How to get more riding-advice?

[SolisGazer]

Hi all,

I have started learning to ride properly in the last few months and am desperate to ride more than once a week. I aim to get my own horse when I am a little more experienced and have some more knowledge in the realities of horse ownership. I would love to share a horse but there seems to be very little out there to share in my area and those riders I contact say they don't want a novice....which is fair enough.

The problem is I would like to ride a few times a week so I can get better but don't know how to go about doing it if I cannot find a sharing arrangement. If I had three or four lessons a week I would be bankrupt!!! Also I would like to get the opportunity to make some friends as I have just moved to the area.

How do others do this...advice greatly needed!!??

 

[Mrs C]

Hi. A number of riding schools offer part loans these days. Could be worth trying one of these. Also try get some experience in stable management. Good luck x

 

[Leaveittothediva]

Hi there, I am in the same boat, lessons each week are not enough. You could ask your instructor if they need any help with the horses in return for lessons, I did this for a while and it was great help for me both in riding and handling of horses.

 

[Lurky McLurker]

Definitely see if your riding school or any nearby offer loan schemes, and if you've got any spare time offer to help out around the yard - not only does that give the possibility of being rewarded with free rides, but you'd also get more stable management practise in for when you do decide to get your own. Don't give up hope of finding a share either, not everyone is put off by novices - I've seen a few ads from people just wanting someone to plod along with them for a bit of company on hacks, and in fact this is how I'm currently getting my riding fix while I'm horseless - a lot of people get bored hacking out alone and have more than one horse to exercise, and as long as the horse is safe it doesn't really matter if you're a bit less experienced.

 

[SolisGazer]

Thanks for the advice. The riding stables near me unfortunately don't have any opportunity to part loan horses but that would have been ideal. There always seems lots of helpers at the yard I ride at so I have not asked there as I always think they have lots of people there already. It is a bit of a drive too so looking for something a little bit more local. Fingers crossed someone is out there looking for some company on a hack as this is really what I would like as it would give me the opportunity to make some new friends too.