Found out my share horse has another sharer?!?

[lmunro]

Just want to ask for some opinions..

Ive been sharing a beautiful, 12y/o warmblood mare for 3 weeks however I had the feeling she was being ridden by someone else and today I was told she has a Second sharer.
The mare knows her way around the school but I’m continuing her learning as she is green in some areas and I know I can’t expect instant progress but whenever I first get on it feels as if I’m back to square one. Could this be because the riders aren’t consistent..

also should I mention anything to the owner?? She hasn’t said anything about someone else riding her and I found out through someone else on the yard(not in a malicious way)
Thanksssss

 

[Pearlsasinger]

The owner can have whoever she likes ride her horse but courtesy dictates that she should have told you that you aren't the only sharer.

 

[lmunro]

The owner can have whoever she likes ride her horse but courtesy dictates that she should have told you that you aren't the only sharer.

I guess what I am asking is for some advice as to whether or not it will affect me trying to school the horse, is it worth it if there’s 2 riders doing different things. I go up every 2 days and I assume she is going the days I am not so will the consistency matter?

 

[splashgirl45]

its not ideal to have 2 different sets of instructions for the horse to follow but this is why many people buy their own or go for a full loan then you can be the only rider.. why not just hack and enjoy the countryside as you will continually be correcting her to your way of doing things (which may be different to the other sharer and the owner and the horse will be very confused and IMO its not fair on her...if schooling is your thhing maybe try and find a full loan but be aware that you have to pay for everything, feed,bedding shoeing,livery etc..

 

[MissTyc]

It's kinda the definition of the word "share" ... But I tend to find that as long as a rider is consistent, then horses learn how to go for them. Horses will go very differently for different riders. I'd only be concerned if one of the riders was using atypical aids and confusing things, but after only 3 weeks of sharing the horse is still getting used to you, too.

Is the owner riding as well?

 

[lmunro]

It's kinda the definition of the word "share" ... But I tend to find that as long as a rider is consistent, then horses learn how to go for them. Horses will go very differently for different riders. I'd only be concerned if one of the riders was using atypical aids and confusing things, but after only 3 weeks of sharing the horse is still getting used to you, too.

Is the owner riding as well?

I honestly couldn’t tell you... from what I’ve seen the owner has a run about the school but doesn’t jump. I’m definitely being clear and consistent but sometimes I do feel as if the mare gets confused as I’m not pulling on her mouth to get her on the bit and I’ve worked quite hard with her and her backend but it’s more just the way she feels under me. It honestly feels as if someone’s just been getting on and going round in circles and letting her get away with whatever she wants...

sorry I know this is like a rant but I’ve been frustrated as I was doubting my capabilities to bring her on

 

[ycbm]

I had to stop a friend riding my young cob once or twice a week. Every time I rode after her, he was completely detuned to the aids I was teaching him. So yes, the second rider could be affecting your schooling of the horse.
.

 

[Dexter]

One of mine is ridden by me, a sharer, the sharer's kids and a pro, and anyone else who ever wants to ride. There's no issue at all. He does go better for the pro rider, but that's to be expected. Horses aren't stupid. They can be ridden by more than one person with no issues

 

[splashgirl45]

One of mine is ridden by me, a sharer, the sharer's kids and a pro, and anyone else who ever wants to ride. There's no issue at all. He does go better for the pro rider, but that's to be expected. Horses aren't stupid. They can be ridden by more than one person with no issues

thats very true if people are just hacking and having fun but the OP is talking about schooling the horse and if the horse is being told different things by 3 riders she will get confused . if this is to continue the 3 riders need to get together and agree a method of training so the horse has a chance of doing the right thing..

 

[Buster2020]

It a actually more common than you think I used to share a horse and there was another girl who shared as well and the owner ridden the horse to. Op no offense but it sounds to me that you only want a a relationship with a horse. The only way of achieving this is full loan a horse or buy your own horse.

 

[ester]

I think it depends why you took on the share, if it was with the specific aim of improving the horse to your way of going then yes this set up might not be suitable. Did the owner ask you to do that with the horse?

 

[Firefly9410]

You might do better sharing with someone who only ever hacks.

 

[Bernster]

Owners choice but would have been a courtesy to tell you. I do think multiple riders can impact a horse, good and bad. Horses should be capable of being ridden by different riders but it could def be an issue if their riding is inconsistent and confusing the horse. I’d chat to the owner and discuss what you’re experiencing. She/he may not realise.

 

[Goldenstar]

Multiple riders can impact horses but it does depend on the riders my horse is ridden by four people he’s eight and still learning a lot but we are having no issues I speak to everyone and keep them in the loop .
its usually just saying keep his poll up .
my horse has four experienced but different rider but one person with the overview and whose in charge of progress .
It won’t harm the horse you share but it will slow progress It’s really up to you to decide if it frustrates you so much you need to move on .
I would speak to owner explain what you have been feeling when you ride .

