Getting a sharer - do I or dont I???

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MrsMagoo

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I have debating over whether or not to get a sharer for my girly just so I can keep her works levels up like she needs - expescially as Im really busy at work and will be moving house soon....

Soo I have just had somone call up about her and are really interested, but now it's actually happening I'm having doubts over whether I want it or not
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Has anyone else ever had a successful sharer/share and should I do it???
 
Draw up an agreement with a clause that says you can end the share at any time. I agree with furryears, it can work brilliantly, but on the other hand...
 
as long as you keep the lines and make it clear what they can and cannot do, give instructions and if they argue or bend/break agreement, be hard on them, you dont want to be going
"oh i was going to ride her today"
sharer:"well, i already have."
you:"but i ride on weekends"
sharer: "i thought you might not want to" (yes people do sometimes think they can tell exactly what you want!! :P)
 
I've got my eye out for something to share at the moment (altough it's v unlikely being at uni without transport in the centre on Bristol!) But anyway...I would understand completely if the owner was strict with what I could/couldn't do, so just be straight with them...after all, it is your horse! Good luck!!
 
I've had a sharer for Millie for the past 2 years and it's been great, she's getting her own horse in the next couple of weeks, so it's going to be hard for me to re-adjust to doing everything by myself again. I think if you find the right person it will work out fine!!
 
I have been a sharer 3 times before I got my horse because I couldn't commit to full time horse ownership due to work demands. The first horse was brilliant because his owners just wanted me to exercise him and I didn't have to pay anything.

The second was a disaster because the owner seemed to have a bad case of OCD and I just couldn't keep up with all the rules she imposed e.g. after riding, brushing any dirt/hairs off numnah using so many brushstrokes in a certain direction and then swapping direction and doing exactly the same amount of brushstrokes again! Also, we' d agreed on how many days/which days I was going to ride but she kept hiding the tack so that I couldn't ride when I got to the yard!

The third share was great again. The owner and I got on really well and we both had lessons with the same instructor every two weeks and we both had the same riding style. I can honestly say that I never had any problems and I don't think the owner did or I'm sure she would have said something as we had such a good relationship.

I am in the same boat as you now though as I would like a sharer but I am scared that it won't work out.
 
ha, well i dont think I'm that bad lol but hoping whoever I get will treat her with the same standards I do
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When you were a sharer, how much riding did you do and what would you say the normal cost would be??
 
I'm in the process of getting a sharer for B. So I know what your going through! But I think I might have found the perfect people! (a mother and daughter combo) I'm def going to write up an agreement and going to be up at the same time as them until I feel confident about letting them have sole care of my boy on there days!

Oh! And a trial period. That way if they want out, they can get out without notice. I'm going for a three month trial period, I think.
 
Quote -" ha, well i dont think I'm that bad". Don't worry, I don't think you could ever be that bad - lol! You are quite right to expect a sharer to treat your horse with the same standard of care and respect as you do yourself but I'm sure you don't have a series of strange and exacting routines for your potential sharer to follow...........do you - LOL!

I used to ride 3 times a week in my last share experience (which lasted 6 years so you can tell it was a success) and I paid about 3/7 of the livery costs. I didn't pay for insurance but I did pay for half the shoeing and dentistry costs. Luckily, we didn't have any vet's bills during the share time but I would have offered to have contributed to them. I also used to buy odd bits of grooming kit and occasional bales of Readigrass etc. but I did this of my own accord.

We never had a written agreement and were lucky things worked so well for us both. If I get a someone to share Oliver I will make sure that I get a written agreement though.
 
I have been sharing a horse for the past nine months or so and it's the best thing I have ever done. There are a lot of good horse people out there who dont have the money or the time to dedicate to a horse of their own.
I pay £45 a week but I can basically ride whenever I want to as the owner is pretty busy, it's almost like she is mine. She is kept on part livery but I always make sure that I finish her off properly, brushed off, correct rugs, bed tidy etc. I also make sure that her tack is cleaned.
It's a really good idea to get to know the person first to see if you will get on, I had a couple of months having lessons on the mare so that both parties could decide if it was the right thing to do. We also drew up a contract stating who was expected to do what. The first period waas for three months and after that it is open ended with both parties having to give one months notice if we want to end it.
 
i have shared many horses, and usually got on with owners! my advice is to draw up an agreement, one owner i loaned from used an agreement from the pony club website, adapted slightly, but it was very clear and well put as to what i could and couldnt do, and as to the permission i had to have to do certain things, etc take him anywhere in a box...
 
I share a horse. We have signed an agreement based on the BHS website one for loaning etc. I would never dream of riding on a day we hadn't agreed!

I pay half the livery, feed, shoes, wormer etc. The owner pays insurance and vets bills. I have my own riders insurance as well. The horse's owner is absolutely lovely and it has worked really well.
 
Instead of having a sharer - why not just find someone who is just looking for a riding opportunity - but who will also be happy to help with a few chores.

I would never have a sharer - but have had people ride Amy when time was lacking - just as I do myself now on my friends horses.
 
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