How much to charge a sharer?

[Bens_Mum]

Horses is 14.1 weight carrying cob. Nicely schooled, goes in an outline but is forward. Does a nice dressage test and basic lateral movements established. Jumps a course of show jumps and good xc water etc. Totally bomb proof. Excellent at a show and to do anything with. He is 19. Yard has indoor and outdoor no jobs to do. Ride when they want. I'm not riding at the moment. I let someone start riding for £10 a week but she's there all the time and it feels like I'm doing all the work for her pleasure so need to change it round. He costs me about £80 a week so what's fair do we think? I am new to this but it just doesn't feel like my horse anymore my fault but want to gauge what's fair and get it in writing of advertise for someone else. I might want to ride in the future so don't want a full loan agreement.

 

[loopinlou]

Is she expected to do any chores?

 

[southerncomfort]

Interested in replies to this too as I'll be looking for a sharer come the Spring and haven't a clue what to charge!

 

[FestiveFuzz]

I'd speak to the current sharer first before re-advertising as it's not their fault you priced yourself too low.

You say the sharer has no jobs but then follow it up with that you feel you're doing all the work for someone else to enjoy your horse. Work out what jobs you'd be happy letting someone else do. Then in your shoes I'd work out how many days I'm happy to let the sharer ride per week and then divide my weekly costs by 7 to work out a cost per day. Multiply your cost per day by how many days you're willing to let them ride and you'll have the amount to charge them.

 

[Bens_Mum]

No she does nothing except clean the tack as I'm not riding. She does groom him before tacking up and likes to mess about with him but there's nothing required. Today he's on full livery because I can't get there but she will go and ride. I pay for trims and all other bills. She's up all day at the weekend and atleast three nights in the week I keep out of of completely so it's really like a loan which is why it needs to change I don't feel like it's my horse to enjoy at the weekend as she's always there. I'm just wondering if I'm being fair but to me I feel like her groom- my fault because I haven't been clear before but want that to change. She's also going away for a week and doesn't expect to pay what do we think?

 

[Bens_Mum]

Thank you that seems a good way to work it out. She doesn't drive and is 13 her friend has a horse on the yard so she goes up with them this means I can't rely on her to do jobs and she doesn't get there till 6 meaning he would be all day waiting. I have a baby so can't turn out at 7 at night if she doesn't go hence me doing it all. It is my fault I didn't think it through but now I have I just think I've been a bit silly and maybe should have thought before agreeing I just feel awkward about back tracking so want to be fair. I originally said £20 but she said she couldn't afford it Yo thinks £30 is a lot more reasonable.

 

[Bens_Mum]

Just worked it out for the 5 days she rides it would be £50 costs alone not including insurance, feed or trims etc it's scary when you work it out

 

[Coblover63]

I wouldn't call her a sharer, I'd call her a rider. My interpretation of sharing is taking a turn with the grunt work. When I shared, I used to LOVE the fact that I could muck-out, stuff haynets and fill water buckets. Made me feel more involved which is what I wanted to do. That was 10 years ago and I still paid £25 for three days a week.

I agree with your YO and I'd be speaking to her, saying it isn't working out how you'd hoped and finding a new sharer.... one who's not afraid to take a turn with the chores!!

 

[Bens_Mum]

Thank you I'm just too soft I've had so much on my plate I've just let it roll and now I feel terrible because people keep saying how she loves him there's pictures of him all over her Facebook I just feel like a nasty person.
Maybe il write out the costs and present it to her and see what comes back..? I have really expensive tack too and it's all wear and tear on that too.
She's no great rider not being horrible but she's not improving him so I can't really chalk it up to that either il have to have a think how to tackle it.

 

[SusieT]

why is she riding him? is it because you can't ride but need him worked? in which case I'd be careful not to rock the boat - you might end up paying some one to ride him! but I would also cut out a weekend day as just yours so you don't feel resentful

 

[LFD]

I have a sharer for one of my boys, she does 3 days a week inc. his stable duties. £25 and also contributes half to the cost of his shoes. I think I should have said £10 per day but she is such a lovely rider I don't mind it's a little less.

Hope this helps.

