Do you help out at a yard in return for free rides?

[HORSE Mag]

I am interested to know whether people still work for rides? If anyone (over 18) helps out a friend or yard in return for rides or lessons, please let me know.

It seems that over the years, the 'sharing' and 'loaning' generation (where money passes hands) has taken over the good old fashioned 'helping out in return for a free ride'. Is this still the case or are there still people who muck out, poo-pick and clean tack in return for a ride?

If so, please email me at stephanie_woollon@ipcmedia.com.

Look forward to hearing from you!

 

[Thisbe]

Hey contact Wimbledon Village stables wvstables.com, they have loads of adult helpers who just like to help and don't even expect to ride.

 

[MardyMare]

I have a lady who helps out in return for riding our horses. We have three and she has been fantastic especially as she started in the winter when she couldnt even ride for a few weeks. She poo picks, mucks out if we cant make it and brings them in - she knows their quirks and habits and what to feed them and does it exactly how we like it. In return she has one of the horses to herself every Wed and Sunday and rides one of the others a couple of times a week. We have no set agreement and so far get along fine and she is a godsend in my eyes. I do realise that it doesnt always work like that but I am one of the cases where it has worked well. We found her through word of mouth of one of the other liveries.

 

[pavlovscat]

I've been trying to find a bit of yard work, not even in return for rides, just to be around horses, but nobody seems to want any help!

 

[MardyMare]

I've been trying to find a bit of yard work, not even in return for rides, just to be around horses, but nobody seems to want any help!

That is a shame. Keeping asking around there must be someone that could do with some help. Pity you are not closer lol.

 

[Twizzel]

I help out some friends with their 8 horses, generally do them in the evening and sometimes go up in the morning too. I treat the horses as if they are my own and don't go home at night until I am sure everything is ok at the stables The experience working with different types of horses is enough reward for me, they have ex racers, warmbloods, youngsters, a broodmare and a newborn foal, however I do get to ride, have lessons with a fab instructor, opportunity to compete and they took me hunting this season for the first time ever, all of which I am very very grateful for... we get along really well and it's a bit of a team effort now. I have shared in the past and money exchanged hands but it was always a bit awkward and in the end didn't work out for various reasons, but have been with these horses and owners for coming up to a year now and am absolutely loving the opportunity.

 

[MiJodsR2BlinkinTite]

Ehmm, I don't think the problem is that people don't want people to come and help out in exchange for rides, the problem is that in this ever-increasing litigatious society, you just daren't do it anymore.

In the good old days all of us kids used to hang around the riding stables like rotting fish in the hope that if we worked our socks off we might get a ride, but nowadays commercial enterprises like riding stables, have got issues of insurance, liability, and the dreaded Elf and Safety, and its probably not so easy to operate on a "grace and favour" basis anymore anyway as everyone is pretty much pressured financially.

As a private owner, I would hesitate to offer riding to anyone in exchange for stable assistance for the same reason; I had a young hopeful from the village recently who was hanging around the yard asking to help out in exchange for rides. She was a keen little kid, had had a couple of lessons at a riding school, but I had to say sorry and turn her away, simply because (a) if anything happened like she got a pitchfork through her foot or one of the horses stepped on her toe - or, inevitably, take a tumble and possibly hurt herself - the parents would sue the pants off me and (2) as a "juvenile" i.e. under 18 years of age I might be deemed "in loco parentis" and might well be help responsible if anything did happen - and having worked in insurance briefly at one time I know just how cagey they can be when it suits them. Plus all the issues of child protection etc; plus (3) I don't have a single horsey qualification to my name (apart from Pony Club C - you can tell how old I am! - and again, insurance-wise, they would say I was an "unqualified" person if I was teaching her to ride and she fell off and hurt herself.

So this is why people like me are having to turn away kids who'd love to ride, and your heart goes out to some of these kids who would dearly love to just mess around with someone's pony, and they just cant because of all the red tape and hassle.

 

[MardyMare]

I may be wrong but the post asks if anyone over 18 does this?

I do agree about insurance etc and my lady does in fact have her own insurance for riding.

 

[Majestic]

at the riding school where i ride we have a points system that we use for the children who help there aswell. if the person assists on a lesson or leads on a leadrein lesson they get a point once they have built up 10 points they get a free ride ticket to use for a hack lesson or just to practice for an event that is comeing up.

Ride also get given to people who are particullarly helpful i.e. mucking out just general helping around the yard etc as an extra.

I am particularly very lucky to be given at least two free rides a week on my favourite horse who i backed and brought on in return for mucking him out and spending time with him.

 

[chaps89]

Pavlovscats- where in the West Mids are you?

I do.
In terms of the legal side of things, I have rider insurance as part of my own horse insurance so if anything does go wrong I'm covered but I accept at the end of the day horses are horses and accidents happen.
I tend to ride problem/young horses anyway so take on a larger risk than I might with more schoolmaster horses but I accept all responsibility for my actions- and if an owner ever asks I explain this to them- unless it really was their fault, they'd lied about the horse or knowingly put me into a dangerous situation without first telling me I certainly wouldn't ever make any sort of legal case, and even if they had unless something major happened I doubt I would- but I wouldn't be riding for them again. I am honest with owners about my capabilities, ask them to be around at least when I first start riding the horse/s and just ask for the same in return!

But yes, I do 'work for rides'
I have my own horse but 1) he's only in light work due to arthritis so it gives me a chance to do more 'serious' riding and 2) I have lost my confidence with him and am working on building it back up.
Because I have my own horse, I cannot afford any extra outgoings to even share, so whilst I understand people looking for sharers often need financial contribuitons I just can't commit to that. Also my work pattern means some weeks I can only go up say once a week so with just riding for people I have the extra flexibility that I don't need to be responsible for the care of the horse on set days etc.

