attention riders who dont own but ride other peoples horses

jenbleep

jenbleep

Well-Known Member
Joined
9 November 2005
Messages
14,674
Location
North West
Visit site
has it been working for you?

i ride a horse for someone, just general schooling, lessons and some hacking, with the view to do some unaffiliated dressage and local jumping. me and Frankie are getting along great; apart from a few bad days here and there (but everyone gets them right?!) nothing to major to worry about.

what i want to know is - how do you get along with the owner? because i get along great with Frankie's, but i worry that if i make a suggestion about him like "do you think he needs to start getting concentrates?" "do you think hes getting thin?" or "i think he needs his hooves trimming" she will be like "well hes not your horse whats it to you how i look after him?!" i find it awkward to make these comments. i want to learn more about horse care because i would like my own one day, but i worry that if i worry about Frankie too much itll make the owner think that i think she's not looking after him properly. does this make any sense?!
confused.gif


thoughts please
grin.gif
grin.gif
 
unless there is something majorly wrong with him, keep it to yourself. Its not your horse at the end of the day.

Sorry if that sounds rude. I dont treat my horse like a baby, like a lot of people do, but if someone was riding and started telling me I should put him on this suppliment, or he needs a new bridle, I'm afraid I'd go and tell them wehre to stick it
 
I have sharers for my horses a couple of days a week. Speaking from an owners point of view, I no way near know everything there is to know about horses, and am always open to suggestions, and I welcome them asking me questions. To me, it shows they have my horses interest at heart and that is what is important.
 
I've ridden and competed a few horses for other people and on the whole wouldn't interfear with the horse management unless it was having a big impact on what I was trying to achieve with the horse. I do often drop subtle jokey hints with one lady though but we know each other well enough now to predict what we will each say!
 
I ride out for people I use to work for & they are like family so don't have that problem! Also their daughter is a vet!!!

Went up on Sunday for a hack on 3yr old. Went up to building Sam's horse had pulled NH off! Took Jasper down to groom, groomed him then picked his feet out. I thought that he had been shod tight on NH as inside of shoe was against frog, then I realised the whole shoe had slipped across & back a cm!!
blush.gif
The clip was going into the wall. Chap that ownes thought it would be fine but I wasn't happy so saidd best to remove. So I removed it & we were all glad I had as clip had gone up the wall
blush.gif
. Luckily no lasting damage & farrier coming on Friday!
So 2 matching horses!
Depends on the people you are with as to how much you can say.
These people are like family to me so we are straight with eac other & say what we think!!
 
well ive only ridden Frankie for about 4 months and ive been out to dinner with the owners, cried in front of them about 3 times and borrowed a big chunk of money off them! so maybe in a few more months we'll be more like family.

they can see how much i care for Frankie, i just dont want then to think "cheeky cow telling me what to do!"
 
I think it depends on the owner tbh.
I ride 2 horses that arent mine at the moment. a Friesian Stallion and a WB gelding. Now their owners.... are non-horsey. Please no one jump up and talk about how they should'nt have horses if they don't know how to look after them - i know that. But they own alot of land, have built a 20 stable stable block, etc etc.
I advise them when the horses need shod, wormed, what rugs they need, what feed they need etc. I check the horses everyday and ride them most days. So in this respect the horses are almost mine aside from the small fact that legally they own them and they're on their land, and they pay everything
tongue.gif
. These owners rely on me to tell them what their horses need, so if you ride for people like this you obviously have to tell them what they need.

However have previously ridden for an experienced horse owner and i never said anything to her about how the ponieswere looking, and never told her what the ponies needed and when. I simply schooled them on, hacked them out, jumped and competed them. Again, best of both worlds.

I get on/got on very well with all the owners I rode for and always made an effort to keep them updated on how the horse is, and a whole load of flattery of horse is always a good way to go. Lol.
 
Speaking from an owners point of view again, I think it depends on both the owners and the sharers personalities, how the sharer phrases the question etc. eg. I wouldn't appreciate being 'told' that something was wrong with my horse/the way I looked after it, but a gentle suggestion would be appreciated, such as "what do you think about feeding some concentrates now he's getting more work, i think he's loosing a bit of weight" or "is he booked in for a trim cause his feet look a bit long" etc. but I also think it works both ways, I'd never say to someone (unless what they were doing was going to majorly affect the horse) "thats wrong!", I'd say, "why don't you try it this way" or something like. Hope that helps
smile.gif
 
[ QUOTE ]
...then I realised the whole shoe had slipped across & back a cm!!
blush.gif
The clip was going into the wall. Chap that ownes thought it would be fine but I wasn't happy so saidd best to remove. So I removed it & we were all glad I had as clip had gone up the wall

[/ QUOTE ]

Coincidence... we had the exact same thing this week, shoe half off and toe clip embedded in the sole
frown.gif
I've been well stressed anticipating an abcess but so far it's been OK. I would always be glad of a loaner/sharer keeping me posted on a horse's feet, loose shoes etc. as well as any injuries or lamenesses of course.

