-2 days a week (where they don't want contribution, this is like gold dust but there are some out there!!) which would also mean you could continue w/ a riding lesson on a school.

riding schools can be good for the basics and to get started, but i always found that you can only progress so far with them... you will learn more with a 'real' horse IMHO.

Thanks, I will look for cheaper/free ones first, because you never know, the work might be enough payment? I'll probably end up with a privately owned horse, because I pretty sure that at my riding school shares can be used for lessons anytime, but I have researched a lot so I have lots of choices. I will definitely keep having lessons for the whole time I'm involved with horses (hopefully my whole life)! Again, thanks so much