 

[MissTyc]

I honestly couldn’t tell you... from what I’ve seen the owner has a run about the school but doesn’t jump. I’m definitely being clear and consistent but sometimes I do feel as if the mare gets confused as I’m not pulling on her mouth to get her on the bit and I’ve worked quite hard with her and her backend but it’s more just the way she feels under me. It honestly feels as if someone’s just been getting on and going round in circles and letting her get away with whatever she wants...

sorry I know this is like a rant but I’ve been frustrated as I was doubting my capabilities to bring her on

I see. I can understand that frustration as I tend to say a horse is either being schooled or unschooled. Sounds like a bit of unschooling is happening in this situation. Nonetheless, I maintain that this is the definition of "sharing". Perhaps this particular set-up isn't best suited to you. Or, if you really like the horse, it could be worth getting to know the other rider and seeing if you can be more of a team?

 

[Ambers Echo]

sorry I know this is like a rant but I’ve been frustrated as I was doubting my capabilities to bring her on

You need to be clear with the owner what the share agreement is. Most owners aren't expecting sharers to 'bring on' their horses. They pay people for that! So maybe that is something you want to do for your own progression/satisfaction/whatever.

When I had a sharer for Deedee, I was also still riding her as was my daughter. The sharer was a lovely rider - far better than either of us - but she was horseless because of injury to her eventer so wanted to share for a time. If she had started saying our riding was interfering with her schooling she may well have been right but it wasn't her horse and we weren't asking her to school. So that arrangement just would not have worked and we would have found a different sharer. You are not in charge of this horse's education. That's not your role. Unless of course the owner has asked you to do that but that would be very unusual. Just have a conversartion but make sure you are polite/constriuctive and not ranty first because if you irritate the owner she may just decide to do without you.

 

[abbijay]

I've been a sharer in the past and had sharers for mine and I think you probably need to take a step back and think about this.
If this is your first share I have no doubt this is exciting (whether you have full loaned/owned before or are fresh out of riding school). Shares are not necessarily easy and will require an element of compromise from all involved - the clue is in the name.
I do not think you can allow it to be an issue for you if there is another sharer as well as the owner riding, assuming they have told you that the horse is being ridden on other days it does not affect your arrangement who that rider is.
As others have said if you have been tasked with improving her schooling that is very different to you choosing to work on it. I did at one point have 2 sharers on very different arrangements (I had young kids, a busy job, a husband doing his MSc on top of his busy job and being an amateur athlete and I owned and competed my horse). Sharer 1 had a paid for arrangement giving her 2 days a week that were flexible to suit her plans (including a weekend day if she wanted), sharer 2 didn't contribute any money but rode and mucked out every Thursday and agreed to do all additional muck outs if I went away (not regularly but maybe a weekend every 3 months and 1 week a year). They were different styles of riders and both different to me but they were both sufficiently capable and genuinely cared for my horse. That was all that mattered to me.
I had other sharers at different points who were infinitely more capable riders than me and I can tell you now, if any of them had told me they didn't like how my horse was ridden by me or someone else I would have sent them packing faster than my horse when the hunt come past! You haven't even seen the other person ride so it could be that they are more experienced than you and the mare is merely trying it on with you at the start of every session, perhaps they notice when you have ridden that you're putting their schooling backwards? (I'm not saying this IS the case, just that it could be and when it comes to sharing you really need to be eyes open to multiple possibilities.)
With sharing you have to learn to accept certain things but also know where your "line" is. For me as an owner it drives me nuts when people fasten reins into throatlashes when they're put away (my reins are XL and drag on the floor if stored this way) but it won't affect the horse's welfare so I choose to ignore it but I will not tolerate bits and girths being left dirty so people only get 2 chances with those things! Beds are not necessarily done to my preferred way but if they are clean and safe I don't bother. IF I need a sharer to help keep my horse fit, entertained and give me a chance at down time then I wouldn't expect them to start complaining how the horse was being ridden by someone else.

 

[WandaMare]

If I were taking on a share agreement I would expect the owner to mention everything about the horse's management and exercise just so I could understand where I fitted in to its routine. I would certainly be completely up front about other riders if I it was my horse, it seems a bit odd not to mention someone else is involved. That way, people could decide from the outset whether the arrangement was suitable for them or not, and avoid problems like this flaring up.

If you are disappointed OP, which it sounds as though you are, I think a chat with the owner might help you, then you can have a good think about whether the arrangement is right for you. I suppose there is a small risk that the owner might get iffy because you said something but it if was me I would prefer to take that risk and sort things out so that I felt comfortable with the arrangement going forwards.

 

[JulesRules]

Did you manage to speak to the owner?