How do I find a share horse?

[Kirstineridesagain]

I'm a reasonably competent rider without my own horse. My dream is to find a horse that I could take to the occasional beach ride, weekly hacks and the odd show (I've never competed and just want to do low level stuff. Basically I just want to dress up and be part of the whole thing!).

I just don't know where to find a horse! I can't take on a full loan or buy right now. I'm happy to pay a decent amount so that I can build a bond with a horse and have a bit of autonomy with the horse. Would love to do lessons on one particular horse rather than keep going to the riding school where I always get a different horse.

Is there somewhere I can put up an ad?? I found a Facebook group, but after I posted I saw that there's no activity there. There are share schemes where I live, but they don't give you the flexibility I would like. I guess word of mouth is the best option, but I don't know that many horsey people.

 

[JBM]

I think you’d be hard pressed to find a share with that much flexibility as sounds more like what you would get with a full loan
There are some but would be snapped up pretty fast I’d try find a fb group for your area to do with loans(they will have part loans in them too)or shares. Word of mouth would probably be your best bet tho

 

[Kirstineridesagain]

I was incredibly lucky before, as I shared a horse I could ride as much as I wanted. Unfortunately the owner was incredibly rude to me and treated me like dirt. I could have ignored it, and kept going. But I was worried she would get worse. I do realise it's hard to find a flexible share..

 

[Armchair Eventer]

I would look for a local Facebook group where I live there are two, Oxfordshire Horse Riders covering the whole county and Witney Horse Riders which is specific to the area I live. Also maybe join your local Riding Club initially as a non-Riding member.

 

[Kirstineridesagain]

Thank you for the ideas. I'll take a look!

 

[Glitter's fun]

Have you tried putting notices in places horsey people go eg tack shop, feed store? Also talk to local vet & farrier.
You may find you need to take on something with less flexibility to begin with, when they don't know you.

 

[Kirstineridesagain]

Have you tried putting notices in places horsey people go eg tack shop, feed store? Also talk to local vet & farrier.
You may find you need to take on something with less flexibility to begin with, when they don't know you.

Thank you, good idea! I don't need to ride more than once or twice a week, and am not expecting to do more than hacking or schooling in the beginning. So maybe there is a horse that could do with another rider for a bit of exercise somewhere!

 

[ownedbyaconnie]

Try local equestrian fb groups, that is where I advertise mine. Agree with a previous poster, I am happy for my sharers to treat my pony as their own once I know them but until I do I like to have a bit more control over what they do and get regular updates on their days.

 

[starbucker]

I found my share through posting a brief ad in a horse item related facebook group and am able to do all of the above, we go to competitions, shows (as competition yard down the road), yard trips, clinics arena hires etc. I pay £40 a week for 3 days, so be patient they are out there! Best to find someone who has too many horses to possibly ride themselves.. I do have to of course ask permission and let the owner know and her competitions take priority but there's enough going on within hacking distance of where my yard is. You can also try posting an advert on preloved. There seems to be loads of people looking for sharers at the minute around me

 

[Annagain]

I've found sharers in various ways over the years. One was a work noticeboard, her husband worked with me and saw it; another was a facebook ad I placed (the only that didn't really work out, she was nowhere near as competent as she made out to start with), one did yoga with my mum, got chatting and it all came from there, one was a friend of a friend and one I even found by accident on here, she was from New Zealand, had moved to my area was missing horses and asked about volunteering opportunities, I replied, we got chatting and ended up she riding my boys for 2 years until she moved back. We still keep in touch about 6 years on.

Two of them are still with me, including one who still helps me look after my old retired boy even though she now shares a different horse on the yard since he retired, she's a godsend!

I also know of someone who started sharing a horse through our riding club. She started volunteering to get a horsey fix and get to know other horsey people in the area, got chatting to someone with 2 horses and started riding one of them a few days a week.