 

[Polos Mum]

Depending on where in the country you are £20 a week for 1 weekend day and 2 days in the week is pretty typical

Sharers get a very good deal financial as they certainly don't typically pay a proportion of the full cost (if you include insurance, trimming, supplements etc) BUT often the owner wants the sharer more for exercise than cash - you can easily pay £10 a hour to someone to exercise your horse so take this into consideration in your maths if you're considering alternatives

 

[Princess1986]

I paid 100 a month for part loan and riding 2 days a week, I had to inform the owner of the days I would be riding, she was flexible if I needed to change. I would muck out all her horses and feed if she couldn't get over on a day I was there. well it soon changed to come and ride him any time and bring kids to ride the pony any time I want as we became good friends and helped each other out. So I've since bought the horse but he's still at her yard and we help each other out

 

[Tally-lah]

If she is 13yrs old I would think the agreement needs to be between yourself and a parent, surely?

 

[littlemissmandy3]

I pay £60 a month (half of the livery cost) to share a fairly sensible ex racer. I get to ride him twice a week after school (when possible) and any weekend days that the owner is not around. As well as this however, I do whatever stable chores the owner asks me to, whether it's mucking out, tack cleaning, yard sweeping haynet filling, waterbucket scrubbing e.t.c and they take me to shows with them as 'groom' (I get experience of what goes on at competitions and they get an extra pair of hands so it's a win win situation). I enjoy doing the chores and see them as a useful way to gain experience, if not as actually enjoyable. I think the cost does depend on whether the sharer is going to cause you extra work or be able to give you a helping hand.

 

[ROMANY 1959]

My sharer rides in the mornings at weekends, and when she is home from uni in the weekdays, she pays half livery and half shoes, and often buys treats and carrots for my horse. It works well as I work mornings, sharer does all the morning stables at weekends, I pay for part livery mon to fri.. I do afternoon and evening stables at weekends. They are quite happy to pay half ... I often take sharer to shows and farm rides..
I had another sharer for my big horse, who bought him off me at Christmas after sharing for 3 years. Sharers can work really well, but the rules and required work need to be clearly stated and agreed .

 

[Bens_Mum]

I'm not riding because I have a very young baby and no help so I've no time. I'm not worried if he's ridden or not I was just thinking it was a waste of a good horse and thought it would be a way for me to recoup some of my large bill. A woman on the yards horse went lame which was when the idea was born but she bought another. A girl on the yard then suggested her friend and it went from there. The girls parents are completely non horsey although I've met them it is the other liveries mum who brings them both up and supervises it. I oringally said £20 and she said she couldn't afford it. I envisaged it being a couple of nights a week and now it's all day sat and sun and 3 nights a week.
This is my fault I've had a hell of a lot on and it's evolved. Because I only go up in the mornings it's not really effected me in the week but on weekends it now feels awkward to me again my fault. This week he has been on livery a lot and the bill is huge so it's drawn attention to the fact that I'm paying a huge amount out and now feel like it's not mine on the occasion I have time. There's also an issue that if I actually got time on one day randomly to ride him has he been ridden?
I understand what people are saying about sharer not being responsible for paying half etc but I think for me I need to feel like I'm getting something substantial or il just pay the extra £10 and have it to myself.
It's nice that he's getting the attention that I didn't have time for but there needs to be a balance.
I feel awful about it because I'm going to look like a nasty person and I've caused all this by just not thinking and having so much else on. People keep commenting on what nice girl she is and her Facebook is full of pictures of him. Today she is asking what size headcollar he is and I'm feeling a bit pushed out to put it mildly.
I'm rambling all this is my fault really I've dropped myself in it by trying to do something nice I'm a plonker i know.
I really didn't want to sell as I've had him forever but maybe it's time I'm finding this stressful not any help at all I just really don't want any bad feeling but I think that's going to be a given.

 

[SusieT]

Essentially you want to sell a service so put it at 10 per weekend day, 5 per weekday and see how that works with a maximum of one weekend day every week?

 

[Palindrome]

Don't feel bad, no one is perfect. Instead of having her off completely you could let her have 1 day per week for the £10 and explain she needs to reliably do him on that day (and she can give a pat if she is at stable on other days but no riding). Then look for a 2nd sharer for other days available (both sharers need to pay same cost per number of days though).
As for price, yes it should be cost of horse per day multiplied by number of days. Some people don't include shoes, it's up to you. You can expect from a sharer to be reliable and sort out days in advance. It's also good to be a bit flexible on days on your part if possible.

