Have gone and got a sharer what ground rules should I set?

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Quartz

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I've mentioned before that I was thinking of a sharer for my horse, well I've gone and done it and offered the use of my horse to one of the girls at the stables. I will ride him the days my kids are at school and she can use him for her lessons and hacking the other 3 days of the week and during holidays (for free). She is a lovely young girl, I know her family my choice. Have checked my insurance etc etc. However, contracts or signing you are not liable for anything doesn't seem to be done here. But I do want to set ground rules, for example I only spoke to her and the YO on Monday, setting up a trial run, the YO has been off sick since so I didn't think anything would happen this week. I turned up today to ride at my allocated time (which I had organised yesterday with stand in YO) and was told he had already been ridden in the morning. I rode him anyway as it was the pm.. I am happy she rode him and it all went well but I do think we need to have some communication !!! Also with a sharer what happens with tack? Am keen to ask YO if she can borrow one of the school saddles, don't want to sound picky but she is a lot shorter than me and turns the stirrup straps round and then the stirrups rub my very nice saddle. Also do you think I would be out of order to ask her favours every now and then, like could you brush him for me today or muck him out etc. Not all the time as I love to do it myself but you know once in a while. Hope this wasn't to long winded!!
 
It'd be perfectly reasonable to ask for a few chores to be done, particularly if no money's changing hands. I share a horse and 'my' owner texts or emails me the week before and suggests days for the next week, tho I always do Tuesdays just to keep some routine going. We negotiate over the others! I have also got my own leathers and irons as owner is much taller than me and I'd have to loop the leathers up, which I hate. Fortunately I already had mine but I would have bought some if I didn't. Why not suggest that as easier for her - and would incidentally benefit you!
 
Good idea about the stirrups, think I may have a shorter pair in my garage. Also need to buy myself new stirrup irons so could let her use the old ones. Although will still rub the saddle though!!
 
Oh, I see what you mean. Blimey, that is short! Not sure what you can do about that other than treat the flaps with tlc!
 
Burnttoast said:
It'd be perfectly reasonable to ask for a few chores to be done, particularly if no money's changing hands. I share a horse and 'my' owner texts or emails me the week before and suggests days for the next week, tho I always do Tuesdays just to keep some routine going. We negotiate over the others! I have also got my own leathers and irons as owner is much taller than me and I'd have to loop the leathers up, which I hate. Fortunately I already had mine but I would have bought some if I didn't. Why not suggest that as easier for her - and would incidentally benefit you!
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What you have is exactly what i am currently looking for, i need a bit of flexibility and wondering if i will find that?

With the share i have just left i was paying a very small amount but had quite a free rein so was lucky but i did do some chores when i was up there. As he is field kept i poo picked the fields and mucked out the barn, if he was stabled kept i would happily of mucked out. Grooming etc is all part of it as far as i'm concerned, esp if you have fond someone that loves being with your horse as well and not just there to ride and go as so many owners seem to do now.
 
I think even though they don't usually do contracts as such there, it would do no harm to have a short agreement written up. You can say that that is what you are used to over here, just to make things clear. You mustn't forget that it is supposed to be a 'mutually beneficial' agreement, so don't end up feeling put upon in any way (including having your tack ruined!)
 
I sort of share (not an official share, and only one day a week) the pony in my sig. Her owner is a friend of the family, who is a bit too big (not to heavy, but looks rediculous as she is fairly tall) for her, and doesnt have as much time to be able to fuss over her and spoil her as much as she would like as she also has another attention demanding cob (hes a bit of a pickle!) and lots of other pets (and a boyfriend) she has to look after!
In return for her letting me ride her pony i...:
1. Poo pick the field!
2. Make sure tack is clean
3. Contribute towards /buy any supliments she needs
4. Contribute any money i can when a vets bill comes in (she is prone to laminitis and we always get the vet out to be safe)
5. Buy any new bits or tack that we agree i need to be able to ride her as kindly and safely as possible.
6. Buy pink rugs and matching boots for her ;) not forgetting pink fluffy sparkly leadropes :D
7. I bought my own stirrup leathers when her old ones had stretched and didnt look very safe (they were about 12 years old :o ) and i bought new bent leg irons as she had the ones with the elasic that came off when you fall off- but they were also old and were starting to bend :eek:
8. Do any other chores i can find before she asks me to do them.
9. And im 'mummy' on a sunday so i hay(when they need it), feed and water them.
She has only ever asked me to poo pick the feild- i do the rest because i want to, but if she asked me to do more i would be happy too! So i dont think its unreasonable to ask her to do chores.
With the saddle i would deffinately say she should have her own stirrups, and try and look into a school saddle for her- maybe tell her its because your saddle is expensive, and if something happened to it by accident you wouldnt want that burden on her shoulders. Or just explain the fact that you dont want it being rubbed so she is going to have to use a different one.
I text Bellas owner whenever i need to- and always will on a sunday to confirm its ok for me to go over, to let her know if im going to ride and to let her know what times i will be there between. I would never take a horse or pony out without confirming with the owner- especially for the first time on my own! I also have her on facebook so she can see the pictures of what we get up too (shes such a photogenic pony i feel i have to take my camera :rolleyes: )
Also, if you decide that you might like a bit of help with costs i prefer it when bellas owner asks me to buy something, or pay for hooves to be trimmed or whatever it is rather than her just saying 'can i have £30 for the ponies please?'

This is probable 10 times longer than it should be but yeah... sharing is great once youve got all the ground rules set out :)
 
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