Honestly, why is finding a sharer so difficult?

It's a difficult one!

I first tried looking for a sharer when I was in Brighton - first girl seemed quite good, took him riding up the downs, really liked him and then she didn't want to pay! Argued over sharing out the cost of shoes - she only wanted to hack and couldn't understand that she would be wearing them down!! Gave up the search ...

Moved back to Wiltshire and tried again, had a couple of girls who were great with caring for him but they were novicey riders and they they gave up due to costs in the end.

Eventually found one sharer from a sharing website, on the off chance I emailed her and she was fantastic. Experienced, great rider, loved schooling him, loved him fullstop. Only gave up when she got new horses of her own again.

That is me done with sharers now though, I don't think I would find another golden girl again! Plus I want him all for myself! It did help me through some rather skint times though.

Good luck to your friend - just keep on!
 
My issues are finding a sharer who is a adult, in the past, i've had a lot more teenager replies, but now I'd prefer an experienced adult to share my horse, one who knows about handling the bolshy horse on the ground (he's the sort who knows which buttons to press, and quite often, it's those who find his habits endearing, who get it the worst), in the right hands, he's an absolute star, well behaved and will work so hard for you.
 
I was advertising for a sharer a couple of months ago but I have given up for the time being. It's for my son's horse. Now he is working he struggles to ride more than a couple of times a week, especially as he doesn't like hacking alone since an accident (son, not horse - he is fine unless it's windy) . He is currently unable to ride because of a shoulder injury so horse is on an enforced holiday. Offering 3 days per week (inc Saturday), no chores, can borrow trailer if have suitable vehicle. I work long hours mon-fri so definitely won't be stalking a sharer! Asking £20 pw as much as a sign of commitment as anything else. The only people who answered my ads were either geographically challenged - the ad said the area but they had no idea that it was 20+ miles from where they lived, they wanted a full loan, they wanted a share but for me to move him to a yard of their choice miles away or they were looking for a ride for a novice child.
Son is planning to go travelling next year so I shall wait until then & look for a full loan. I'm hoping that will be easier.
 
HC that's all i'm asking for per week, at the end of the day, the sharer who rides the horse is wearing those horse shoes down, it also gives the Sharer a sense of responsibility and more respect for the horse.
 
Interesting to hear views.

I think livery and costs vary so share costs will also vary significantly.

I am planning to look for a sharer in the spring, when I am planning to have two horses living out in full work. Am starting to think about what might work.

I am kind of hoping that as I live in Surrey where I think demand outstrips supply of sharers, (in an area of good hacking and facilities, and have transport, lessons, jumping, competing all possible) it will be possible to find someone who views it as a fantastic opportunity.

Contributing to costs wouldn’t be my main motive, more finding someone to help keep an eye on them, make a fuss of them, and help exercise them. It isn’t possible to work in Central London and keep two horses living out DIY in 6 day a week work! Not for me and to stay married!

I wouldn’t have a novice or someone under 21. Wondering if a pair of sharers would work better for two horses. Could hack together?

Just musing at the moment. The right sharer would be fantastic, the wrong person a nightmare.

I suspect the best sharers are found through word of mouth and local contacts (farrier / physio / instructor / yard owner etc.) rather than advert.
 
One was local & interested but a bit young - reliant on lifts. Her parents wanted to pay a lot less. I just had a feeling that there would be reliability issues because of it & as OH pointed you would probably pay more than £3.33 for a beach donkey ride! Also they wanted to get an dea of what it takes to own a horse & £20pw wouldn't come near that in our area.
 
I have resorted to having a lessons at a riding school as I haven't been able to find a share that is reasonable. First share started off well until the owner got another person to share as she was struggling financially. I completely understand that these things happen but it meant on my weekend days the owner would often just turn up to ride without asking or prior warning. As the horse was on DIY I was doing all duties (horses lived in over winter which I hated as well) so often during the week I only had time for a quick schooling session. This meant I really looked forward to being able to have a decent hack etc on the weekend. Only to arrive and find that she had ridden for 2 hours an hour earlier! Being in North london I was also contributing a fair amount to costs!

I am a fairly experienced rider having ridden competitively as a teenager and having lessons for the last few years. As I am from South Africa, I have ridden many ex-racers straight off the track and can handle difficult behavior. I might be a little rusty on somethrongs though! I am 28 years old, have my own car but just do not have the funds or time at this moment to commit to my own horse- although I would love one! I am happy to make a financial contribution and or do stable duties but obviously within reason (have come across people asking £250 per month for 2 days a week!). I am just looking for a horse I can give lots of love to- not fussy about age, ability level etc as I am capable of schooling and also would be happy to hack only. But despite all these things I cannot find a suitable share! It always seems the perfect share is just that bit too far away.
 