ETA: a full loan with horse staying at same yard seems a good option too and could take the worry out of the equation perhaps. It's so much hard work having a young baby, best of luck whatever you decide

 

[Kadastorm]

Blimey, I feel bad now as I charge my loaners £30 a week! I have two loaners, both are allowed to ride whenever is suited to them (they sort days between themselves) but one at the moment rides once a week. They don't have jobs unless i ask one to give me a hand every now and then, they have good facilities and can do as they please. their money still doesn't cover feed, bedding and other costs but does cover livery, insurance and shoes which helps me out big time as I am surviving on a student loan at the moment.

 

[Bens_Mum]

Blimey, I feel bad now as I charge my loaners £30 a week! I have two loaners, both are allowed to ride whenever is suited to them (they sort days between themselves) but one at the moment rides once a week. They don't have jobs unless i ask one to give me a hand every now and then, they have good facilities and can do as they please. their money still doesn't cover feed, bedding and other costs but does cover livery, insurance and shoes which helps me out big time as I am surviving on a student loan at the moment.

I think you are quite right we are on a yard with excellent facilities DIY including hay and straw is nearly £70 a week I think it needs to be at least £30 pw for it to be worth it to me YO agrees. I have had two offers to buy the horse but wanted to keep him now I'm not sure. I'm spending thousands a year it's crazy for stress like this I just feel guilty for not doing much with the horse and now over someone else's feelings it's stupid really.

 

[spike123]

I have a lovely sharer for my boy now. She does 3 to 4 days depending on my work hours as she is flexible and pays £25 a week plus half to shoes. She does all the jobs on her days. It's tricky in that you are paying out alot more than she is paying to have all the pleasure of your horse so i do agree that either she needs to be paying more or doing some of the work in exchange for the pleasure she is getting from your horse. If money is an issue and her parents can't afford to pay more then perhaps see if she can do some more of the work instead and explain that you are short on time and money and either need someone to pay more money to share on some of the days or alternatively she does the jobs those days so you don't have to pay your yard for the services they are having to provide for you.

 

[be positive]

I think you are quite right we are on a yard with excellent facilities DIY including hay and straw is nearly £70 a week I think it needs to be at least £30 pw for it to be worth it to me YO agrees. I have had two offers to buy the horse but wanted to keep him now I'm not sure. I'm spending thousands a year it's crazy for stress like this I just feel guilty for not doing much with the horse and now over someone else's feelings it's stupid really.

I think you are resenting that this young girl has the time to spend with your horse, she is only 13 and probably dreamed about having a horse to love, ride and treat as her own for years, she would probably do him for you on the weekends, rather than you paying livery in exchange for you letting her have an extra day or two, then you could have one weekend day free to spend quality time with him while she mucks out etc.
The livery is expensive for DIY so maybe look at getting another sharer but this will leave you hardly any better off, still not having time with him and you may lose the obviously very keen and reliable young girl you currently have, I would get her on side, make more use of her, she sounds so keen, yes she may only be riding and grooming but that was your choice initially, that you now want her to do more may well please her, so speak to the poor girl don't assume she only wants to ride and do no jobs, if she is at the yard all weekend take advantage of it, this is not really about the money.

 

[cobalobM]

why dont you actually talk to her about it? she probably doesn't realize!! she is only 13 and if you let her get on with it and dont say anything she will just carry on as she obviously loves him and sounds like she is planning on buying him a new head collar which is lovely..

why not tell her she can have him 1 day a week for £10? then just get another sharer for an extra 2/3 days a week and charge them £10 a day? so you would be getting £30/40 a week which means at least £120 a month!

cant believe how much people charge for shares!! i pay £70pm!!

 

[Bens_Mum]

I enjoy going up normally to see people and the horse it's my last connection to my hobby really so originally I didn't want her to do the jobs I just thought it would be nice for the horse to do something. I work from home so normally it's a nice break for me and some adult company. She only goes up at night after 6 so it means he's been in poo all day if they stay in and waters etc as I go first thing so on days when it transitioned from me to her id have to go at a different time to normal to prevent this. She's also reliant on someone else's parent to bring her so if she doesn't turn up it's me not knowing or potentially having to take a four month old out in the dark to muck out.
I think it's just all too much hassle if I'm honest. I'm stuck with the jobs whatever for my peace of mind that it's done so it's either going to have to be a lot more money for set days or decide to sell or find someone who can commit to it better and pay more. He's a really decent schoolmaster on an excellent yard he may be ticking on a bit but he's got to be worth £30 a week to someone he's barefoot so no shoes to pay for.
I'm really glad I've written all this down and for everyone's opinions it's made things a lot clearer I ding think I'm being unreasonable now just to tackle it which I'm dreading..