You might find you need to commit to certain days (this is what I do with my sharers) just so everyone knows where they stand. As far as I'm concerned, my sharers can do what they want on their days. If I didn't trust them, I wouldn't let them share my horses. I have three rules 1. insurance is compulsory 2. Hi viz is compulsory on roads 3. don't do anything stupid. Other than that, if they want to parade through the village naked, except for a tutu, they can knock themselves out as long as the tutu is hi viz.

 

[Afon_34]

Preloved

 

[Abacus]

I don't entirely agree with other comments that it will be hard to find a share with flexibility. For example, I have a few horses and am happy for them to have more work as long as the rider is competent (a couple would be fine for novices and one less so). I don't especially need a fixed weekly arrangement as long as I know a little in advance if someone wants to ride, and I have one friend who tends to just text and ask if she can grab a horse and go for a hack, I know she can't commit regularly and that's ok. You might find someone with horses that they are happy to have worked a bit more, if you are trustworthy and capable, without a fixed commitment.

 

[Kirstineridesagain]

I

I've found sharers in various ways over the years. One was a work noticeboard, her husband worked with me and saw it; another was a facebook ad I placed (the only that didn't really work out, she was nowhere near as competent as she made out to start with), one did yoga with my mum, got chatting and it all came from there, one was a friend of a friend and one I even found by accident on here, she was from New Zealand, had moved to my area was missing horses and asked about volunteering opportunities, I replied, we got chatting and ended up she riding my boys for 2 years until she moved back. We still keep in touch about 6 years on.

Two of them are still with me, including one who still helps me look after my old retired boy even though she now shares a different horse on the yard since he retired, she's a godsend!

I also know of someone who started sharing a horse through our riding club. She started volunteering to get a horsey fix and get to know other horsey people in the area, got chatting to someone with 2 horses and started riding one of them a few days a week.

You might find you need to commit to certain days (this is what I do with my sharers) just so everyone knows where they stand. As far as I'm concerned, my sharers can do what they want on their days. If I didn't trust them, I wouldn't let them share my horses. I have three rules 1. insurance is compulsory 2. Hi viz is compulsory on roads 3. don't do anything stupid. Other than that, if they want to parade through the village naked, except for a tutu, they can knock themselves out as long as the tutu is hi viz.

You sound like a lovely owner! I would of course help out with chores, not expecting to turn up and just ride and leave. And I can do set days. Just want more than one time slot, as sometimes life gets in the way and it's a shame when you can't ride one week because of a sick child/appointment/horrendous weather.

But I've realised the human aspect is just as important as the horse. I am easygoing and tolerant of quirks, but if the owner is as rude as my previous horse's, I'm out.

 

[Kirstineridesagain]

I don't entirely agree with other comments that it will be hard to find a share with flexibility. For example, I have a few horses and am happy for them to have more work as long as the rider is competent (a couple would be fine for novices and one less so). I don't especially need a fixed weekly arrangement as long as I know a little in advance if someone wants to ride, and I have one friend who tends to just text and ask if she can grab a horse and go for a hack, I know she can't commit regularly and that's ok. You might find someone with horses that they are happy to have worked a bit more, if you are trustworthy and capable, without a fixed commitment.

I think I would feel the same as an owner. I found this winter that life just gets in the way sometimes. Illness, illness with kids, appointments (one child had some important concerts as he's a cellist, then there were ballet exams for my daughters, then my youngest had a virus... Etc). And I really appreciated that I could ride on different days. If I go back to the professional share scheme (there are share schemes available through a company here) , you get one morning or afternoon and can't swap. If I don't find anything else I may go back to that.

 

[FlyingCircus]

I found my loaner for my connie on a local noticeboard website.

She did whatever she wanted with him, when she wanted. I had too many horses at the time and not enough time.

Horse was out having time of his life eventing, SJ, beach rides, etc.

 

[Andrew657]

I have a share which sounds very similar to you're looking for. I found it by replying to a sharer wanted ad on the local facebook page. I would say that I got it - because although I didn't know the owner - we knew loads of people in common who could vouch for me. Had previously kept my horse on the sister yard.