I find it impossible and I am offering a choice of three ponies dependent on size, all can be ridden or driven easily, No money to change hands either way, no chores as such unless someone wants to, Transport and entries to all levels of competition including county shows, dressage, showjumping and trips to the woods and beach when suitable weather and we are free, Hacking out etc we have no school but can hire one from time to time ponies are barefoot and live out 24/7 unrugged but if ridden regularly can be clipped and rugged. I am a reasonable owner and if you live my direction will transport to the field from my house or if I am passing but dont interfere the animals are there for you to do as you wish I can teach if you want lessons but dont offer unless asked
What do I want I would like the ponies out and about doing something rather than sitting in the field muddy and fed up, A competent rider who doesnt mind the odd spook and enjpys having fun on the ponies
 
OP. I persoanlly think you are being extremely reasonable, and if I needed to share, the connie in question sounds absolutely perfect. However, I do agree, its the time of the year, after all, if you dont have to go out in the wind, mud and rain, then why bother. I am sure that come the spring you will find more interest.

However, having had an experience of a sharer I would personally never do it again. I did not ask my sharer for a penny as she was helping me out with time. It was still not good enough though and she tried to take over my horse, which did pee me off quite a bit. Especially when I found out that she had been taking him out trotting on the roads for extended periods of time pretty much every day (not usually an issue, but he had not long had a fetlock injury), had entered him for a hunter trial without my permission and then took my trailer without my consent. On top of that, I had abuse and physical threats from her sister (also on the yard) because I was too 'precious' about my horse. Said sharer got arrangement terminated, YO got to hear of the sisters behaviour and dealt with it appropriately, and I got my horse back. Never, ever again.
 
i have someone who rides to a good standard, and reliable looking for a potential share a quality horse in north oxon if anyone wants her details pm me.
 
That is interesting about charging per week instead of every two months for shoes. I will mention that to her. She thought that by charging only for shoes, it wouldn't put people off but I can see the logic of every week. she even went out and bought him a new comfy saddle today as well! :D
 
Sharing is such a minefield. So many issues in the process.

I shared a horse last year but I got on so well with the owner it was fab and there were no issues. I treated the mare like I would my own and I used to buy feed, girths etc on top of what I was contributing each month.

However, when I used to explain to a nonhorsey person about loaning.....:

Me: 'There is a horse for part loan in the local tack shop. £25 a week and shoes'

Non horsey: 'So it's for sale?'

Me: 'Erm, no, you would just ride and do stable chores on my days'

NH: 'So, you pay to ride and muck out. Shouldn't they be paying you?!'

Which I do understand, I know it's a privilege but in 99% of cases the loaner isn't loaning their horse out for the good of their heart, it's because they need help.

(I've loaned many horses and have horses of my own, so I'm not biased in any way!)
 
Well my friend has been looking for someone to help out in return for riding. Yes that is FREE riding. Her horses live out all year, they're in a gigantic field that doesn't need poo picking due to sheer size of it, and there is a barn that takes 15 mins to skip out at the most.

Not a sniff.
 
Gentlegiant88 said:
Well my friend has been looking for someone to help out in return for riding. Yes that is FREE riding. Her horses live out all year, they're in a gigantic field that doesn't need poo picking due to sheer size of it, and there is a barn that takes 15 mins to skip out at the most.

Not a sniff.
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where is she? I'm in West Yorkshire
 
I started my first share 6 months ago- 16yo TB, 2 days a week (1 day school 1 day hack) always someone to hack with etc etc, no jumping, no mucking out, £20 a week.

I searched for soo long to find a share, most people wanted up to £50 a week! to me thats really unreasonable.

I dont have a contract or anything like that for my share, another person shares him too 1 day a week. Sometimes I do feel like I am being watched (feel like im doing everything wrong when shes watching) because owner is there all the time I am, but She is really friendly and I hope she doesn't think I am bad rider!
 
Wiz201 said:
where is she? I'm in West Yorkshire
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Cheshire, have even said that person can ride my boy if a novice as he's a gentle chap.

We don't have a school at the moment which may be putting people off, but its getting built soon, plans are passed and we're some of the only people in Cheshire with fields than can be hacked through at the moment as they aren't boggy.

I seriously begin to wonder.

Free riding for chucking some feeds in and skipping out a barn a couple of mornings a week and no takers. I used to pay for the privilege of mucking a cob cross out 3x per week for riding when I had a share.
 
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