Fed up- Loaning/sharing.. does noone want to anymore?

I had a loaner for my little mare (non ridden as well :eek:) in a week :) Just pot luck i guess, shes not loaning her anymore because she bought her own and im not going to get another sharer as ponys having the winter off, but i guess if i advertised again i wouldnt find anyone interested :(
 
I have had a few sharers, and in my experience its more difficult to find a sharer coming up to or during winter. In spring/summer I had loads of enquiries about the ad I had online from last November. Didn't have many response at the time I posted the ad and found my sharer through other means.
 
I think a big influence is allowing the horse to move.

Phil is nothing special. Not a jumper, not a show horse, not a dressage horse and not the best in (heavy) traffic however I had about 12-14 enquiries within two weeks. I am allowing him to move yard.

Have you tried equineadverts?
 
I can imagine with winter upon us the desire to ride is lessened for the fair weather riders among the loaning/sharing faculty.
 
I started a share agreement at this time of the year so the winter doesn't put all people off... I think I ended it in April/May time too just as the weather was getting better!!
 
I think sharers are in quite short supply at the moment. I put a 'wanted - horse to share' ad on rightequine, and mentioned that I was looking on here at the end of August, and had about 10 serious responses.

I think that the fact we are going into the winter plays a part: fewer people want to share through the bad weather, more people want sharers due to the extra costs and work involved through the winter months.

From the owners I spoke to sharers who are intermediate or experienced riders are also a rarity, so if you have a horse who is not a novice ride then that makes a difference too.

Sorry to be a bit gloomy - try looking at the wanted ads on rightequine and maybe newrider might have them too. Also, if you mention whereabouts you are then somone on here might be interested - I had a few PMs from my 'how do I find a horse to share' thread.
 
I dont think winter puts people off, I started a LWVB in Nov 2008, a full loan in Jan 2010 (snowed the day I went to see him and snowed soo heavily it took 2 weeks before we where able to get a trailer down to pick him up!!! and have just loaned another about 3 weeks ago with a view to buy.

I have my yard so only look at horses that can move to me - seems crazy to pay livery else where.

Good luck finding a new home for your pony x
 
We seem to be able to find sharers at our yard - and not novice sharers but people wanting lessons/progression/compete. Slight chance that I may take on a sharer from a livery moving away so my boy can help pay for my old mares livery!
 
I'd start a share tomorrow! I think it'd be a great way to build up a bond with a horse, get more riding in and to learn more before loaning/buying my own horse in a few years time. I bet you're not in East Fife though...

Hopefully it's a just a quiet patch, and someone suitable nearby will see your advert and fall in love with your four-legged friend soon 80)
 
I've just started loaning - took me a couple of months to find the perfect guy but the impending winter hasn't put me off.
I had wanted ads out as there seemed to be a lot of competition when replying to for loan ads.
I think it depends on areas - there was little available in my neck of the woods (probably why competition was stiff), or what was in my area was to stay on current yard (which I didn't want).
There are loaners out there: fingers crossed you find one soon - I probably got the best response from equineadverts.co.uk.
 
The winter won't put someone off if they are serious. I'm currently looking for a new loan for my friend's 13 year old daughter who keeps her loan pony at my stables. She keeps having growth spurts and she's pretty much outgrown her current, a Welsh Section C (although weight wise, she's fine) and I think the pony's owner is going to be wanting him back soon for her own son so I need to start looking for another NOW as she's wanting to show next year with me too.

I find the hardest part with looking to get a pony on loan, is that most do not want the pony to be moved. Unfortunately, that does not work in our situation as I already have facilities!
 
Word of mouth has been ongoing.. shes up in local tack shops also.
Equine ads, adtrader, preloved, gumtree, horsemart and any other free sites i could acess.

I dont want her to move because
1) shes been there for a few years and is happy
2) the facilities are pretty good and livery is very competitively priced. (im a student and am only looking for half the livery so i have to find the remaining money myself and hence dont want it going more expensive)
3) This is the only yard where there is transport available to me/and/or loaner for shows
4) Very bad experience in the past when i loaned out a horse, plus im not looking for a full loan as there are days i still want to have so if i move her then it means its probably going to be further away from me.
 
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RedRolo said:
Word of mouth has been ongoing.. shes up in local tack shops also.
Equine ads, adtrader, preloved, gumtree, horsemart and any other free sites i could acess.

I dont want her to move because
1) shes been there for a few years and is happy
2) the facilities are pretty good and livery is very competitively priced. (im a student and am only looking for half the livery so i have to find the remaining money myself and hence dont want it going more expensive)
3) This is the only yard where there is transport available to me/and/or loaner for shows
4) Very bad experience in the past when i loaned out a horse, plus im not looking for a full loan as there are days i still want to have so if i move her then it means its probably going to be further away from me.
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You say Loaning/sharing (which one) some will only want to loan and then may wish to move to stop you looking over their shoulder all the time. Sharing then it's acceptable especially as you state YOU can have transport for shows? So you are really looking for a sharer not a loaner Correct??

