Do you let other people ride your horse?

Not everyone, but I enjoy watching people I trust ride my horse.

I'm going away for a week and leaving him with a friend who is currently horseless to play with. She's a competent but relatively novice rider, and has never ridden a "proper" dressage horse before. It was so wonderful to see her smiling when she felt his big trot for the first time. But she has a balanced seat, quiet hands and I trust her to listen to me and do as I say.
 
No - my last two horses were ruined by other people's bad handling before I got them, I broke my current one myself and wish her to stay the lovely sweet little mare that she is. Only way I can ensure that is by not allowing anyone else to ride her.

ETA I also don't like riding other people's horses - girl on my yard bugs me constantly to school her pony for her, and I'm running out of nice ways to say no
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i let my big sis, but I can't watch!! I let my instructer, (she's better than me, that's why she's my instructer!!) but anyone else, NO WAY!!

I still have my 28 y/o baggage and I'll let most people ride her.
 
Cruiseonamiro - yes I think he's fab (I am biased slightly though!) However, I do have to admit i wouldn't let just anyone LEAD my horse or trust them to shut him in a stable (he lets himself out) as that's when he shows his true "I am a horse and all powerful" side and you find yourself 'skiing' across the stable yard hanging onto his rope!!
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It's a good job he's great when you're on board and that he'd never run off further than the feed room/nearest grass!

One day i'll put pics on here, when i can work out how.....!
 
Nooo... I don't fancy doing time for manslaughter. In fairness, Brandy just needs a quiet rider, so if I could find one, I'd like to see how she goes from the ground. Unfortunately, of three nearby riders, one loves her whips and spurs, one's version of 'communication' I'd class as GBH, and one thinks that less than Mach three isn't proper riding. GBH and Mach three girl actually both asked to ride Brandy a while ago after they'd seen me pottering about on her. GBH girl was keen to 'fix her attitude' and Mach three girl wanted to 'give her something to think about'. I was pleased to point out that I didn't have enough insurance.
 
Gosh, I am rather taken aback by this thread - that SO many people think that their horses will be ruined by allowing someone else to ride their horse
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I am not suprised though as people do seem to value an extreme one-to-one relationship with their horse in this country and seem to think that no one else is going to be able to handle their beast...or maybe they don't want to see their horse going better with someone else
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I allow anyone to ride my horses and I always have. I pride myself in ensuring my horses are nice to ride and I enjoy seeing them being ridden - how else can one pick up on weak spots if you never see them move under saddle from the ground? I have had people make my horses go in a way I never will (partoow makes P look outstanding) and I enjoy seeing that and it eggs me on to improve.

I also think that it is important for horses to be accepting of a rider - whether that be me or Joe Bloggs or the Queen.

Of course I wouldn't allow an extreme novice to ride a hot horse because that would not be safe, but all of my horses have been accepting enough to allow any rider to walk and trot around on a loose rein without being an idiot.
 
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but all of my horses have been accepting enough to allow any rider to walk and trot around on a loose rein without being an idiot.

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I wouldn't call that riding, thats having a 'sit', something I would be fine with. What I wouldn't do is allow someone else to school, hack or jump my pony, particularly if I wasn't there.
When you've had animals that have been b*ggered up by other people's mistakes, I think there's every excuse to be 'precious' about keeping one unspoilt.
 
I’m happy for most people to ride Bodey, I would even let a beginner ride him as long as I was there or my instructor. Bodey has had enough good ground work now that one ride wouldn’t do any damage to him, obviously if I really thought the person was upsetting Bodey then I would ask for them to get off.
Me, my mum, my sister (Rubino), Twigben and my instructor all have ridden Bodey.
 
I did two weeks ago and am wishing I hadn't! As with most of us on here we spend an awful lot of time and money on our horses and it takes literally two seconds to cause an issue.

In my case it was the rider ringing up to say she couldn't get my horse to canter in the school - and when I went down the yard the YO said it was because she was throwing her hands about so much that my horse didn't understand what she wanted

Now I feel guilty!
 