At the moment I'm riding on a yard for 2 ladies who take on ex-racers and problem horses and have a few liveries who just need an extra hand. I go up once or twice a week, some times they just prefer for me to ride, others I clean tack, groom or muck out- as much as they're helping me out, I like to help out in return.

It's something I've done for a long time and feel it's really benefitted me in terms of my riding capabiliites and experience- plus I love a bit of a challenge and a chance to improve my riding. So for me it really works well. And on the owners side of thing- they're not having to pay anyone to help with the workload or for an instructor to come and school the horse, which many livery yards charge now for mucking out etc so if they're short on time it seems to benefit them too.

Any other questions you want to ask, just shout!

 

[rebeccam]

I'm just opening up my own yard in kent and seems like no one wants to do general stable duties for rides I only want someone to come and work for 2 hrs 3 days a week and they'd get as much time with horses riding and enjoying them as often as they like they are young ISH and are amazing fun but no one wants to come and to it unfortunatly

 

[Spotsrock]

I've been trying to find a bit of yard work, not even in return for rides, just to be around horses, but nobody seems to want any help!

If you were nearer and happy to put up with a very emotional ponio (safe!), you would be very welcome at my place!

 

[Flibble]

I am sort of a bit in the middle. While I am horseless I am riding twice a week for a disabled lady. She find her young horse unbalances easily and gets a bit enthusiastic. He is a standardbred. I get to ride a cheeky chappy twice a week. I always ride weekdays so she has him for her weekends and try and fit it in on days she is stretched with work.
I bring in,Work him feed and hay him and muck him out on the days I ride.
It suits us both quite well.

 

[rebeccam]

i used to work at a riding school doing my nvq's and all the weekend girls used to work for rides but thats over 10 yrs ago now

 

[PaddyMonty]

I do but in a different way.
For 3 of the 4 horses I ride my role is to school horses and also teach owners.
In return I get to compete the horses.
Fourth horse I just ride (jumping) as owner is very in to dressage but also wants horse to jump.

 

[swellhillcottage]

I've been trying to find a bit of yard work, not even in return for rides, just to be around horses, but nobody seems to want any help!

When I was a young un I used to work my butt off for no rides and sadly that generation of horsey help has now gone - but nowadays I hav emy own two horses that would be a fantastic rides for someone in return for help !!

S x

 

[midi]

I ride a family friends horse nearby just to keep her ticking over, I only really ride and groom her tbh but I do offer to clean the tack when it's starting to look a bit grubby - I'm very lucky.

Tomorrow I'm going to see a lady who was advertising in the local paper for someone to ride her other cob out with her on quiet hacks/sponsered rides as I think shes a little bit of a nervous rider.
As far as I know no money just help, so it will be another great opportunity for me.

I don't have rider insurance and its never been mentioned to me, don't quite understand the point of it? I don't have the money to throw away.

@rebeccam: where abouts in kent are you?

 

[Mlini]

I have a sharer for my horse (she is the YO's partner , so I get free livery ) - At the moment it's not going particularily well, he bit her yesterday, shes ridden him once and rarely mucks out/grooms him. So, basically, I still have to go down everyday to make sure he's ok even if I'm not planning on riding... But I wont complain too much, I do get free livery after all!!

One of the liveries has a sister that offers to help out a lot. She offers to muck out/feed/groom etc and I let her ride in return. I'd feel like I was taking advantage if she just did the crap jobs and didn't get to ride. She has helped with quite a few on the yard, but mine is her favorite!

 

[indi4]

I've had a few different arrangements in the past. Last horse i use to ride 3 times a week and in return caught in, did his stable, rode and sorted him out for the night. Owner didn't want to have to sort him out every day so this suit us both well. Current horse i only go and ride as the owner is pregant so doesn't want to ride and the horse is currently in 24/7 for winter so needs exercising so work well for both of us.

 

[rebeccam]

Im in maidstone. Need someone straight away such a good opportunity for someone who loves horses like me chance to compete and hack out do some schooling for just 3 days a week and thats only doing 6 hrs of work a week. Well if anyone knows of anyone who might be interested let me know

 

[pintoarabian]

We have a few, one of whom now competes competitively in BS, with much success, on our horses. Very happy to welcome more of the right kind of people on board. No novices for riding though. We're based in Central Scotland. PM if interested.

 

[nikCscott]

I would I'd love some one do weekend stables in return for weekend hacks.

Don't know anyone personally but don't want to advertise as want someone decent for big strong WB in education- and i have no clue how I'd sort the wheat from the chaff

 

[Chavhorse]

I have a wonderful teenager who spends 3 hours a week with my horse, grooming, hand grazing and general fuss and cuddle duty (no riding as he is a tad quirky under saddle and at the moment only the instructors are riding him).

For this I buy her 1.5 hours of private lessons a month.

She is a fabulous lass, horse loves her and she loves spending time with him and is worth her weight in gold last night she face booked me to say V-man had wrecked his rug and could she use some of the float money I leave at the yard for him to buy some replacement buckles and get the rug mended.

I live abroad and it is great knowing he has someone who is looking out for him and a bit of one on one TLC.

 

[natalia]

I have a couple of people who hep me with mine in exchange for riding them. One is a very keen 15yr old girl who isn't allowed her own horse but is fantastic and a good, sympathetic rider. She helps three times a week and I let her take them to shows and hunting in return. She rides once after school and both weekend days and every day through the holidays.I also have a really nice small adult who comes up in the week normally twice, she mucks out a couple then rides a couple, she just enjoys her hacking. Because I have upwards of 5 horses at anyone time any help is great and I would love a few more like this!