Finding decent sharers/riders - how?

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DirectorFury

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Maddie's going back to her previous yard next weekend (I can't wait!) so will be back on full livery - they're good at managing her EMS which is a relief. No school, but there's one within a 5 minute hack that you can hire for £5ph, and the best hacking you can get in our area. I don't want money and no jobs will need doing. It's literally a case of turn up, tack horse up, and ride! I even offered the option to take people to competitions and lessons as long as they cover their entries and I'll cover fuel costs.

So why can't I find someone who wants to ride for free? The horse is a proper bombproof hack, happy alone or in company (tho can be strong cantering with others, I will admit). Schools nicely (Nov/Elem) and jumps amazingly if the rider knows what they're doing. She can have her moments but it's nothing dangerous and nothing that someone with half a clue would struggle to deal with. She's just coming back into work after 12 months off so needs to take things steady for 6-8 weeks which I guess is putting people off.

WWYD? Where would you advertise? Or shall I give up and let her have another year off? The yard she's going back to is literally a 10 minute drive/30 minute walk/20 minute bus from the major university campus in our city so nice and central.
 
I too have looked for an adult to just turn up and ride, two absolute bombproof ish, very quiet easy but still jump and x country can’t find anyone
 
Yep, am in the same position really. Lovely yard with great facilities, instructor on site, hacking limited but always people to go with, opportunity to compete/hunt... Horse is green and a bit spooky, but not at all dangerous. He's fab to ride at home and a very smart hunter. Can we find anyone? Nope.
 
I’m having a similar problem - finding a horse suitable for me to ride. I can’t find anything nearby but it would also need to be free or very cheap at the moment. Happy to do yard duties though, I enjoy mucking out and poo picking!

Where is the best place to look? My local yard is working liveries only so they don’t want sharers.
 
DancingCob said:
I’m having a similar problem - finding a horse suitable for me to ride. I can’t find anything nearby but it would also need to be free or very cheap at the moment. Happy to do yard duties though, I enjoy mucking out and poo picking!

Where is the best place to look? My local yard is working liveries only so they don’t want sharers.
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I don’t suppose you are in cornwall?��
 
iknowmyvalue said:
Yep, am in the same position really. Lovely yard with great facilities, instructor on site, hacking limited but always people to go with, opportunity to compete/hunt... Horse is green and a bit spooky, but not at all dangerous. He's fab to ride at home and a very smart hunter. Can we find anyone? Nope.
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Me too, my horse is green and sensitive but very easy. The only people I had apply were total novices and while he is easy, you do need to know how to ride. I've given up looking now.

Hope you find someone.
 
I’ve ridden for a number of people under this sort of arrangement. I have known them all, and known all the horses well though. I would be wary to take on a ride that I didn’t know. I can only speak for myself, but the arrangements that have worked best for me have been where I know the horse, or know someone who knows the horse (I was offered the ride on a nice sounding ISH a few years ago and a good friend knew her and advised me against it due to the mare’s propensity for standing on her back legs). I have also been very clear at the outset how much time I can put in (I never pay money and never accept money).
I would suggest starting to build up a network where you can look for someone via word of mouth - having someone who can speak for the horse on your behalf, and a better way for you to vet potential rides than an advert attracting a bunch of strangers.
 
I may move my 16h horse to Brackley (not a million miles away) and will be looking for a sharer, if you're interested... PM me for details
 
Sounds fantastic! I think the trouble now is just trying to find someone who can ride... is not insane... and has common sense.
I would love for someone to ride my boy a few days but most folks are tuned to the moon... and those who aren't have little time.
 
DirectorFury said:
Maddie's going back to her previous yard next weekend (I can't wait!) so will be back on full livery - they're good at managing her EMS which is a relief. No school, but there's one within a 5 minute hack that you can hire for £5ph, and the best hacking you can get in our area. I don't want money and no jobs will need doing. It's literally a case of turn up, tack horse up, and ride! I even offered the option to take people to competitions and lessons as long as they cover their entries and I'll cover fuel costs.

So why can't I find someone who wants to ride for free? The horse is a proper bombproof hack, happy alone or in company (tho can be strong cantering with others, I will admit). Schools nicely (Nov/Elem) and jumps amazingly if the rider knows what they're doing. She can have her moments but it's nothing dangerous and nothing that someone with half a clue would struggle to deal with. She's just coming back into work after 12 months off so needs to take things steady for 6-8 weeks which I guess is putting people off.

WWYD? Where would you advertise? Or shall I give up and let her have another year off? The yard she's going back to is literally a 10 minute drive/30 minute walk/20 minute bus from the major university campus in our city so nice and central.
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I think that the fact the horse is coming back into work IS what's putting people off. When I read ads stating this, it always me think that the owner is wanting someone just to get their horse fit again for the owner to take over later (but in fairness you're not asking for payment as most do).
 