I would also say flexibility works in both directions - so we start with fixed days - but either of us can (and do) ask if we cover/swap days.

 

[Skib]

Would love to do lessons on one particular horse rather than keep going to the riding school where I always get a different horse.

My experience was that after my first year, the RS deliberately gave me different horses, in order to widen my experience. The same happened when I eventually had dressage lerssons. But one needs to talk to riding teachers and riding schools. Not just remain silent and hope for the best. One can always ask for a particular horse.

My problem was that, being a granny, I had been given the beginner pony to learn dressage. No one expected him to go as high through the levels as we managed. After he had given me my flying change he was once again reserved for child beginners.

 

[Barton Bounty]

Firstly…. Most owners aren’t rude most of us are nice and accommodating…. Sorry you have had a bad experience.
There are lots of horsey areas around Edinburgh, does it have to be near the city? If you widen your area to the lintons. I am pretty sure you will find someone that would be happy to let you share

 

[Kirstineridesagain]

Firstly…. Most owners aren’t rude most of us are nice and accommodating…. Sorry you have had a bad experience.
There are lots of horsey areas around Edinburgh, does it have to be near the city? If you widen your area to the lintons. I am pretty sure you will find someone that would be happy to let you share

 

[Kirstineridesagain]

Yes, it was just a bad apple. I think she was over protective due to various issues. Happy to travel to East or West Linton, I was only ten minutes from there previously.

 

[Kirstineridesagain]

Just a little update. I made a Preloved ad, no response to that. But an acquaintance on Facebook owns a big pony, and although she wasn't really looking for a sharer she is offering him at least in the short term, as he needs more exercise. She says lots of people at her yard are looking for sharers, so something more permanent may come of it. It's always the people you know, I guess.

Hope it goes well, as her pony is a bit strong and perhaps not as straightforward as I would prefer, but if I feel comfortable with and on him I'll try him out. Big, stocky cob who looks very sweet. And the yard has an indoor school, too.

 

[Barton Bounty]

Just a little update. I made a Preloved ad, no response to that. But an acquaintance on Facebook owns a big pony, and although she wasn't really looking for a sharer she is offering him at least in the short term, as he needs more exercise. She says lots of people at her yard are looking for sharers, so something more permanent may come of it. It's always the people you know, I guess.

Hope it goes well, as her pony is a bit strong and perhaps not as straightforward as I would prefer, but if I feel comfortable with and on him I'll try him out. Big, stocky cob who looks very sweet. And the yard has an indoor school, too.

That sounds promising and it will be good experience for you too

 

[Kirstineridesagain]

Another update!

I went to ride the lovely Cob. He is beautiful and so well mannered on the ground. Rode him in the arena and he was fine. I did a couple of short canters and he was very comfortable. Then I rode him out around a field (on the outside of the field, it's part of a hacking route. He seemed to look intently on every rustling leaf, and was a bit scared of some bushes.

But it was only until two horses came galloping up next to him in the field on the way back that he really spooked. He galloped off with me, but I managed a one rein stop after unsuccessfully trying to pull him back the usual way.

I might try him in a few lessons, but not sure about hacking him. His owner has posted a fair few times about him spooking and jumping sideways.

But I did get a response to my ad, so I'm going to visit soon. It's just the weather being so bad right now, so had to cancel tonight. The owner has a rare breed of draft horse, and other horses. So I really hope this will work out.

 

[Kirstineridesagain]

Gaahhh.... The guy who responded to my ad is an elusive fellow. I've spoken to him on the phone and came to meet him at a local horse show. He's very nice. But now he doesn't respond to my messages. I've tried to give him the benefit of the doubt, as everyone is busy, but I know he's seen my messages (WhatsApp). The horse is beautiful and he also hasa herd of Highlands. It's not that far from me and I know the area well, so could easily hack there. His field neighbour I also know, she's my children's riding instructor, and she says she could give me lessons on the man's horse.

I guess I just have to realise it's hard to find a share horse and perhaps just have to have an extended break from riding.