i think i'm going to bite the bullet and advertise for a sharer...

Bowen4Horses

Bowen4Horses

Well-Known Member
Joined
23 March 2009
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Location
South Lincs/North Cambs
www.poppywebber.co.uk
So... gulp...

i *think* i have finally decided to put up some adverts for a sharer... (once i've got my bottom in gear and got Raff's saddle fitted!).. because i'm struggling for time with the baby etc and it seems sad that he's not being ridden (i know, i know, he'll be enjoying his holiday but he is only 7 and i don't want him to be wasted...)

Do you think Raff is sharable? He's kept at home and not on a yard with facilities... but, there is lots of hacking round here... and there are lots of maneges to rent within easy hacking distance.

What do i write on my advert? How do i scare away the unsuitable people?

Is anyone in the mood for helping word an advert?
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ok, as i don't know what info you want, i'll tell you as much as i can think of...

Raff
15.1hh
Hanoverian x Polish Warmblood
Bay
Gelding
7yrs old
Has a look of a Section D about him... he has a big chunky neck, but a hamster-cheeked warmblood face

-110% bombproof for everything for me (see below). he hacks out fabulously, he loves it. goes alone or in company. looks at things a bit more when alone, but never does anything more than jump if something scares him.
-never strong, never fizzy (he jogged once on a sponsored ride... it was so out of character i had to ring my OH to tell him)
-Confidence giver. i had less than zero confidence when i got him, yet ended up riding him until 7months pregnant.
-Perfect to handle, shoe, box, stable, turn out (though isn't a fan of rain) etc.
-very playful, will steal hoofpicks, brushes, hair bobbles... but will never bite/kick etc
-Was bred to jump. has jumped BSJA on a ticket and apparently could 'easily affiliate' (means nothing to me). was jumped up tp 1.40m when younger. since being with me he's done a few local show classes, ranging from 2ft clear round to 3ft6 open thingy.
-Suitable for a novice/nervous rider (could teach someone nervous to jump as he never rushes), but, at the same time fun for a more experienced one.

Bad points:
-he doesn't like to stand still for mounting (but getting better, i'm introducing him to the joys of saddles that fit and mounting blocks...). i suspect a combination of bad saddles, novice riders (was on working livery at riding school) has made him a bit sensitive.
-he can take a very strange dislike to some people and behave completely out of character for them. i've only seen him like it with two people - one of them was a girl coming to try him out with the view to becoming a sharer... he bronco bucked round the school... then i got on him, and he was angelic...
-he can be a total plod in the school. i suspect he's totally school sour because he's much less ploddy out hacking/at shows etc.

my biggest fear is that having someone else ride him will change him in some way... my confidence is so fragile, i need him to stay the same...
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[ QUOTE ]
now what do you want from a rider?

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that they are reliable, and safe. oh, and gentle. and listen to the way i do things (eg do girth up very slowly, don't canter at same spot out hacking etc).

no need to do stable chores etc. but they could if they wanted.

and i'd want them to not change raff at all... but don't know how possible that is...
 
how does that sound?

15.1hh 7yr old warmblood gelding for share. Raff/this gelding (choose the whichever one you want) is a fun loving cheeky character. He is seeking a new human friend who will give him the exercise and extra attention that his owner is unable to give him due to family commitments. He is fantastic in all ways both on the ground and ridden. clip, shoe, box, hacks and loading no problems. he is 100% bombproof both in company and alone. never strong or fizzy. he would suit either a novice or someone who wants to go a bit further. opportunity to compete to the right person. please contact ******* on **********

you can tell them the other things when they ring
 
[ QUOTE ]
how does that sound?

15.1hh 7yr old warmblood gelding for share. Raff/this gelding (choose the whichever one you want) is a fun loving cheeky character. He is seeking a new human friend who will give him the exercise and extra attention that his owner is unable to give him due to family commitments. He is fantastic in all ways both on the ground and ridden. clip, shoe, box, hacks and loading no problems. he is 100% bombproof both in company and alone. never strong or fizzy. he would suit either a novice or someone who wants to go a bit further. opportunity to compete to the right person. please contact ******* on **********

you can tell them the other things when they ring

[/ QUOTE ]

Brilliant! thank you... although reading it like that has made me sad. perhaps i can put my kids out to share instead?

12yr old, 2yr old and small baby available to share (or longterm loan), eldest can be prone to moods, but is a dab hand at making a cuppa. 2yr old likes to run fast, pour expensive shampoo into the toilet and likes to wear his snot on his face. little baby smells nice -most of the time. ... anyone? hello? anyone?!?








*tumbleweed*



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[ QUOTE ]
oh, hun.
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i'll come and child-mind for you while you ride Raff. even if you only ride him for 1/2 an hour a day (which should be doable, esp in winter, surely?!) it'll keep you both happy, no?

[/ QUOTE ]

it's ok, i'm not really sad... i think it might be nice for him, and will take the pressure/guilt off me whilst maddy is tiny. also it'll help get him fit for the summer. it will all work out... i'm sure
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although if you REALLY want to babysit... who am i to deny you such a pleasure...
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Just to put your mind at rest... put a basic advert up and get people to come over and meet you both and have a cuppa. You will know instantly if you want to share your beloved with them. I know because i have a sharer for my boy and we have had immense fun for the past 18 mths and hopefully for the future. My 16 year old allrounder became my second horse 2 years ago when i bought a youngster. I had owned him for 10 years and he was very special to me, we did everything very successfully and it was a shame to watch him take second place. Now we have him and the sharer as our hacking/lesson/competition partners, even going to camp together! It's great - she pays £5 per day towards costs and her OH and my OH also get on so we scheme to get them off mountain biking or pub and we go and compete! My horse now has a surrogate mum who adores him but he still knows who his mum is...the best thing is he is getting to show the sharer the ropes and even took her the the RC HT Champs last year and came a credible 13th with a DC - clever boy as sharer had only ever done 2 HT with him before and prior to that she had never competed - as you can tell i am a bit proud of him! Good Luck and go with your gut instinct
 
I would leave out of the ad the bit about 'suitable for novice rider' no matter how well-mannered your boy, particularly if they are going to be hacking alone. A friend had a bad fall from my 'sensible' horse last spring & I still feel dreadful about it. These days I wouldn't let anyone ride unless I was confident they could sit a spook or a buck.
 
Whoever you decide on to share Raff will be very lucky as he sounds like an absolute gentleman, I love seeing Raff updates/photo's.
There is no harm in advertising and being picky about who you like and who you think you & Raff will get on with, you can always say no to any unsuitables
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Hello there - I am in such a similar position to you - horses at home, 2 young children. I get to ride my mare one day a week usually just a hack, on the one morning I get to myself where I put my youngest into nursery. Maybe you could try that for 1 or 2 mornings a week if you can afford. It will be good for you, good for little Maddy, and good for Raff specially if you can fit in a ride at the weekend as well.

And yes I do have a sharer (1 day a week and she helps out when I am on holiday as well) but she has probably ridden about 4 times in the year I have had her because she prefers to just be around them (and tbh I like it that way as I worry every time I think she is going to ride!!)
. I found my sharer through word of mouth but maybe at your childrens school /nursery! Good luck - it is always handy to have someone you know nearby who you can call on to help out if necessary anyway
 
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