Horse sharing

Delicious_D

Delicious_D

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I have been very lucky to be offered a wonderful horse to share. I am meeting with the owner at the weekend to discuss toe finer points.

I am veyr excited and over the moon. I want to make sure i cover all grounds etc, what qestions should i be asking?

Obviously there are the basics, waht days can i share and the type of work down to cleaning equipment etc. Is there anything else i should be considering?

many thanks and mini twirl bites for those that answer :)
 
Ask about insurance. I'm a sharer and I have my own insurance that covers me but it doesnt cover the horse so I made sure with the owner than her insurance covered him should anything happen to him whilst I was riding (and signed a contract to say she is liable for those payments just in case she decides not to insure him and land me with a big vet bill).

I also asked about holiday cover for when i'm away and what she wanted me to do/not do with him and if there was anything she'd rather I asked permission for first. For example she was keen to improve on his schooling so we do that and I ask permission if I do anything out of the ordinary such as course jumping, lessons or taking him to the beach etc. She didnt specify that. I just wanted her to feel confident she was still in control of her boy.
 
Who pays for vet in the event of major/minor injury? Does it matter whose "turn" an injury happened on? Who pays insurance excess if that gets involved. Who pays for repairing tack, buying new tack, saddle issues, broken stuff, cleaning rugs, ripped rugs etc etc etc. Who pays for feed and bedding? Haylage? Livery/stable costs? Are you allowed to take him to competitions? Is there anything you can't do eg hunting, jumping etc? What if you can't see to him on one of your "days"? Can you get a friend to help? Must you pay the owner or the YM? Can you use your own instructor? On a piece of paper, go through every single thing that's linked to owning a horse, good and bad (even down to if you win a rosette, are you allowed to keep it?) and write a list. I've been there and you can bet your bottom dollar if you forget 1 single thing it will happen the first day! And best friends can fall out spectacularly over the tiniest thing that each party thinks is unfair unless it's already been discussed. Have a look at the BHS skeleton loan agreement...it morphs quite readily into a share agreement. You might think it's a bit detailed but believe me it isn't!
 
if the horse is ill/lame then what would happen- would you get any money back etc? Im a sharer and dont have a contract etc, its based on trust however if you feel the need to I would ask for a written contract, just so everyone knows where they stand
 
I'm a sharer too, and one thing that is so important is having a contract - BHS have a template that you can download and the owner can amend it, then you both sign it. You have to have this in the event something goes wrong, its unlikely anything will go wrong but best to be covered just in case.

Ask the owner to contact her insurance company - with my current share the owner rang up his insurance company about the horse having a sharer and they offered something neither he or I were aware of - the sharer can be added to the insurance policy (for no extra charge) and then the horse is covered in an event of any accident while I am riding, we have public liability cover whilst I am riding, and also I'm covered for any injury that happens to me whilst with the horse. Now the owner of your share horse's insurance might not offer this, but it is worth asking anyway. If she cant add you, then you need to get your own rider insurance (google it and lots of options come up).

Other questions to ask:
1. What days does he/she want you to ride
2. What chores are expected of you when it is your day
3. What CANT you do on the horse (e.g. jumps over a certain height etc)
4. Can you compete
5. Does he/she have any transport for the horse
6. Are there any yard rules to be aware of (e.g. yard locks up at a certain time, you have to pay for lights in indoor arena etc)
7. What is the horse's daily routine (i.e. what time does it go out, what time does it come in, what time is it fed, how often is it fed etc) - and ask if the routine changes at weekends as well
8. Does the horse have any illnesses or allergies
9. Is the horse able to hack out alone or must you always go out in company
10. Does the horse spook at anything in particular?
11. Is the owner wanting to achieve anything with the horse (i.e. long term does the owner want the horse to be a dressage horse, show jumper, or just general all-rounder etc)
12. What is the horse like on the ground, does it have any quirks or does it misbehave at certain times
13. How much notice do you need to give if you end the share


I cant think of anything else at the moment - feel free to PM me if you have any other questions about sharing! You will think of lots of things to ask as you go round the yard and see the horse, you will probably cover off most of the list above as you go.

Good luck!
 
as well as the above I would also be asking if you could use your instructor or if you have to use theirs as its possible you may not get on with their instructor. hope it goes well for you
 
These are all really good points - thanks everyone!
re: vet/bedding/livery etc - the horse is on my yard and i dont *think* i would be asked to make a contribution but i need to find out.

I know instructors wouldnt be an issue as we both use the same trainer.

Luckily for me i know this horse. 17.1hh grey anglo arab x tb 21 year old gelding. Been there done that sort :) fab temprement etc :) very excited!
 
Not sure if this has been mentioned, but you will need in writing if something terrible happens and you cant reach owner who makes the final decisions. I have always had it written that the vet is to make final decisions.
 
The yard has all of that under control igglepop. :)

I am veyr fortunate that i have known the owner a long time, she knows how i ride etc and knows what i wish to do. It means ill (hopefully) get to compete a little bit, go hacking of a safe horse and might even *ignore this next part if you are my surgeon/physio/doctor/parent* pop a jump. :)
 
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