I've known quite a few people that think their horses will be ruined if anyone but them sits on it. In fact most of them aren't such amazing riders as they think and when a couple of them did let other riders on, the horse went better. I also know a teenage boy who has a lovely big show jumper (very honest but sometimes gets himself in a tizz) and the YO's daughter who gives him jumping lessons has told him not to let anyone else but her ride it. I've ridden it (:P i have no respect for said girl and he wanted me to have a go) and even tho i was a bit rusty and he was so big and bouncy i felt like a sack of spuds, he went lovely and didnt bother at all. So it does most of them no harm now and again.

I dont see the problem as long as they're good riders and not agressive.
 
Yes but only the people I know and trust to handle her! She is a very big mare standing at 17.3 and hunts and events plus is a very good showjumper who has done fox etc. The only people I allow to ride her are a few instructors I have had and Woolly's husband and my husband. She actually is more of a man's horse. I am thrilled that I can leave her in their hands (both Mr. and Mrs) when I go away as it is such peace of mind! She can be quirky but it a nice sort. Just for my peace of mind really!
 
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What I wouldn't do is allow someone else to school, hack or jump my pony, particularly if I wasn't there.

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I would never allow someone to ride my horse unless I knew how they rode in the first place, and I would usually be there the first time they rode the horse to give tips if they were struggling. I wouldn't allow anyone to school my horse except riders who are better than I am, what is the point in it? I would allow anyone to have a go at working in the school though, learn to ride to the bridle/feel what lateral work feels like, etc, no harm in that at all under guidance. Hacking - am fine with it.

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When you've had animals that have been b*ggered up by other people's mistakes, I think there's every excuse to be 'precious' about keeping one unspoilt.

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Each to their own, your horse, your rules
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only a few others have been on my girls back in 5 years. she had a hard time before and is very sensitive and has trust issues with others. my 9 year old and a young friend has been on with me walking beside them, and she has been good as gold. My instructor and 1 other who is a really good rider. it is not that i think i am the best rider in the world but i know she is not particulary happy with others.
To be honest nobody has really asked anyway
 
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I've known quite a few people that think their horses will be ruined if anyone but them sits on it. In fact most of them aren't such amazing riders as they think and when a couple of them did let other riders on, the horse went better. I also know a teenage boy who has a lovely big show jumper (very honest but sometimes gets himself in a tizz) and the YO's daughter who gives him jumping lessons has told him not to let anyone else but her ride it. I've ridden it (:P i have no respect for said girl and he wanted me to have a go) and even tho i was a bit rusty and he was so big and bouncy i felt like a sack of spuds, he went lovely and didnt bother at all. So it does most of them no harm now and again.

I dont see the problem as long as they're good riders and not agressive.

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Funny, this... not aimed at anyone in this thread as I obviously don't know you, but this is indeed often the case in real life - people who think that only they can ride their horse usually don't tend to be the most competent riders... (obviously there are exceptions to this - just stating what my experience is!)

And I am honestly interested in how one person can bugger up a horse in the space of 10 minutes with just a bit of not hugely competent riding... Jan Brink for example, is the only person who has ever ridden Briar - and I can see the reasons for that with such a super sharp top dressage stallion, but most horses really aren't quite as sensitive as that, even though we as owners would often like to think so!
 
I suppose the other liveries at my yard aren't at the same stage as me - they're young kids, I'm an adult, I'm more experienced, I wouldn't want them on my youngster. However, should Carl Hester require grass livery and move here, I may take on a different opinion
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I pretty much let anyone on Fatty if I'm there...much more picky if I'm not there though! But seeing as he is out on part loan I can't be as fussy these days. Doesn't do him any harm having some different riders on his back as long as they don't tug him in the mouth or are incapable of rising trot!
 
If I owned your horse it would be a no.

However my boy is a wonderful hack/confidence giver...so I've let a couple of people who suffer with nerves hack him out, they all loved him. He cured my nerves so wonderfully that I love helping others out with this problem.

My cousin rides him twice a week, in return for mucking out/doing jobs after I've done a night shift. She schools him 'properly' in a way that I can't, and takes him to dressage competitions.

In the past if I've suffered nerves I've always happily let my experienced friends or my RI do something first (like a clear round at a jumping comp) as it helps my nerves if I can see him do it nicely.

I also taught my sister and (now ex)OH the basics of riding on him.

So in a word, yes
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I agree with alot weezy is saying here.

Do I let people ride my horses?

