Having someone compete your horse?

I_A_P

I_A_P

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Just a pondering really. I have started to consider whether I would look for someone to compete my boy, just as at the moment I do not have any motivation to do so myself and hate him not doing anything - I know he doesnt care but I do, just feel he is being wasted and he is not the type you can just leave and then pick up.

I would want to keep him at home really and would be happy to ride him during the week and do all normal stable duties but wondered if there would be anyone interested in actually competing (and obviously riding a bit in between as well)

I am taking Show jumping /dressage/eventing. Would you expect to have to pay someone for this or do ou think you would be able to find someone who would just like to do it?

Its only very early stages really as I am thinking what I want to do about various things and is one of a few things I want to to discuss with my trainer when I next go.

Just general thoughts please?
 
I think you'd find someone to do it for you without paying, but for someone to be at a stage to improve your horse, you'd probably need to pay! Where on the country are you?
 
I'm currently doing something similar, on a very local scale, with my 14.2 Section D.

I have a lady who is going to be taking her to local shows and doing a bit of low level competition with her. I'm still looking after her and riding her. She is doing this unpaid just as a bit of free riding and fun.

There are lots of people out there looking for a ride, as long as you see them riding your horse and are happy with how they ride them I would have thought you could find someone who would ride for you for free. Are you hoping to get a specific result from letting someone else compete? Mine is purely for enjoyment and to give some experience to my mare.
 
Hi KatB - east anglia.

IF it was something I would do I would be very wary of the person and probably not really want them to vastly improve him, just keep him ticking over at the level I have been until either I get my motivation back or whatever. I guess a possibility would be someone who perhaps has an injured horse but still wants to be out and about doing something.

As I say it is a big IF at the moment as not sure 100% how I feel about it. I just cant seem to get motivated anymore to compete at all, I wish I did!
 
Depending on what he's like, maybe a young rider looking to get out there more, or someone who has a 'project'?

I know that when I had a project and wasn't competing for a while I really did miss it, so would of loved something to compete at the weekend with a few rides in between. This way I can concentrate on my project as well.
Of course I could keep this us when my own horse was out competing as if I was going to compete for someone it would be on the same discipline as my horse, so it wouldn't be a problem doing both.

As above, where abouts are you?:)
 
Just seen your new post, someone with a project could be the same, as they don't need to carry on competing if you don't want them too as they'll have they're project :)
 
If you were closer to me I'd be jumping at the chance - I currently share a lovely ISH and I compete at Prelim dressage with him but I'd love the chance to compete another horse at weekends, jumping and eventing in particular as that is something my share is a little too old for now (and gets way too excited by jumping to be able to do both dressage properly and jumping properly).

I'm sure there will be plenty of people out there like me, who might already have 1 horse to ride but want to try another discipline or simply want more 'rides'.

Have a look at this section on equine adverts - http://www.equineadverts.co.uk/-1/17_Riders/

There are a mix of people on there, from semi-professionals to amateurs like me all looking for horses and offering themselves as 'rider available'.

If you advertised on equine ads, preloved and horsemart I'm sure you'd get some responses. Equally going out to local shows and chatting to some of th riders might get you somewhere, someone might know someone else looking for a ride, or someone at the show themselves might be interested.

Or alternatively move to Solihull and I'll be there in a flash ;)
 
Thanks for your replies, sounds as if it could be a possibility. If it is something I wanted to take further I would ask around some local people and also my instructor to see if they know of anyone.

He is a nice boy and has competed to PN (albeit not recently), he's a smart boy but would need someone pretty competant as if you give him an inch (flatwork wise) he will make life hard work for you. However he iss coming on a lot at the moment in that respect. Hes a good honest jumper as well. At the moment I feel I am not aiming for anything which means I just feel like everything I do schooling wise is a bit wishy washy!
 
I would only pay someone to compete my horse if they were a professional!