As far as other stuff goes, it's got to depend how often the owner actually sees their horse. If it's most days then I wouldn't interfere. Less than half the time then I would think the loaner has a stake in the horse's care.

My sharer did once ask if she could pull my horse's mane - glad she asked instead of just doing it, as that was a no-no, we like the natural look! On the other hand I have loaned horses where I have wanted to trim their feathers, apply ointment, feed supplements etc... not acceptable without asking imho.
 
I have ridden for quite a few people now, and I have nearly always kept shum. some of the people I have ridden for were very knowledgeable, so anything I had to say would not be relevant, they would probabaly have already thought of it and could justify exactly why they did/nt do it etc. I would put my opinion in, just not tell them how to look after their horses, that was their job to me!!others I have ridden for have not come across so knowledgable, they still love their horses to bits and their horse care definatly above novice, but I would put input in here and there, and more often or not they were happy with it.Althought one time I was tryig to get the horse clipped as he was a big hairy thing, but owner did not want to so I had a sweaty hairy horse throuhg winter
frown.gif
 
oh i would never TELL someone what to do with their horse! i would say something suggestive like "do you think now im doing all this work he'll need concentrates, or is he ok on grass?" he has lost weight but hes looking alright at the mo.

when i know how ill put some piccies up! xxx
 
If you ride the horse for someone else and you want to know more about the care of the horse, then speak to the owner and let her know that you are more interested in learning about the care, and how to tell if horse is dropping off or getting a bit too porky. She will probably be happy to explain and discuss things with you, she may even ask your opinion in time. But never dictate to the owner, if you see something you think may benefit the horse, then mention to the owner in the I saw this stuff advertised, what and how does it work? is it good?

I do have people who help me exercise mine, and yes if they started telling me what I should and shouldn't feed my horses they would be off my yard quicker than their feet could touch the ground. This is mainly due to them not understanding that most of my horses are from either Argentina or NZ, where they have been used to living off parched pastures and not off rich feeds and addatives. Therefore ours only get good ole Alafa A, and basic horse and pony mix.

So really what I'm try to say is ask leading questions with an interest, tell her you really want to learn as much as possible, and would really benefit from her knowledge. Good luck and it sounds like you will progress well.
 
what u'd say sounds ok to me
smile.gif


If he's loosing weight I'd suggest it now though, before he looses any/more condition.

pics is easy, upload your pics to www.photobucket.com, shrink them to message board size then just click the image button in box below your post and copy the url from the website into the pop-up box.
 
i spent one day a few weekends ago cleaning and trimming Frankie (after asking permission! i would never just do it as i think that takes the p**s!) then i rang her to ask if i could bath him and she said "yeah its your horse!"

very confusing
 
Hi jenbleep, think Cazza has put it just right - it's all about attitude. We have a lovely lady that rides one of ours, and she is so willing to learn and so conscientious that I can't imagine her overstepping the mark.
 
oh yeah another thing i was going to ask is.....

do you buy stuff for the horse you ride? and if you do, does the owner say anything? xxx
 
oohh yes im always willing to learn buckle_bunny, im not one of those people that thinks even though ive ridden for years ive not got anything else to learn.

im very willing!
grin.gif
grin.gif
 
I had a girl share my horse for a year and she was lovely,the only time i got a bit angry was when i discovered she'd chopped all of her whiskers off! a big big no no for me,i wasn't happy! My mare is off on loan soon and i'll be making sure i put no excessive trimming in the contract as i know if anyone chopped her feathers off i'd kill them! I've loaned a couple of horses in the past with the help of my parents and i probably knew more about horses than the owners as none off them knew really about equine management they just had the funds to keep them,luckily i was allowed to do pretty much anything with them as i was competing them and riding them full time,most of the time the owners were abroad 9 mths of the year!
 
From an owners POV if Im letting you ride my horse then I obviously trust and respect you, therefore I would be happy for you to suggest (politely) anything you like. Doesnt mean I would agree or do it but I would like to think that there would be open lines of communication, when needed!
 
I've had a few sharers for my horses over the years, some good and some very bad. I'd be pleased that you cared about the horse, but the final say would have to be mine. And I wouldn't want to be questioned endlessly about my decisions either! I've also been a sharer, so I know what it's like from both sides. I didn't always care for the way the owner of my share horse dealt with things, but at the end of the day he was her horse - until I bought him that is!!! It sounds like you have a nice relationship with your horse's owner, so I would try to maintain that at all costs, especially if you like the horse.
 
I ride and look after someone elses horses as I can't afford my own atm. I will often "suggest" things. For example I will say, do you think his feet are a bit long, and then get the owner to have a look. So I would say I draw attention to problems I think are there, and then it's up to the owner to decide what to do from there. I think it works pretty well, as he is grateful to me for observing things, his other groom doesn't and it really annoys him.