Yes and No. I have one old schoolmaster who would show anyone the ropes, tolerance and patience that puts any human to shame. However, more experienced riders are often shocked by his lack of forward with them - my answer is that they are riding incorrectly somewhere in the equation for him not to go forwards.
He did however teach my husband to ride - and was forward with him as a novice - because he sat light and held on mainly!

Yes, I let people on if I see they are light, considerate (no matter their level) and are willing to listen. I would just as happily ask them to dismount if I felt otherwise.

Our horses are generally trained classically and over time become very established in their work (whatever level they are capable) and thus secure in themselves. So when they have a mixed message still try to offer something and have not the bad experience of constant negative punishment for "offering".

So really, if they are trained well, consistently and as horses from the start, most should develop into wonderful mounts you could trust with your grandma.

Some will of course, always be abit quirky, but then a judgement call on character would be required!

I would think twice about putting someone "full of themselves" and their own riding ability... every yard has one!
 
Cruiseonamiro, just say no! he's young and impressionable and YOURS, would she let you ride her horse/drive her car/kiss her boyfriend?!!
seriously, though, i used to be pathetic about this, till i gave in once and let some kid (who had begged and begged and guilted me into it) get on my 14.2, she proceeded to charge off on him and aim him at big jumps. big lesson...! i was livid but couldn't do anything once she'd kicked him in the ribs and shot off across the field. needless to say, it didn't happen again..
i'll let people hack out on a long rein on my non-sensitive ones as long as they're not too heavy. i'll let instructors etc ride my comp horses. otherwise, no, and if anyone asks, i ask if they'd let me drive their prized sports car...
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Breeze who i have on loan, her owner will only ever let me ride her, that was in the first coversation we had lol. However, it's only 99% been me riding her this past year however she has been plodded round with owners daughter and ridden by a judge (which i wouldn't have let on if she wasn't soft as Breeze is unpredictable) she went a dream for the judge.

I agree it's good to let other people ride your horses, however, IT ALL DEPENDS ON THE HORSE!
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I'll let most people get on my boy
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Monty will usually let them know if they're doing something he doesn't approve of. He doesn't do anything nasty just does a great giraffe impression, goes all gobby and doesn't go forwards. Then again he does that if you don't ask questions of him
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I like to see what people think of him and it's good to watch other people getting some nice work out of him too
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I don't think even the crappiest rider could undo months and years of work on PF... at least they couldn't do anything that I couldn't fix in half an hour. Same goes for A. However, neither of them are novice rides and they don't deserve to be booted and yanked by a crappy rider, so a crappy riders need not apply.
I would be more particular about someone riding or schooling them on a more regular basis.
 
My horse is safe and sensible enough for anyone to ride, but I really don't like letting people ride him at all, so I don't generally.
He is very precious to me and I worry something may happen to him, and I know I could not get another cob that is as safe but also forward going, generous of spirit, kind and sound.
I intend him to stay that way!
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I totally agree with you Rayado; any horse who is nicely trained and of a pleasant disposition will most certainly not be "ruined" by an hours ride by someone of lesser experience ... if they are, then quite simply they weren't trained correctly.

Pretty much all of my horses can be ridden by almost anyone, and I enjoy seeing others riding them. They take good care of beginner riders and they work beautifully with experienced riders. All of my horses are very confident within themselves and the vast majority of them don't mind if they are sent incorrect signals, they still try to please the rider, OR they will do it correctly regardless of the wrong signals given by the rider. They are very forgiving of useless riders.

I do have 3 horses however whom I wouldn't allow just anyone to ride out in the open; simply because they are cattle horses and have so many buttons that if an inexperienced rider were to push these buttons they would likely disappear very speedily off into the blue yonder! I have allowed a few advanced beginner riders have a little "go" on these horses though, but only in the safety of the round pen. These riders have been known to go round and round and not be able to stop, or have any clue what they have just asked the horse to do ... the horses are voice-trained though so I can stop them from the ground if needed, however I prefer just to tell the rider what to do and once they do it, they see just how quick the responses of my guys actually are. No-one has ever asked to ride these ones again though ... no idea why, lol!!
 
In reference to the above post, my horse is young and still learning, he is not "trained" in any sense of the imagination. If i was worried about someone riding him better than me then I wouldn't have let my instructor ride him! It's simply a safety issue.
Thanks kerilli, that's a very different way to look at it, and I might use that line!
 
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