How to compete without own horse ?

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sjdress

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After very sadly losing my young horse I now only have my retired mare who is fine for hacking but retired from competition. However I really miss competing and want to get back out there. This is where my problem starts... I have no money at all to purchase a new horse after losing my boy due to spending every penny on his rehab and treatments once the insurance was out. Are there people out there who would allow someone to compete their horse, im thinking maybe on a share basis? Or any other options that I haven’t thought of? The last year has been a really tough one trying to rehab by horse who sadly deteriorated and id love to have some fun again. I’m also worried about my riding skills deteriorating by not being able to compete and school.
 
I used to have someone compete my horse. She worked at yard where I kept him and was much more competent rider than me. I’d happily let someone else share competing him now if they were able to move him to the next level so someone established riding medium. So yes it’s possible.
 
Yup I would. I was going to advertise for someone to do just that a few weeks back, but one of the kids on the yard is mad keen on driving and is going to do young driver stuff with her. I'd have been happy with her doing ridden stuff and I guess most horses arent broken to drive, so I'm probably an unusual case!
 
Yes, it’s possible, some shares will let you compete but they tend to be the ones you have to pay to share- at least in my area. Or if you don’t mind starting at a lower level than what you were doing then someone might want you to take a greener horse out and give it a bit of competition experience.
 
You could put an advert up on your local horsey pages if you can school/ride reasonably - offer to ride/bring on /compete for owners for no cost- some people this would work for
 
I am allowed to compete my share horse as I brought her back into work for her owner. Maybe put an advert out in a local tack shop?
 
I do this, I have 1 horse that I compete regularly for his owner plus another 2/3 that I compete as and when the owners ask me to.
It started when I was offered the ride on the first horse by his owners. They'd seen me ride at the yard I went to for lessons and used to take any ride I could get and work for free rides as I couldn't really afford to pay for it. I competed Ernie for 5 years and everything was paid for by his owners. When he retired I was then asked to ride for someone else and it kind of took off from there
 
If you are good enough to improve someone’s horse in a specific discipline, I am sure you will easily find a horse to school and compete for free!
 
What kind of thing do you want to do?

I often see posts wanting show riders on horse gossip you have an advantage if you are small!

Or I would put an advert offering services I had a really nice girl compete mine a few times, she just did it as a hobby so didn't want paying and she was a very good rider that loved showing, some people may not have the confidence or money to compete there own so in that instance you would be ideal.
 
We've always allowed - and indeed encouraged - our sharers to compete. The pony in question was an outgrown PC Competition pony who people would share simply to get a shot at Nat Champs so it is slightly different. But I know several PC Kids who compete thier share horses. But as Lillian says these are also the types of share you pay for.

If you already have an established reputation with an affilliated body you could try approaching your regional co-ordinator. I know we used to pick up catch rides regulalrly in BS Juniors. Not so easy in Eeventing with the MERS but presumeably still perfectly possible otherwise?
 
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