Does no one want to ride/work?

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elsielouise

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Can you believe I have had adverts up for two months now looking for help with my 2 horses.

Have tried different approaches - looking for sharer, offering paid work and rides in return for help. Not asking for money, both my horses are sensible but seems no one wants my £10 an hour.

I am nearly 5 months pregnant now and tho' am riding at the min I will really need the help over the winter.

All I've had is a 14 year old girl who came with her mum, told me she was really experienced and then proceeded to grab my mare round her neck when she trotted and then fell off!

I only get calls from 14 year olds asking 'can they jump?' before they tell me they are a bit nervous jumping but want something to learn on. hmmmmm not on my ponios....

oooh sorry - rant over!
 
Have you tried approaching the local pony club? Perhaps there's someone there who wants a ride, but can't afford their own horse or has a crocked one.
 
Lol, I know the feeling - I advertised for a sharer about a year ago, and got a 13yo girl, who was quite nervous, didn't like to canter and told me "I love jumping" and then went all funny when I put a 2ft jump up. Her mum would drop her off at my house on Saturday and Sunday mornings, about 8am, and pick her up about 7pm. It went on for a while, I kept telling her I didn't want the girl to help anymore, but her mum kept dropping her off, or dropping her at the yard. She never paid toward the horse's keep like they had promised. In the end, I handed her mum and invoice and I never heard from them again! I was basically being used as a glorified babysitter! I wouldn't have thought you would have a problem if you are offering money in return for help!

Where abouts in the country are you? What about looking on tackshop noticeboards for freelance grooms etc? There are loads advertising on noticeboards around the local tackshops.
 
I've always advertised in the local paper (Yorkshire Post, Shropshire Star, we move around a lot!) and had a lot of replies. I have to weed out the unsuitables but with a bit of patience I always have 3-4 serious people to interview. However, I suppose it depends where you are based in the country.
 
I have had two lovely sharers for my boy before he retired.

One was a friend of the family and was with me for about 18 months (she bought her own horse) and the other was a lovely girl that replied to my advert. I did say must be over 18, she was 17 but v good with my ned. She left to go to uni.

My horse is a perfect hack, 15.3 and v queit, so perfect sharer horse. Although, I had to try a lot of people first.
 
Are any of you based in Derbyshire? OH and I would love something to ride but haven't really got the time or money for our own at the moment.....

Have both shared before, both compete in unaffiliated dressage, I jump but OH doesn't. Would be lovely but not essential to be able to compete. Entirely happy with a hairy cob doesn't even have to be fancy..... (not that hairy cobs can't be fancy!!!
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And OH only works mornings so can be around during daylight hours on week days.

Bet you are all miles away, always are!!!
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I've tried most of the tack shops in the area and used web sites. We are in Kent so maybe part of the problem is the saturation of horses round here - there are hundreds!

Pony club people might be a bit green for my horses if they don't have their own as one is only 5, she's safe but only five if you know what I mean. I'd love an adult with a bit of time on their hands or someone who wanted to compete or even hunt as long as they were prepared to put in the fittening and work. If I wasn't pregnant someone just to help with winter care would do but realistically I'll need help with one of them ridden over the winter as I think I'll turn the 5 year old away for a few months.

It was never like this when I was a kid I'd've killed for a chance to ride something like my two for free!
 
if i was closer id jump at the chance, when my neighbour had stables i used to work all weekend for a 30 min ride on her horse and help during the week when i didnt have homework. cant find anything like it now
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