Green on Green?

[starbucker]

How on earth do I find these people????

Shy bairns get nowt, no harm in putting yourself out there on local fb horsey groups, just be upfront about your experience you never know, "reliable adult, keen to learn" etc If not just make sure you try the horse, watch them be rode first, and take someone more experienced with you ( who is willing to be guinea pig even better) for a second opinion. You don't have to get on any horse just to be polite, no matter how far you drove, if it looks like it will be too much for you or something feels off. I got bronced off the back off a "safe as houses cob" when I was looking before I even got my other stirrup in! and don't forget, underhorse yourself you're sure to still have loads of fun, over horse you will spend the whole time paying someone else to ride and worst case damage your confidence, you can always step up later Best of luck, trust your gut ask loads of questions and whatever you do don't buy a pity case you deserve a sound one!

 

[Titchy Pony]

It would never occur to me to advise that! I think its bad advice tbh. As you say who is going to want a novice dealing with their precious horse on their own. And a new owner needs to be able to find their own way with their new horse.
The best thing is to find a sensible, confidence giver that knows its job as your first horse, work out a routine that suits you both and let the horse look after you.
Our first horse was a R&D cob, who was retiring from a commercial driving job, with a bit of p/t RS work in winter. That worked out very well, he was kept on a local farm, where he was companion to the farmer's daughter's pony, on a DIY arrangement and we learned as we went along, having spent 7 yrs at RS before buying him.

I think a share is a good idea, if you can find the right one. I didn't officially share before buying (I was a teenager at the time) but I hung around at the RS and separately helped a retired instructor with her ponies in exchange for rides. I have the impression that it is harder to just hang around and help out at riding schools in the UK these days, also in my experience very different to RS in France. The RS I tried or worked at in the UK had the horses standing ready tacked up for you and then whisk them away at the end of the lesson for staff to untack. That's pretty unheard of in France where everyone learns to groom and tack up from day one. The galop exams include a care component and you can't compete without at least a galop 2, so most RS riders who stay long enough will take them.
I wouldn't leave a novice unsupervised with my horses (though come to think of it, my dad does chuck them hay and water for me every so often and he wouldn't even qualify as a novice) but if I had an ageing horse that slowing down and a younger horse that I ride regularly, I would enjoy the company of someone else and supervise until I judged they were ready to go it alone. It is something I might do in a couple of years when my youngsters are backed, though a certain amount of stickability is required to ride Little Madam.

 

[toooldtofalloff]

If you are a novice and still learning I'm not sure I'd advise ownership until you are much further down the line ... however, here goes. I'd say first and foremost: Don't be in a rush. Ownership is a massive commitment both time-wise and financially. Work out the true cost (bear in mind that something well-schooled and finished suitable for a novice rider will cost much, much more than a youngster or something which is only ready to bring on. You might think you only want a quiet hack which is well-behaved etc etc... but ultimately thats exactly what everyone else wants!) and have all your ducks in a row with regards to where you are going to keep your horse and how all the logistics of care will work for you. Do your research on trustworthy dealers, through knowledgable people you trust and understand your requirements and level of experience. Consider part loaning/ sharing. All of this background knowledge takes time as well as building your confidence in the saddle. Ride as many different types of horses in lots of different situations as you can. Adverts for horses can be a minefield of misinformation... always take someone knowledgable with you when you're ready to view and try.

 

[HelenMac]

If you are a novice and still learning I'm not sure I'd advise ownership until you are much further down the line ... however, here goes. I'd say first and foremost: Don't be in a rush. Ownership is a massive commitment both time-wise and financially. Work out the true cost (bear in mind that something well-schooled and finished suitable for a novice rider will cost much, much more than a youngster or something which is only ready to bring on. You might think you only want a quiet hack which is well-behaved etc etc... but ultimately thats exactly what everyone else wants!) and have all your ducks in a row with regards to where you are going to keep your horse and how all the logistics of care will work for you. Do your research on trustworthy dealers, through knowledgable people you trust and understand your requirements and level of experience. Consider part loaning/ sharing. All of this background knowledge takes time as well as building your confidence in the saddle. Ride as many different types of horses in lots of different situations as you can. Adverts for horses can be a minefield of misinformation... always take someone knowledgable with you when you're ready to view and try.

Yes I agree it all takes time. In early May my work situation gives me way more time available for horses too so I’m doing as much learning as possible and all my research just as you suggest. This plan has been in the planning and preparation stages for over a year now.
I keep seeing ads for horses that might suit me but it’s all a big step

 

[HelenMac]

Shy bairns get nowt, no harm in putting yourself out there on local fb horsey groups, just be upfront about your experience you never know, "reliable adult, keen to learn" etc If not just make sure you try the horse, watch them be rode first, and take someone more experienced with you ( who is willing to be guinea pig even better) for a second opinion. You don't have to get on any horse just to be polite, no matter how far you drove, if it looks like it will be too much for you or something feels off. I got bronced off the back off a "safe as houses cob" when I was looking before I even got my other stirrup in! and don't forget, underhorse yourself you're sure to still have loads of fun, over horse you will spend the whole time paying someone else to ride and worst case damage your confidence, you can always step up later Best of luck, trust your gut ask loads of questions and whatever you do don't buy a pity case you deserve a sound one!

“Shy bairns get nowt”
Yes I guess that’s the truth! I’ve never been great at putting myself out there

 

[Red-1]

I would advertise an honest advert. I just did for my Rigsby, although only on my and my BF's page. The sharer doesn't pay or do jobs other than groom, tack up, untack and groom again. They only ride out with me.

I was wondering at the time who'd want to drive out rurally to ride an elderly cob for up to an hour max.

Turns out he now has a few riders! LOL.

If I'd seen an advert from you... confident, mature, able to give some weekday time, novice but learning, etc, I would have replied. Money would have been a double bonus!



Rigs with his new rider. She'd not ridden for over 20 years. They are having a great time, mainly at walk with the occasional short trot. It gets Rigs out and is good for H to sometimes have company.

 

[HelenMac]

I would advertise an honest advert. I just did for my Rigsby, although only on my and my BF's page. The sharer doesn't pay or do jobs other than groom, tack up, untack and groom again. They only ride out with me.

I was wondering at the time who'd want to drive out rurally to ride an elderly cob for up to an hour max.

Turns out he now has a few riders! LOL.

If I'd seen an advert from you... confident, mature, able to give some weekday time, novice but learning, etc, I would have replied. Money would have been a double bonus!

View attachment 173707

Rigs with his new rider. She'd not ridden for over 20 years. They are having a great time, mainly at walk with the occasional short trot. It gets Rigs out and is good for H to sometimes have company.

Wow that’s amazing. Rigsby looks gorgeous. You are the owner I need to meet!
An honest ad is definitely on the cards. Years ago I went to a new stable with my friend, hopped on a horse in the school for a trial before we were going to be allowed to hack out. “He’s a young horse,” they said. Well how blinkin stupid of all of us. Short story - I got hurt and didn’t ride for nearly 25 years. I’d told them my riding experience though!