how much to ask a sharer....

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Jericho

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I am struggling (as most people are) to physically cope with my 2 horses / job / young family and I have heard today that there is a possibility that I may be made redundant. Ideally I want to keep my two horses.

One is on loan so she could go back but the other is retired and basically unsaleable and I have made up my mind that this will be his last home so if my loan horse went back I would probably have him PTS as he would hate being on his own and I couldnt afford to have him on retirement livery.

As said I really dont want to give them up so am looking at ways of saving money. I am lucky that I keep them at home and was thinking that I could look for a loaner for the mare for 2 - 3 days per week. Basically they would need to poo pick fields, tidy up groom, feed and ride if they wanted on their days.
The mare in question is 100% hack alone, a bit strong so not entirely suitable for a real novice, schools, jumps, dressage and is really easy. I dont have any facilities at home but 1 indoor school / outdoor school / xc hire 15min hack away. Everything is really easy to do / nothing quirk at all about my set up at home except that is in my back garden etc so sharer may feel a bit watched and the option would only be during the week.

I do have a lovely lady who helps out occassionaly on the basis she would do field etc in return for riding but she has found out she is pregnant so wont be able to do much anyway now/if anything and I actually think some kind of financial contribution would help very much now. Do you think I am being unreasonable asking for money for a new sharer? How much could I ask a sharer for on a weekly basis (assuming I can find someone!!)?
 
You will definitely be able to find a sharer there are lots out there that are prepared to help and give a contribution. They aren't all novices either!

If I were you I'd post your location in case anyone reading this is interested then put notices up in local tack shops and corner shops, ask at your local riding school and ask your instructor. If you have a uni or FE college nearby try an advert there too. You could contact local pony club branches too, they might have some older teenagers who are horseless.

I think if you say you need a financial contribution in the ad you can negotiate this with any suitable people. You don't want to put off a good person for the sake of a few quid, better to get the right person for a little less than the wrong person who lets you down after a couple of weeks.

Bear in mind that a riding school lesson will be about £20 and relatively hassle free. If you expect some work and don't have facilities I doubt you will get more than this per week.
 
Firstly I would check with the people you loan off of that they are ok with you getting a sharer.... they may want some input into who it is.....

Im sure you will find someone, maybe a happyhacker with days free in the week, but if you expect them to poo pick/muck out do general yard chores I imagine you wont be able to charge more than arounf £15-£20 a week..... for 3 days. Does depend a bit on your location tho .....

Try newrider.com thats where my share horse's owner found me!
 
Thanks for reply - yes I have had a chat with my loan horse's owner and she is very keen for me to continue to have her and so fully supports that I may need a sharer. I think it will make me be even more careful when it comes to sharer as I know its not my horse who could be messed up!
 
If the horse is only available to the sharer during the week that may limit the interest/financial contribution you get, since many people would like to ride on weekends and possibly compete?

If you have a big yard close by perhaps you could put an ad there, in case someone there knows someone who is looking...

If for some reason your loan horse has to go back, would you be able to rent out the stable so you could have a companion for the retired one?
 
Honestly I think you would struggle to find someone mid week & to do all of the chores & pay for it as well, maybe you could ask for half the shoeing money?

I tried to find someone to ride mid week for my lovely, safe warmblood for free, I didn't want any money just a bit of time to ride with me during the week & maybe go hunting at the weekends if possible, I advertised for two weeks, I had one phone call in all of that time
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For my last share I paid £80/month for two mid-week days (I am a student and a happy-hacker so had free time during the week and no desire to compete) plus occasional weekends if he was free. However, the pony was on grass livery and I had no stable/poo-picking/feeding duties. I would be happy with a mid-week share (but would like occasional weekends) so I know that there are people out there that would pay/ride weekdays only. You would probably get more interest though if you offered some weekends/reduced the amount you want/removed duties from the sharer. I now pay £90/month for unlimited riding (several horses) and no duties (though help gratefully received).
 
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