Am i taking advantage...?

[Brimmers]

Not sure whether im taking the michael a bit with my friend.

Basically she has a 16 year old who is starting to slow down a bit, struggles now with the height she wants to compete at, and is more happy just hacking every day.

I have a lively, 9 year old warmblood who is happiest when kept in lots of work with things to occupy his mind.

However, due to his bottomless stomache i have to work every day that im not at uni, and this sometimes doesn't leave me much time to ride.

On these days i tend to say "have you got time to ride him? if you have, feel free to take him" she enjoys riding something more challenging but i feel like im asking her too much? she rides him 3 days maximum a week, more often once or twice.

However, she came off the other day she said she was fine and got straight back on but i feel partly responsible as i asked her to ride him knowing he was going to be a bit fresh and i was at work all day.

i dont know, does this sound like im asking too much of her? she says she enjoys him and does quite a lot with him but i feel like maybe i should be paying her or something?

 

[WelshDiva]

I think that you are being reasonable, as you said she says she enjoys riding him. It is probably quite enjoyable for her as well seeing as her horse has to slow down a bit now. It isn't like you are forcing her to ride him, she is doing it of her own free will. I wouldn't say that you are taking the mic at all but that is just my opinion.
Hope this helps,
amber4ever x

 

[DipseyDeb]

She could say no if she didn't want to. If you phrase it that she could ride him on x days if she wanted, rather than asking her to ride, then if she really didn't want to, she would find it easier to say so.

 

[PandorasJar]

She's got free use of another horse and you've got free exercise. Perhaps say that you don't want her to feel pressured into riding and she doesn't have to if she doesn't want at any point but that she is welcome to carry on as is, too.

Seems to be working both ways. My old (paid) share got me off more than once and I wanted to get back on. She's probably getting a lot out of this as I did mine!