Am I ready for a share?

[Charmaine18]

I really want to look into sharing a horse, but my mum isn't keen on the idea because she doesn't think I'm experienced enough yet. I'm quite confident in my experience with stable management - I've been helping out on stable yards for years doing chores like mucking out, feeding, grooming etc and I do feel like I know what I'm doing; but I've only just started riding again after a 5 year break and so far I haven't even started cantering yet. I know I'd make much faster progress if I could ride more often (as it is I ride for half an hour once a week at RS), but I also know I should probably wait until I'm more confident in the saddle before rushing into anything. Then again, it's not like I'd be solely responsible for the horse's exercise and fitness if I was just sharing it, so even if I did only feel up to pootling around slowly for a while, maybe it wouldn't matter. I don't know!

Just a ramble really, but do you have any thoughts? Would it be good for me and my riding if I shared a steady, safe schoolmaster to build my confidence, or am I better off making slow but steady progress at the riding school for a bit longer?

 

[Perfect_Pirouette]

I think sharing would be a good option if your stable management is good as having access to a horse say 3 days a week will bring your riding on quicker, especially if you have lessons on it with an instructor. However, if you haven't got back to the stage of cantering yet then you are limited as to what you can share, ie it'd have to be something very safe and ploddy probably.
Could you not help out at your RS in return for more rides? But saying that, finding a share horse can take ages so you could always start looking now as you may have improved more by the time you actually find one.

 

[justjoules]

Hi!
I have just taken on a loan/share horse and I was not them most confident rider by a long way, however my confidence in 2 weeks has increased greatly. Like you was happy on the ground but once in the saddle preferred something I had to puch forwards as opposed to overly forward going.

If you go for it make sure you get the right horse - dont be tempted by something that is perhaps not the most suitable as the last thing you need is to lose your confidence. Also when you find something have lessons ideally with an instructor who has seen the horse/taught someone else on the horse beforehand. There is nothing wrong with really working on walk and trot and progressing to canter when you feel ready and confident

 

[Divasmum]

A share sounds ideal for you.

 

[Tickles]

I don't want to put you off sharing in general, I've just started sharing myself and am loving it but I wouldn't rule out sticking with the RS horses and seeing about helping out somewhere (local RDA?) in return for rides over the summer.

A 'private' horse is likely to have a deal more energy/quirks than many RS ones and I know that even just a few months ago I wouldn't have wanted to handle/ride my lovely arab-x share horse who cantered off with me when I tried him in walk/trot the first time. If you commit to a super-ploddy type now you might find that you'll be wanting to change in a very short amount of time as your confidence in creases and if you can't try them in canter now you wont know if you'll like it when you can. (I commented how perfect share horsey's canter is to sit to and owner told me that most people can't stand it and even she had to use a x-country seat to start with so it is def helpful to be able to try how it feels!)

If it is cost that prevents you riding more often at present do remember that lessons on a share horse can be very confidence building so you'd probably want to pay for a few of those anyway which can be almost as much as group ones in a RS. Having someone knowledgeable around makes a huge difference to what I'll try - very paranoid about there needing to be someone to call the vet/ambulance in the worst case scenarios!

Whatever you decide to do, don't worry about rushing, you've a whole lifetime of riding fun ahead of you. Enjoy!