I'm sure you'd find someone (an ameatur) easily to do that, without having to pay, it's exactly the thing I'm looking to do once my boy is sold!
 
IAP this year I took the decision to hand my boy to a pro I've taken him from intro to 1* however due to my hectic career I do nights/days etc and I struggled to keep my eye in. I think I have taken him as far as I can with my skill and time. I have now passed the ride to a pro and we are working together to progress my horses career. By working together I feel still part of the team.
 
Thanks. I bought him as a 5 turning 6 year old who had done nothing to geting to Pre Novice, then with one thing another we just havent done much apart from some unaffiliated stuff and some BSJA since.

I guess I need to get to the route of why I am not motivated.

So if you think it shoud be easy enough to find an experienced amateur would you expect them to pay entry fees or would you pay? I have a lorry and would want to be involved so could do the transport side of things anyway.
 
Having just lost my horse i would jump at this chance until i got something else especially if it were at no cost to me, if i could turn up and school the horse and be taken to competitions i would jump at the chance until I managed to find my own one again.
 
I have to say I have found it extremely satisfactory. I have a lovely ex racing tb who now has a very sympathetic amateur rider who is competing him affiliated BE and BS unaffiliated dressage. I love being an owner but am not interested in competing, I only hunt. She is but curently can't afford a horse so good for all of us including the horse who has really come on. I pay all costs but we go halves on the entries.
 
We did something similar with our young mare. A neighbour's 17yo daughter had sold her home produced event pony, to a younger rider but didn't want to buy anything to replace him as she planned to go to university. She rode our mare at home & in competitions. I think she usually paid entries but we provided transport. It worked very well for both of us.
 
i'm really lucky, my 14.2 welsh d was bought as a companion and potter about for me, but she is proving to be so talented i cant let her go to waste! i am ok to hack out on her, but too heavy really to do any serious competing so two of my friends (who are far better riders than me anyway) have both near enough begged me to ride and compete her so i'm on cloud nine! :D
 
with regards to entry fees, i will be paying them. As i am the owner and they are doing me a huge favour, it is the least i can do!
 
Yep I think you will find someone no problem.. Always riders on Equineadvert.co.uk asking for that type of thing.

I sort of wanted to do that with one I have now - but due to the owners circ's need to take the horse on loan.

I will prob ride and compete a friends horse for her over the summer also as good for the horse and I get another horse to compete ;-)

She hasn't done any thing so great for the owner too as I'm quite experienced and should she go on to sell will have added to her value

Boom!
 
Probably depends on what you are looking for - are they just going to ride at the competition or ride at home and do some schooling as well.

Years ago I had someone occasionally jump my then horse for me but they just got on him the show and jumped him, didn't do anything else. I don't think I paid them but they were someone I knew and they would be at the show with their horses anyway.
 
I have two different people both professional compete my horse. The dressage rider is taking him out and about for me and and getting great results first time out 1st and 2nd. the show jumper has got him up to FoxHunter And hoping to get him further this year. Both riders are so much better than I will ever be and I get a real buzz at watching him out at competions. I pay all bills, petrol, there charges per ride and entry fees
 
Once we had started the arrangement I was asked if she could ride more regularly and have some lessons etc. I paid for the regular lessons but she paid for any clinics etc on top of that. We now are in a different situation as I broke my leg autumn hunting and thank goodness she has been able to ride and school him including hacking, regular clinics and hunting and he is ready for the coming BE season. I have picked up all costs for shoes, full livery and hunting, bar cap but have not paid for lessons etc over the winter. I am really lucky to have this arrangement but she considers herself to be equally lucky and is enjoying it.
 
Thanks everyone for the reply, I guess it gives me a good idea that there is a market for that type f arrangement. I guess finding the right person and who would fit with me and my boy is the most important and then I guess could negotiate on things such as entries depending on the circumstances. I do get the feeling I would rather like being the owner/ groom hehe
 
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