How to get a suitable sharer?

A

anniedoherty

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16 September 2006
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Yorkshire
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I am wondering about getting someone to share my horse partly due to lack of time on my part but mainly due to my own lack of experience. Do you think anyone would want to share a 6 y o 16.1 hh KWPN gelding who can be nappy (with me at least) and, as far as I know has never hacked out? I wouldn't be looking for much of a contribution, if any, towards costs as this isn't the reason for needing a sharer.

What I would ideally need is someone more experienced than me - not that difficult since I am still a relative novice - who can ride confidently and fairly well and who is prepared to help me start doing some groundwork with my horse. I was thinking of letting the sharer ride 2 or 3 days a week. Does this sound reasonable or am I going to have to think of some other way of getting the help that I need?

I know I could pay to have him schooled professionally and I may do that if it seems like the best plan but, at the moment, I feel like I want to try and do more myself but I need a knowledgeable "friend" to help. Trouble is I haven't lived in this part of the world long and my friends who can ride all live miles away!
 
You may get lucky and find someone, but to get someone more experienced to help bring your horse on may be tricky and you may need to offer a bit more incentive such as the chance to compete the horse too.
 
Thank you Burtie. I would have no objection to someone competing him. In fact, I would welcome that. Someone else used to jump my old pony XC because I didn't have the bottle and it used to do her the world of good. I will make it clear in the ad that competing is included for the sharer should they want to.
 
Where are you in Yorkshire? (PM if you prefer) my sister lives up there and might be able to suggest some ways of finding people locally (depending where you are.)

Otherwise - you could try contacting the local pony club and riding club and see if they know anyone who might be suitable/ interested (eg. a capable 18 year old!) . You could put an ad up in a local tack shop - buut to get the right standard of rider, you might want to try word of mouth/ recommendations first?

I would say its probably more important for you to get the right sort of rider to share, than to just get anyone - it must be someone who will help your horse.

hope that helps!
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Hi sloulou, I am in East Yorkshire and am happy to PM you details if you need them.

I am going to ask around on the livery yard to see if anyone knows anyone suitable and contacting the local riding club seems a good idea too esp as a capable 18 year old would be a lot more capable than me! It is definitely a case of getting the right sort of rider so I know it will be a bit more difficult than just getting someone to exercise him.
 
Maybe approach your instructor and see if she can help out (as she got you into this mess in the first place!!!!!) - she may well know someone who is capable of assisting you. She may even be interested herself.
 
Would def also try pony club - they often know huge numbers of peole in the local horse world (In my experience - I teach at one). Also their members are now up to 25 yrs old, so they might know someone able, looking for a project?

East Yorkshire not near her - she is harrogate.

Good Luck and hope you find someone
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FMM yes, I will ask her when I see her. She is injured at the moment so she can't ride him herself but she may know someone suitable. I am sure that with the right sort of help I could enjoy having Oliver much more as I wouldn't have to worry about all the things that I can't do!
 
Move down to hampshire and I'd be interested !!! My comp horse is now retired and my young horse just about to be backed so I am very bored at the moment!
I schooled, competed and sold a horse for someone last summer .... if anyone local needs a rider ....
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I don't think you will have a problem - there are lots of experienced riders out there that for one reason or another do not have a horse of their own - perhaps lack of time to commit to to a horse 7 days a week or the cost. I also think that you would gain a lot of confidence seeing your horse do things with someone else - hack out for example and as a result you would have a go yourself. You could advertise in your local equine paper if you have one, but do make sure you have someone experienced with you to help vet the person - lots of people say they are experienced when they are not! Good luck, I think it could be a perfect solution for you.
 
I do hope you are right icestationzebra. I would love to see Oliver doing things with someone else just to prove to myself that he can do them. I am going to discuss it with my YO/Instructor and ask if she will be there if and when anyone comes to try him out.
 
Its a shame you arent in W. Yorks. I would have quite happily of schooled and competed him for you.
I think the only problem you will have is finding someone more experienced who doesnt want paying. Your best bet would be to find a young rider who wants to compete but then they probably wouldnt have their own transport to go to shows. There will be someone out there, good luck.
 
put an ad in H and H and also in your local tack shop and local riding club make sure you word it correctly, no joy riders etc and get references. Put a post on here in the competition section incase there are any eventers etc who are looking for a ride to compete. I know you are struggling at the moment but there will be help out there especially in your area just have a bit of patience and make sure you get the right person.
 
Reliable, confident, experienced sharers are really hard to find, Fudge has had four in two years and I've decided just to ride him myself and give him as much attention as I can, rather than struggle with an unreliable or unexperienced sharer.
In the summer I will be having lessons on him and having him professionally schooled which tbh is what I would suggest you do.
Good luck with finding a sharer, make sure you post a carefully worded ad, both locally and on the larger equestrian websites like h&h, Horse quest etc
 
I've had ads up for a few weeks to find someone to share Beau. I had a few people interested then one girl came an d tried him when nfortunately we discovered his saddle didnt fit. And so he was on teh forehand and stiff and of course she wanted something with more 'oompf'. And now all the other people who enquired arent interested!!! Surprising that this girl works with one of them, and taught a few others - so hoping she hasnt been making out he is useless!

Unfortunately after my first experience I am not letting anyone under the age of 16 share him. Not because of riding ability, more because of commitment, common sense and responsibility! Seems the last girl who shared him would simply take his tack of and chase him round the school if he didnt behave when she was riding, so when I went ot ride all he wanted to do was canter round and round, and she jumped him when he was very obviously in pain, but she didnt really care as "she wouldnt have had to pay the vets bills"!!

So if anyone knows of someone in Aberdeen looking for a horse to share PM me!
 
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