Amazing share opportunity, but can I find anyone!?

alsxx

alsxx

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I'm really struggling to find a sharer for my mare; I struggled to find someone about 18months ago, and then she went on loan to a friend, but is now back, and I'd like to get a sharer for her. I think I'm offering an amazing opportunity tbh, but I hardly get any interest. :o

She's 14.1hh - really a happy hacker but can do other bits and pieces, and able to jump - due to an old soft tissue injury in her front feet she's not really up to too much schooling/dressage (circles aggrevate the problem), but can cope with a lesson every other week for example. She's great fun, forward going but never strong, and never been known to buck, rear, or bolt, and not really a spooky type, excellent in traffic. Oh and has bags of personality :rolleyes:

I'm busy with my other horse, and have a retired pony too; she's kept at my own yard (although we don't have a sand school, only a 'field' 20x40 which can only be used in the summer), and basically I'm looking for someone to come and love and ride her, who would like to come out in the trailer with me to shows, beach, xc school etc, and that would like the opportunity to be around 3 lovely horses. I don't expect any chores to be done, although would be more than happy for someone to help if they wanted to, and I'm not looking for loads of money either! Probably £20 - £30 a week depending on if they just rode at weeknds or were a bit more involved. I think, for someone that doesn't have their own horse this is essentially an opportunity to 'have' their own horse, without the committment or cost, but there is no one interested :eek:.

Am I missing something do you think? :(
 
i think youre asking too much!
the horse cant compete or be schooled, only once every other week?
ive seen many shares in my area ( not sure what the situation is like for you) that range from £10 a day, to £10 a week. I think it's silly to ask for £10 a day as someone is essentially looking after, feeding, riding and sorting your horse out. Also, £10 a day is what averages on full livery where I am, and if you are asking £30 p/week to come down and ride at weekends, i doubt you'll get any enquiries, sorry :/
 
unfortunately she's a funny size (I had this problem with my pony) a kid would probably want to be doing schooling etc, going to pony club rallies etc, maybe trying to find a lightweight adult maybe the route you should go. I also think your asking quite a lot of money for a share, at the end of the day they are doing you a favour, I would probably more likely ask for a contribution towards shoes or maybe feed if she doesn't have shoes on.
 
It is a good opportunity however I would think one of the biggest problems you may have this time of year is no sand school. I know when I was looking for a share a sand school was a must as I rode after school/work and it was dark so I needed lights etc. I don't think the money is necessarily too much (depending on the days they did and how many days per week) but as i said, it would be to expensive for me if i could not ride in the week or school very often.
Another thing is looking for somebody who is small enough to ride her, but saying that my share pony got a fantastic lady sharing her who is fantastic when i outgrew her.

There will be somebody who is looking for a share and the chance to go to the beach etc is a great opportunity. Where have you advertised?
 
Completely missed the part about the beach!
If these services come included in asking price (obviously weather permitting) It shouldn't be too much to ask, as although lack of facilities, you still have the oppertunity to go to clinics/compete
 
To me the only thing that jumps out is the fact she isnt 100% sound (eg to jump or school to any degree).

Theres always a worry when riding someone elses horse you might break it (or it might get broken when you are there!)
 
I've probably not worded the above too well, since I'm trying to be careful that it doesn't sound like I'm advertising!

Re the soundness - she is sound, and is up to doing most things including jumping; loan home hacked her for hours and hours, dressage, PC etc - she's fine to compete on, and I'm not saying thats limited to x per week, but what she cant do is be used for endless schooling (i.e. if all they wanted to do was schooling and dressage), although if someone wanted to have a lesson once a week/fortnight, and do the odd dressage test that would be fine and she would stand up to that. I hope that makes sense!

Again re costs, I'm flexible here - I said £20 - £30 a week depending on arrangement - there would be no other costs or contribution expected, and I'd be happy to transport her out to places at no cost which I think is very generous. Basically, her sharer would have sole use of her, I wouldn't be riding her! I also put on the ad that whilst we don't have a school, I box to one locally in winter. Yes the lack of school is a drawback (don't I know it!?), but I was kind of hoping that there must be someone out there that wants a fun allrounder and wouldn't be put off by not being able to school in the winter (I manage to put up with it, and I'm sure there are many others who do too), or is just looking for a happy hacker.

On cost, I'm not really sure what is reasonable to ask tbh - I have seen some people advertising expecting £30/£40 per week, plus contribution towards shoes, and only being able to ride it x days per week, where as this is unlimited.

I have also advertised her as loan but to stay at current yard; I'm hesitant about loaning her out now; she's been out to a friend for 18months and has come back outgrown, but with quite frankly the worst skin infection I have ever seen, and this was a friend looking after her!!! All 4 legs, from fetlock to stifle and elbow bald, and sore and oozing...... not impressed tbh! I've had loads of interest in a full loan away from home, but honestly not comfortable about that any more :-(

Adverts - facebook, preloved, horsehunter...

Yes I agree she is an awkward height....!

