back in the saddle through sharing

[E13]

Following on from the back into riding thread, someone posted about getting back into riding not through lessons/riding school, but through a horse share. I would love to go about it this way (especially considering the nerves of people watching me ride/not being good enough) - but I have never shared before, and I don't think I'm very good at riding. How good is good enough to attempt this way? I fear I'm just way too much of a novice. Anyone know?

 

[TrasaM]

Have you considered having private lessons.? That way you won't be worrying about what others are thinking and get full attention from the riding instructor. Once you get a bit more confident about your riding then getting a share will be easier. I'd be a little wary, if I didn't feel reasonably confident riding, in trying out a strange horse. Have a look through Preloved though and any local tack shops and check out what's on offer. I have a share at the moment but I'm not sure she was entirely honest with me. No harm done as horse and I get along well but there was potential for problems.

 

[dodgers89]

Personally I think if you can find the right horse, this can be a good way of doing it. I had lessons for about a year but when my teacher went away for 6 weeks, I started looking for a horse to loan. I managed to find 2 steady gentlemen and would far rather work with them than riding school horses. I advise that you try out any potential loan for a few weeks before you commit but I would recommend doing it

 

[hnmisty]

Personally, I'd invest in a few more lessons first and get your confidence up a bit. As TrasaM suggested, you could always get private lessons.

I think you would then find it easier to find a share- I am not sure how many people would want a novice sharing their horse. There will also be more options for you- not all horses are very forgiving with novices.

Perhaps see if you could find a riding school that does shares on their horses? I had a (very non-typical) riding school pony on loan for a year.

Even if you get a loan you'll Still need lessons. It's one of my pet hates that people seem to think that once they've got a horse they no longer need lessons. Another is people who try to run before they can walk (example: friend of a lady at my yard. Been out of riding for 35 years. Probably didn't have that many lessons then either. Can barely trot- can't do rising trot and couldn't even get the horse she was riding into trot the other day. Is looking for a horse to buy. Why not get some lessons first! Argh).

Try local tack shops for shares...also, if you have regular lessons and let your instructor know that you're after a share, they might know someone who has something suitable available.

Good luck

 

[RainbowDash]

Hi OP,

I felt pretty much the same as you when I went back into riding after 19 years away. I felt very nervous about being watched so I took mid-week private lessons (no audience that way) - My confidence came on soo much that after 6 private lessons I part loaned and eventually bought my own. My advice would be to continue with lessons at the riding school but try to arrange your lessons when its quieter - tbh in my experience now no-one will laugh at you but will be interested in watching you gain confidence and applaud you as your confidence increases. Xxxx

 

[gembear]

I'm currently 6 weeks(ish) into my first part loan. After riding for just over a year, I felt I was ready for the next step. I spent some time speaking to owners and trying out lots of different horses - just make sure you're really honest with the owners about your ability and what you're looking for. That being said, I was honest about my abilities as a novice and I would still get owners trying to fob me off with their young TB's (one girl had her 17.2 for about 3 months who she admitted needed a lot of work because he'd thrown her off a couple of times at a competition and she was now nervous about riding him - but "he's a good boy, you'd be great on him" what?!). Some owners are more interested in money rather then finding a good share for everyone involved, so just be aware.

Always make sure you watch them bring it, tack up, ride etc before you do. See if you can do a trial and i asked about good local riding instructors in the area so I could continue lessons.

If you find the right horse and owner, then you'll learn so much more than at a riding school. And it almost feels like you have your own horse

 

[TrasaM]

I was honest about my abilities as a novice and I would still get owners trying to fob me off with their young TB's (one girl had her 17.2 for about 3 months who she admitted needed a lot of work because he'd thrown her off a couple of times at a competition and she was now nervous about riding him - but "he's a good boy, you'd be great on him" what?!). Some owners are more interested in money rather then finding a good share for everyone involved, so just be aware.


^ true. I noticed one recent advert on Preloved recently for a newly acquired ex racer. Girl said she didn't know what he'd done schooling wise but still wanted money for a share. Sounded like free trainer wanted.



If you find the right horse and owner, then you'll learn so much more than at a riding school. And it almost feels like you have your own horse

Not sure about this ^^ . The riders ability does affect the horse so I'd always advise becoming as competent as you can rather than settling for just knowing the basics for both the good of the horse and rider safety. A good instructor will provide you with all the necessary skills. An unbalanced rider will cause the horse discomfort. Yes it is true however that Riding schools don't teach leading and handling, in which case having a share with a good owner who will teach you these things will be a bonus.

I'm still having weekly lessons two years on from first starting to ride. I enjoy learning new things and am being taught to school the horse correctly. Still so much to learn though.

 

[gembear]

Not sure about this ^^ . The riders ability does affect the horse so I'd always advise becoming as competent as you can rather than settling for just knowing the basics for both the good of the horse and rider safety. A good instructor will provide you with all the necessary skills. An unbalanced rider will cause the horse discomfort. Yes it is true however that Riding schools don't teach leading and handling, in which case having a share with a good owner who will teach you these things will be a bonus.

Exactly, which is why it is important to get the right horse and owner if you want to share as a novice. I came from a crappy riding school, so it was important to me to get a share where I could still get lessons with a good RI. My new RI (competed up to Prix St Georges) has taught me more in 2 lessons than my old RS would have in 2 months.

I think so long as she finds a good school master and instructor, she would be okay.
She might have a good RS though that offers shares, which would be even better.