Following on from the post below about riding other peoples horses

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Hovis_and_SidsMum

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Do you like other people riding your horse?
I let anyone who I think is capable ride Hovis as he is a good lad. If you don't upset him by hauling him in the mouth or kicking him he's well behaved.
As you start to ask more of him then you see how strong he is!
I have found a grudging respect has come from fellow liveries who have older ready made horses when hey have had a go on the Destroyer. Partly because from the ground he never looks like he's pulling or being a tit but boy when you get on him you can feel it!
I also like my instructors or better riders than me (not hard!)to get on him as i think its good for him to be ridden by good riders rather than just his numpty mother.
how do you all feel about other riders on your horse?
 
I have 16 yr old lad ride my mare for me occasionally and more often during school holidays. he is a better rider than me, with a more stable lower leg position and sits up straighter!
This can only do her good!
It also gives me a day off safe in the knowledge she is being seen to and excercised.

Other livery owners (2) have also ridden her and as mentioned it gives a grudging respect as she is not an easy ride (others dont want to try!)

I worried at first she wouldn't know who her mummy is but I am happy and secure in our relationship now
grin.gif
 
I would be happy for an instructor to ride mine or anyone who was trying to school him or improve him but I'm not sure whether I'd let anyone else ride him. It would depend on why they wanted to.

My lad is a gentle giant. He was previously a hunt horse and was ridden by a lot of people both good and bad and was left with a lot of problems. I feel very protective towards him and feel that now he owes nothing to anyone and so I would definately hesitate. If it was a friend who just needed a hack to get their confidence back then probably but I would not be happy for anyone to go for a 'blast' on him.

Sadly there are people that look on other peoples horses as a way to ride without any responsibility and will ride without any care towards the horse.

If the riding was for the horses benefit - to teach him or help him then yes but otherwise I don't think so. I'm not a great rider by the way so it's not that I think other people would ruin him or could not do as well as me, maybe I would worry that my horse would realise how truly awful I was!!

I feel really bad saying that because people have been very kind to me in the past and let me ride and have lessons on theirs.
 
Only people that I think are on a level with me or better riders. D needs very consistent riding or she lapses into being a mooching happy hack. She's perfectly safe for a novice but having spent months getting her to track up and work in an outline I don't want all that undone.
 
Unless my instructor gets on Mick, nobody else rides him now, which is fine with me as he can take the 'mick'.. he has the right name.

At the old yard, I have let a few people ride him in the past as a ride/favour to them when their horse has been ill/lame etc., but they tend to come back with a diagnosis on how my horse goes and what his weaknesses are.. which bugs me as I have owned him 5 years and know what he does wrong - I only offered them a ride as he can take the extra work.
 
My lad's a pretty good lad but i'm funny about others riding my horses. Not because i think they won't do a good job, i'm sure most people are better than me, but because he's a young, greenish horse and i know what problems i have and i know what problems he has and i just know where we stand. The only other person who occasionally rides him for me is the chap who owns the yard and he is a proper horseman who i have the utmost respect for and i know when he gets on my lad he teaches him and helps him whereas i can't always do that.

When my mare was in work it was a case of no-one else apart from me and my instructor. She was unreliable and had issues and i'd have never risked anyone elses health on her.
 
Personally I think it is good for them to be able to accept all types of riders (Chancer has to as he is ridden by judges in the ring and some are not as good as others). I have my instructors ride them, but also let more or less anyone who does not hang onto the mouth or is very nervous onboard.

Whilst they are very good, they are only just 5 so need someone who can give them confidence if needed, hence no nervous novices. That said, Chancer is very good with novice riders - he lets my 9 year old niece trot round on him in the school and really looks after her, ditto Farra and Ella loves to have a ride on her.

Farra is taking on Cairo's mantle - the teens on the yard love to hack her out, even though one is tiny and looks like a pea on a pod. She loves hacking and given the choice would rather do a hack than anything (apart from jumping).

Unlike the Destroyer, Farra is ridden just in a head piece and the mildest bit - she is never strong (yet). However schooling is hard work as she is a very big girl and needs a lot of effort to keep her together and sort of balanced.

Chancer - folks like riding him but are soon aware that whilst he is very good, he is no plod and can on occasion put a buck in and give a spook - he is not really scared, just seeing what he can get away with.

The only horse I had that I was wary of letting people on was Fleur - and that was for their own safety as she was one very quirky lady and required to be ridden just so or she would explode.
 
within reason I am happy for anyone to have a go on my pone, most people like him. This came inparticularly useful when I was off games recently and he needed keeping fit, he has a lovely time!

I have had people much more novice than me on him and he behaves beautifully and it is nice to see them smile and enjoy themselves on him. Couldn't sell him too a novice as he would start to get cheeky but occasionally thats fine.

BUT I am picky about who jumps him. He has always had a stop and this is much better but he feels strong and if people forget to kick he will stop. Which does neither him or them any good.
 
Only a handful of people have ridden my boy since I've had him as he's very quirky and has a very complexed character even though he's as good as gold for me (most of the time!)
I would only let people who's riding I respected ride him.
My girl on the other hand, takes complete novices out and is good but will take the mick when she gets used to their riding and she knows what she can get away with!
Although I still wouldn't let just anyone ride her, I have to know that they understand the basic respect and understanding involved.
 
Fudge, I'm happy to have anyone from a confident novice upwards hack him out, but only my RI and myself school him. He does spook and will try his luck with people.

Lady, only one teenager rides her as she is very, very fizzy and not suitable for for most people.
 
As long as they'll be safe, anyone can ride my boy. He's taken a pensioner hunting (albeit a very capable one), virtually everyone on the yard has hacked him out. Other than the pensioner, who didn't have much choice in the matter, I'm the only one who's jumped him - other people have watched him and chosen not to!
 
I had a lady ride out on my boy as a possible sharer. He kept stopping with her.

I don't think he felt confident, or was taking the p*ss.

She did odd things, like not straighten numnah when pulling up girth and pushing his browband up tight under his ears.

I don't mind people riding him as long as I am there. Most people are better than me anyway.

Jane
 
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