Well now that will depend on what your horse is like? Could a novice ride horse? Have you tried putting a notice at the local riding school??

If you would not consider your horse a novice/leaner ride then try the local pony club.
 
Yep, there seems to be no one other than kids that just want to gallop around and jump loads around here wanting to loan/share horses. The ones that do turn up expect to ride when they want, how they want, do no chores and pay no money. I have never had penny from anyone riding my horses. When I bring up the issue of money (talking tiny amount eg £15/week for unlimited riding, shows, hunting etc and no chores at all) they never come back. I gave up trying to find someone in the end, then two fantastic people came along at once!
 
You misread my reply: i stated 'This is the only yard where there is transport available to me/AND/or loaner for shows'

I was always under the impression a part loan was where someone pays a financial contribution and a share is no contribution.. ive got to the point where either will do.

A novice could, a beginner could not as she is green and young- My pony is a star and has no vices nor issues i simply just cannot find anyone serious enough who wants to take her on.
 
RedRolo said:
You misread my reply: i stated 'This is the only yard where there is transport available to me/AND/or loaner for shows'

I was always under the impression a part loan was where someone pays a financial contribution and a share is no contribution.. ive got to the point where either will do.

A novice could, a beginner could not as she is green and young- My pony is a star and has no vices nor issues i simply just cannot find anyone serious enough who wants to take her on.
Click to expand...

Sorry RedRolo maybe thats the problem how you word your ad. To me a Loaner takes on all the responsibility of the horse and cost inc. insurance. A sharer shares the cost and the work.

If your horse is young maybe PC club could be the answer for a good little rider. Good luck. Oooh just thought do you have ad-mag in your area? Try putting an ad in there for a sharer.
 
flowerlady said:
Sorry RedRolo maybe thats the problem how you word your ad. To me a Loaner takes on all the responsibility of the horse and cost inc. insurance. A sharer shares the cost and the work.

If your horse is young maybe PC club could be the answer for a good little rider. Good luck. Oooh just thought do you have ad-mag in your area? Try putting an ad in there for a sharer.
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Ahh, i never did my ad- a friend did for that exact reason.
The ad states a part loan though and its only asking for half the financial contribution to livery and shoes. The rest i will pay for (which i think is not a bad offer)

I sent a copy of my ad to some of the local RC and PC's unfort most want a full loan.
 
I'm sure I started a couple of shares at this time of year - I am certainly not a fair weather rider ;) I think its harder to find sharers for ponies, as so many adults that are small enough will insist that they "need" a 16.2+ :rolleyes:
 
I've had a similar problem in that I'm looking for a horse to share and have had two replies to my advert in the space of two weeks! I learnt to ride in the winter, (including at times in the pouring rain!) but in my case, I think I live in an area which has few yards near me and I've advertised myself as a novice so I don't think a lot of people will be interested. Hopefully you'll find someone suitable: the long wait could result in the perfect sharer/loanee!
 
We have had no luck finding riders for our two, no expense involved they
just need the exercise, not hard rides but not plods, one girl split from her Oh
and moved back down south, a young girl thought both were great, rode for a couple of weeks, then disappeared with no explanation, I phoned her and she hung up on me, we ride when we can with no problems just not often enough.
I just can't figure out where we are going wrong, anyone have any suggestions, there's two lovely horses going begging at Hexham.
 
It's really tough finding good people I think... I shared my very first pony for 10 years (he was 14.2) and then I started sharing again when I had my gap year at uni. Each time I made a financial contribution and did all chores on my days. I've been v lucky though as both times I treated them as mine and could ride as much as I wanted plus compete. I know I would be rubbish if I got a sharer for my boy, there would be too many rules ;)
 
Winter shouldn't put off the good ones. I had to sell my horse last year for finance reasons and put an ad up about a month ago to see if I could find a sharer. The one I've found is awesome and his owners are so so happy with me. I've got about 21 years riding experience and have competed a lot which is completely different to any of their previous sharers or indeed any of the other sharers on the yard.

Keep trying, as if you do find someone willing to stick it out through the winter then you're more likely to find someone responsible and serious about their riding and how they look after your horse.

(though looking out of my office window at the hail at the moment knowing I'm riding tonight does make me wonder if I'm actually bonkers!!) :)
 
I have the opposite problem- No one in my area wants to loan their horses out :p My 15.1hh Conne is off for a while because of a ligament injury, so ive been looking around for a 15hh-16.2hh horse to loan for the winter to do PC, hacking, hunting etc on, but the only ones offered for loan are either 11hh ponies, non-riden or for share, arghh, its so frustrating :( So y'know, anyone in the west-mids area... -winks conspicuously- :D:D ;);)
 
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