Talk about a minefield ;-)
 
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Just to add, now that she is back from loan I've stopped looking and am going to wait until spring and after our holiday, but am interested to know how I can perhaps try to generate some interest when the time comes.
 
I don't think your asking too much at all- im in one of the most expensive parts of England and pay £20 a week for 2 days- 1 day schooling and 1 day hacking, no jumping etc. so you seem to be offering an amazing opportunity for someone! if only you were nearer!
 
Have you added a weight proviso? That may help adults decide she is a good opportunity. I think money is fine. Weather and time of year limiting at present
 
I'm offering a completely sound very honest potential competition pony for free with transport to lessons, beach, clinics, PC/RC and comps free (they would have to pay lessons/entries/memberships). No other costs! No takers!
 
With the extra info re schooling and boxing to a school to use I don't think the cost is unreasonable at all, especially if they have sole use of her to ride when they would like. I have been offered shares in the past for 2/3 days in the week for £45 a week + half shoes, needless to say i politely told them that was far too expensive.

Local tack shops are always a good place to start, I have found a couple of my shares from the noticeboards.
 
Sharing has always seemed odd to me. I have ridden other peoples horses for years, and have always looked after their horses, say, on a Saturday and one weekday, in return for a ride on those days. I've always loved them as my own, and been flexible in what I do.
At the moment I pay £5 each time I ride the naughty rhino, just as something towards his shoes, but, apart from getting him in and grooming before riding, I'm not involved in looking after him, as he is kept on his owners farm, alongside her others.
Thinking about it though, there has only been one pony who was really safe to ride!........................
Yours sounds lovely. Good luck with finding the right person. :)
 
People may think its too much as its your own place and therefore don't see the livery costs etc.
She is awkward height would be a good idea to put an max weight as that may encourage small adults more so.
 
I've been through similar. I was asking £25/week for full use, no extra hidden costs, no chores. No offer of transport, but happy for them to use their own/professional transport. 16hh well behaved horse, bombproof to hack, winning showing classes and novice dressage, just wanting a new human to love ... Took me 5 months to find someone halfway decent and then that person left after 6 weeks because she thought it was too expensive. Thankfully found the right person in the end, but it can be difficult. Obviously I know my horse and I know she's perfect and I know my hacking and I know it's great ... but viewers weren't giving it a chance because I don't have a sand school .. and that wasn't even in the middle of winter!
 
Eeek Misstyc I think I'm going to have hunt for a bit!! Hopefully come spring there might be more people looking....

It's 'my' yard as in I rent it, so there are costs to me :-( lol
 
I'm a sharer and the biggest thing that would put me off is the lack of school to be honest, if an adult were to be interested then typically they would work, meaning any riding during the week would probably be in the evening, and you need a school with lights for that. Hacking at the weekend is nice, but without a school in winter it is going to be a hard sell I'm afraid!

I think your cost is very reasonable for unlimited riding, I have my share 4 days per week and pay £120 pcm, with no chores and transport to competitions. But I am based in the Midlands so not as pricey as other parts of the country!

I think finding sharers takes time and a lot of patience, it sounds like a good deal it is just a matter of finding either a lightweight small adult, or a teenager but the problem with teens is they often dont have much in the way of transport and persuading a parent to drive them to and from the yard frequently is a difficult task! A teenager wouldnt be so bothered by the lack of school I think, but it is getting to and from the yard that is the issue.

All you can do is make sure you are on every horsey website out there (are you advertising on Horsemart and Equine Adverts too?), and then try placing ads in tack shops, local riding schools would be good too as many people at riding schools cant afford a horse but are looking to progress past riding school ponies. Spread the word to anyone horsey you know, word of mouth often beats any other methods of finding a sharer.
 
In the past I would have been looking for a share like this but as I work full time and you have no flood-lit school, I'd only be able to ride on weekends all Winter. £20 a week is quite a lot for just riding on a weekend. I know you've said that you box to a school but that is a much longer procedure than just tacking up and using a school at your yard and most adults have other things they need to do in the evenings.

BTW I've had three successful, long term shares and have never paid a financial contribution for any of them. The owner gets an evening/morning/day off and I get to ride - it's always been a straight swap of chores for riding.
 
Thanks for all the suggestions and input, all useful to know! I will definitely add a weight limit to ad as that may help people decide.

Re financial contribution verses chores, I don't need any help with chores as I will be there doing my other two anyway. I wouldn't expect someone to do all three horses for example, and as I would still need to go to yard to do the other two if sharer was doing one, therefore £ contribution made the most sense. Lots to think about! :-)
 
I think she sounds great. Height but shouldnt be too much of an issue, lots of people happy to ride horses this high. Also I dont think you are asking too much at all! Sounds very reasonable to me. I pay £13 a week but have to do all mucking out etc. 3 local riding schools in my area charge £55-£65 for 3 days! Mega expensive but we do have lovely hacking.
Maybe wait till spring when people want horses to enjoy for summer
 
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