And I've just bought him a new bit, because he is going terribly in the one he has got. I've talked it through with the owner but it'll be quicker if I do it!!!
 
im like you anakin - thats the kind of thing i would say, i was just wondering what other peoples experiences were.

i had a lesson the other day and my instructor said Frankie looked a little lame behind when i got him to work over his back properly - she told the owner and she said she would get the physio to have a look at him. (whether she will or not i dont know!) so i dont tell, rather i hint xxx
 
[ QUOTE ]
has it been working for you?

[/ QUOTE ]

Yes!
grin.gif
I am incredibly lucky - I had heard so many horror stories about people riding someone elses horse, but I found my boy purely by coincidence that a friend moved her horse to this yard and after a few weeks I got chatting to this lady who has two horses, one she rides all the time the other, her old boy whose 26 and had recently been expelled from his retirement home, had no rider and she didn't know what to do with him. She said I was more than welcome to try him and I've never looked back!

At first I was very worried all the time about upsetting her or doing something wrong or saying the wrong thing as she is a very experienced horse-woman and I had a hell of a lot to learn and was only on the basics! But she has been very relaxed about it all right from the start and I made it clear I wanted to learn and would do things just the way she wanted them to be done. Its been 17 months now and I now do him full time - she sees him every day as we are stabled next door to each other but she treats him like he's mine and is happy for me to do whatever and however I want. I have him on various suppliments now I am working him more and if I am away on hols she asks me to write down how to do his feeds and how I like things to be done!
blush.gif
I am so very lucky I have a great friendship with his owner, she is very upfront about things and thats just fine with me as I'd rather her say if there was something that was bothering her so we sort it there and then and it doesn't become a big deal.

TBH I think its best to be honest with each other and be able to talk to each other. I would never TELL her something HAD to be done I merely either suggest or ask if its ok to......... for example get the farrier out sooner etc. (normally she just says yeah if he needs it, do whatever you like!) Also I have completely re-stocked his wardrobe and everything! She has absolutely no problem with me buying him stuff, infact I think everything apart from his saddle and bridle (apart from the sparkly browband!) is what I have brought!!! (including his snuggly Rambo Duo - cost me a fortune he does, but he's soooo worth it!!
smile.gif
smile.gif


Maybe my case is an exception to the rule, I don't know but I know I am very lucky and privilaged to have him in my life and that I have such a good friendship / relationship with his owner. (she's had him 20 years so I imagine it must be hard to put all your trust in someone to care for her speacial man!)

All I can say is respect the owners wishes and be reliable, very reliable and they will learn to trust you completely over time. Like eveything in life it doesn't happen over night but hopefully eventually you will get to where I am, where you don't worry about what you say or do anymore because both you and the owner are very comfortable with each other.

I am enjoying every minute I spend with him and hope he is too, (he whinnys at me now and come to call from the field and everything!!) she said he is looking so well now and mentally he is happier being back in work as retirement obviously did not suit him, his stiffness is better as he has more regular light work and she doesn't feel guilty about not having enough time to give him the attention he deserves so it is a good situation for all concerned!
smile.gif
 
ahhh prkie that is such a great story
grin.gif


i love Frankie and would love that to happen to me what has happened to you - i suppose i better be patient!
shocked.gif


im sure it will work out for all of us, i am just enjoying him so much that im scred shes going to be like "you cant ride him anymore!" which probably wont happen but there you go
smile.gif
xxx
 
I do own my own, but over last winter I was also riding someone elses. It did frustrate me that we were having some problems with the horse in question (a bit of a bucker!) and I wasn't able to change his tack/regime/feed etc, which is what I would have done were he mine.

I don't really know the answer to it. I made some suggestions, which rather fell on dead ears and after getting another one of my own stopped riding the horse in question.
 
Blue and Holly belong to B on paper but he says they're mine! Am very lucky as he considers them both to be mine and i can do whatever i want with them whenever i want, i get taken to shows if i want to go and if its ok with B - they are kept at the family's small yard at their house so no livery costs or anything. When i go away B looks after them and when B and family go away i look after his 2 horses plus the 2 mares and foals and the old retired dales mare. Its great they are like family to me and i love it
grin.gif
grin.gif
grin.gif
 
I gave up my share last summer because of the owners.

I suggested that he needed his teeth & back checked after he started to play up when being ridden. I had it chucked back in my face and was told that it was (and I quote) "my f'ing riding" that was the problem. They then gave me an ultimatium of sorts so I just said no, not riding him anymore.

It was only after the pony nearly bolted with said owner they got him checked out and it was found that it hadn't seen the dentist in quite a while
mad.gif
And thanks to them, I lost about 95% of my confidence.
 
We all have bad experiences, dont worry you will get your confidence back as soon as you sit on the right horse again. I can remember as a kid many times sharing ponies only to have them taken of me, you learn by your mistakes im afraid.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top