I need help!!

Fii

Fii

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I am about to put an ad in my local tack shop, for help excercising my horses/ ponies, and a bit of mucking out/ poo picking.
I don't want any financial contrabution nor do i want to pay anyone, there will be no money changing hands at all.

I need an adult who is capable of riding and doing the horses on their own , if the need arises. This will give me someone to ride with and more time with each horse. It will also let my OH off the hook a bit :D
So, do you think there are any people out there who would be interested in this sort of set up? Obviously someone competant, with experiance, who does'nt have their own horse, but realy wants to ride.
Also if by some miracle, someone does answer the ad, how do i go about making sure they are competant.:(

Drinks all round to those that managed to read this, and make any sense of it :D
 
Yes - me. Please move to Norfolk...:D

As to making sure people are capable - watch them ride, if you have more than one horse, go out with them a few times to start with, to show them local hacking routes and also to see how they get on. And make sure to write everything down for them on the horses' routine so they know how you want things done, as everyone has different ideas and ways of doing things:)

Do let me know when you've arrived in Norfolk;)
 
Spudlet said:
Yes - me. Please move to Norfolk...:D

As to making sure people are capable - watch them ride, if you have more than one horse, go out with them a few times to start with, to show them local hacking routes and also to see how they get on. And make sure to write everything down for them on the horses' routine so they know how you want things done, as everyone has different ideas and ways of doing things:)

Do let me know when you've arrived in Norfolk;)
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No, move to Cheshire!!

I would watch them around the horses- you can tell an awful lot by simple things such as catching, leading etc. I would make sure you were there to supervise until you were sure about their capabilities.

Agree with Spudlet about watching them ride. You could even suggest they have a few lessons on one of the horses with your instructor (or a recommended one) or even offer to give them some pointers yourself to make sure they ride the horse in a way that you like- different people do things different ways!

Spudlet- how about we work out a place halfway between us and ask the OP to move there? I've found it's a case of "the more the merrier" when it comes to poo picking :D:D
 
Queenbee87 said:
Spudlet- how about we work out a place halfway between us and ask the OP to move there? I've found it's a case of "the more the merrier" when it comes to poo picking :D:D
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I think that would be somewhere to the west of Nottingham?

OP, your problem is solved:D
 
If the move the move to near Nottingham is no good I'm sure you will have lots of people ringing in response to the ad nearer to home as well. Lots of people at the moment would be interested I think, especially due to the current economic climate- the fact you aren't requesting payment will be very attractive. Plus the fact you have more than one horse/pony.

*runs off to persuade OH that a move to Dorset would be a good idea as a back up plan :D and that the added bonus would be that the more time I spend with horses, the less money he has to spend on entertaining me*
 
I offered my services with the idea of helping someone out on an occasional or perhaps loosely regular basis about 4 years ago, I didn't consider myself to have much available time so didn't want to be tied down too much. I had little to do with horses since a teenager, many years ago, except sometimes helping my sister at shows with her ponies. I wasn't necessarily looking to ride although that would have been a plus, but I just enjoyed being around horses and ponies and looking after them.
Anyway I mentioned my thoughts to an instructor, and within weeks I found myself looking after a TB mare full time , who was on diy livery, whilst her "mum" was in hospital and then recovering from surgery - 3 months in all. Quite where I found the time I'll never know.
However as it was coming to an end I just knew I couldn't not be involved any longer and ended up buying myself a youngster who I am just about to back and I've never enjoyed anything in life so much, so even though I don't know where I found the time from originally, I now wonder what on earth I would do with my time if I didn't have him.
So thank you for being a person who will hopefully be giving someone else the sort of opportunity I had. Unfortunately the girl who I was helping no longer needed me once she was fully recovered. I would have loved what you are offering and no doubt there will be plenty more people out there who will be overjoyed with such an opportunity. I hope you find someone suitable, I'm sure you will.
 
Lots of people would LOVE that!

With my sharers I have a nice long talk with them - and on their "meeting day" I do everything - catch, groom etc with them. I basically throw them in at the deep end and see what happens. With Ed its very much sink or swim and I have to know that they can cope with him.

I leave them alone to test ride (meander and canter on our gallop track usually satisfies them he is safe and stoppable and I don't crowd them as its awful to be watched.

Generally you can tell from the start though, from how they turn up, how they look, act and iteract with your horse - whether its going to go well or not.

And lastly, trust your gut. Its YOUR horse and you know them, so if something doesnt feel right - it probably isnt.

Good Luck!!
 
LOL, Spudlet and Queenbee, i think it would be easier for you to move down here.
Thanks for all your answers.
I am actually quite nervouse about doing this!
 
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