I have loaned and shared both my horses out during university. Finding good people is hard and it does seem that there are not many capable people about who just want to ride, however I managed to find a few lovely loaners and a lovely sharer. I think asking for a small financial contribution is a good idea as usually the people who will be more committed with time will be happy to pay a small contribution too, and if the person is financially invested they are likely to be more committed, the two go hand in hand.
Obviously from OPs perspective, just someone to ride is more important but i was really flexible with the finiacial contribution and we settled for £10 per week for as much riding as the person wanted.
Try advertising on preloved, local horse websites, and tack shops. Personally I have never got much response from Facebook. Through people you know is always the best way, but I realise that isn’t always possible!
 
Also, if she is just coming back into work get a freelancer to ride her a few times a week for the 1st month and get a bunch of nice, recent pictures of her being ridden. That will help enormously!
 
DancingCob said:
I’m having a similar problem - finding a horse suitable for me to ride. I can’t find anything nearby but it would also need to be free or very cheap at the moment. Happy to do yard duties though, I enjoy mucking out and poo picking!

Where is the best place to look? My local yard is working liveries only so they don’t want sharers.
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why not check out the local riding club, st edmundsbury r.c. and maybe offer to help at events so you can get to know a few people and spread the word...or ask at local saddlery shops, there is one in long melford which isnt too far from bury st edmunds..there is also dawns tack shop in bury on one of the industrial estates....hope that helps
 
splashgirl45 said:
why not check out the local riding club, st edmundsbury r.c. and maybe offer to help at events so you can get to know a few people and spread the word...or ask at local saddlery shops, there is one in long melford which isnt too far from bury st edmunds..there is also dawns tack shop in bury on one of the industrial estates....hope that helps
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I didn’t know there was a riding club tbh! Just found their website but can only see events listed for 2016! Is it definitely still running?

I’m north of Bury so Long Melford is too far (40 mins away) but I’ll defo try Dawn’s tack box, I was fancying popping in there for a look anyway!
 
DancingCob said:
I didn’t know there was a riding club tbh! Just found their website but can only see events listed for 2016! Is it definitely still running?

I’m north of Bury so Long Melford is too far (40 mins away) but I’ll defo try Dawn’s tack box, I was fancying popping in there for a look anyway!
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as far as i know its still going, maybe they just dont update the website,, if there is a phone no give them a ring...if not ring long melford saddlery a member of the rc used to work there so may be able to help...
 
PaddyMonty said:
Seems the horses and riders are always in different places.
Nothing over 14.2 in Northampton wanting a rider. :(
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Definitely, I have kept an eye out since moving but nothing in the right spot and of the right type.

Now I could just find a nice welshie ;) :p

I suspect the bringing back into work is an issue for some.
 
There has to be a 'match-making' service for sharers somewhere. If not, maybe someone could start it. There always seem to be horses for share and people looking to share it's just getting them in touch!
 
Thanks for all the replies, I'm glad it's not just me struggling!

asmp said:
I think that the fact the horse is coming back into work IS what's putting people off. When I read ads stating this, it always me think that the owner is wanting someone just to get their horse fit again for the owner to take over later (but in fairness you're not asking for payment as most do).
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I'm very broken and probably not going to ride this side of next year so there's no risk of me taking the horse back after she's fit - I don't want to put this (the broken bit) on any adverts but would be upfront about the situation if anyone contacted me. If I was up to riding I'd get her fit myself and then advertise for a compeition-type ride.

emilylou said:
Also, if she is just coming back into work get a freelancer to ride her a few times a week for the 1st month and get a bunch of nice, recent pictures of her being ridden. That will help enormously!
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Most of the people I know already have horses - one of the downsides of living somewhere where they can be cheap to keep :(. I can't ~really~ afford a freelancer (£30-£40ph for them to walk a bombproof horse around the block a few times...?) but I might have to bite the bullet and pay out for it. It's incredibly annoying, this is the sort of arrangement I would have jumped at as a teenager.

ester said:
Now I could just find a nice welshie ;) :p

I suspect the bringing back into work is an issue for some.
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Move to Swansea? ;). Agreed re: the bringing back into work - maybe I'm not explaining it well enough to people. She's been ridden maybe 6-7 times since December so there's no stupid behaviour to contend with, it's just fitness which shouldn't take that long to build up.

Ideally I need someone who is around all year to keep riding through the summer but I'm going to try our uni riding club as a stopgap - if someone will ride her until the end of the semester I've got a better chance of finding a long-term solution then. It's a bit awkward as I teach some of them, so having them share my horse won't be appropriate which I'll need to explain :frown3:.
 
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