 

[Bens_Mum]

why dont you actually talk to her about it? she probably doesn't realize!! she is only 13 and if you let her get on with it and dont say anything she will just carry on as she obviously loves him and sounds like she is planning on buying him a new head collar which is lovely..

why not tell her she can have him 1 day a week for £10? then just get another sharer for an extra 2/3 days a week and charge them £10 a day? so you would be getting £30/40 a week which means at least £120 a month!

cant believe how much people charge for shares!! i pay £70pm!!

I will talk to her I just wanted to gauge what's reasonable as I haven't done this before. She means well that's never been in doubt I just think it's not working for me and I'm pretty sure she can't afford anything more from the original conversation although she does have riding lesson at a riding school weekly for £20 too.

 

[JulesRules]

It's difficult when the ground rules haven't been set from the start.

My sharer went to uni in September and I have only just started to look for somebody new, but she had my horse 2 days a week (1 weekend day and one weekday) and paid £65 per Calander month. I know a few people who charge more, but my sharer does all the jobs on her days so for me it's more about getting a day off as I'm always trying to cram too much in.

If it were me I would talk to the parents and explain that the situation isn't working for you, but you need to decide what you want the outcome to be before you have that conversation.

In terms of time of day of muck out, some people don't like it but I often do my muck out in the evening. Smudge goes out most of the day and honestly doesn't care that her stable isn't ready when she comes in as long as she has a Haynet and water. It still gets done once a day and I keep her straw bed quite deep and the mess sinks to the bottom.

The mucking out and stable jobs are the part that takes the time, and as it's time you are short of I think you need to work something out with your sharer.... Even just doing the next days Haynets ready would help right?

Personally I think I would try to keep my existing sharer, but restrict her to 2 or 3 days and get her doing some jobs.

Good luck

 

[Bens_Mum]

This is where I'm struggling it's the back tracking and it know it's my fault I'm in this mess. The annoying this is that because she's someone's friend down there I can see this causing a load of bad feeling too I'm just mad at myself for ever starting it in the fashion that I did.
Having slept on it the answer is definitely restricted days and a decent charge. The horse costs me £9 a day with any extras I think the 3 days for £20 much more reasonable. It's about to be half term so this does need sorting out.
I feel aggrieved that I don't ever get to ride my own horse but that's my problem. I feel upset because I'm killing myself to keep him and I get nothing from the arrangement. Last weekend a friend came up who I haven't seen in ages and I didn't want to go up to see him with her because I didn't know if he would be there.
This isn't any of it the sharers fault but I need to either accept that I can't do what I want too with him in which case he is a pet that I don't keep anymore or alternatively get more money for it and have days where I can still enjoy him myself.
Thanks all some really helpful points il work out exactly what I'm happy with and speak to her.

 

[Spottyappy]

I don't charge my sharer, but I am lucky as I won my yard. She does, however, help with chores instead.
It is, I agree, very hard to back track and I think you really need to speak with her parents.
However, I would personally be happy my horse was being used, and loved as long as she's not actually ruining him. If you just want your own "me" time with him, maybe worth getting your young sharer to have set days.

 

[Coblover63]

Blimey, I feel bad now as I charge my loaners £30 a week! I have two loaners, both are allowed to ride whenever is suited to them (they sort days between themselves) but one at the moment rides once a week. They don't have jobs unless i ask one to give me a hand every now and then, they have good facilities and can do as they please. their money still doesn't cover feed, bedding and other costs but does cover livery, insurance and shoes which helps me out big time as I am surviving on a student loan at the moment.

Yes, but when they ride, it is THEIR choice where they ride and for how long. If they went to a RS, they would have to probs pay not far off what you charge - but for an hour's hack, with the speed and route dictated by someone else. I still think yours is a good deal, don't panic!