If you were getting a horse to ride for free in return for chores

[marmalade76]

Very much depends on the horse & rider. If I was riding & schooling someone's horse for free, I wouldn't expect to do any jobs as I'd be improving it. A top comp schoolmaster that I could gain something from I would be happy to work in exchange for however many hours added up to the cost of sharing it.
When my daughter was a toddler I had a fab teenager to ride/help. Very competent & trustworthy, she did jobs on her days but I used to let her ride on my weekdays too. Plus was willing to do horse if I had ever been stuck in an emergency. I got what amounted to free part livery out of it, my pony kept fit & happy to be working/ competing. She got a fab comp pony to have fun with for free & take to comps & shows when she liked. I gave her free lessons on her so pony kept well schooled too. In fairness pony is the type I could have found paying sharers no problem. But liked the girl who at the time couldn't have her own & liked to see pony happy.

Totally agree with the first para, as for the second, I'd happily do the same for the right child. I know what it's like to be pony mad and ponyless and if there was someone who was keen, confident and reasonably competant who was willing to learn and do as they were told I'd be happy to give them a chance, including at PC and competing. But it seems that most teens have an over-inflated opinion of their own ability, think the world owes them a living and (the other thing I've noticed with those looking for rides on FB) over-weight. I have one pony that's not suitable for a nervous novice and another that is not suitable for the over-weight!

As for shares paying, I have not always been keen to ask for/accept payment as I feel it buys them more 'rights'. When I shared with someone who paid a good proportion of the costs, I felt I couldn't always pull her up for things she did with my horse that I wasn't keen on, if that makes sense.

 

[hannah90]

If someone would come to Wales and ride my horse for free they wouldn't have to do any chores and id even tack it up for them!!

Still no takers???

were in wales ?!

 

[Patterdale]

North. Where are you?

 

[Littlelegs]

Agreed marmalade, it can be hard to find the 'right' teen. I was lucky, girl was best friends with a teen on my yard who was lovely. Had shares elsewhere in the past but parents were going through a rough patch so her contact was limited to being a dogsbody. Felt sorry for her the day before a show when every other kid was preparing their ponies & being familiar with her ability, & planning on going with my daughter anyway I volunteered mine for her to take. Just built it up from there really, would have no doubt gone mad if I'd advertised her given responses others get!

 

[hannah90]

North. Where are you?

south, bit too far !

 

[marmalade76]

Agreed marmalade, it can be hard to find the 'right' teen. I was lucky, girl was best friends with a teen on my yard who was lovely. Had shares elsewhere in the past but parents were going through a rough patch so her contact was limited to being a dogsbody.

poor thing Nice to know there are some good people out there who are willing to help out someone like her. I think that most who are keen enough and reasonable riders will find a ride eventuallly.

 

[Trix98]

I worked for a woman down our road since the age of 7, I mucked out the field (8 horses at the time), did the stables, sweeped the path, did some ragworting then began grooming and rugging up when I was tall enough in return for riding one pony on a weekend, who we eventually bought, then as I got older (6 years later) and more confident I was able to ride more of her horses. When I was 13 the lady had bought a second field and now had 12 horses. When I eventually left I was riding 5 horses, mucking out a total of 7 acres a day, grooming, feeding, haynets, ragworting, exercising (riding, lunging, long reining) and just general cleaning up and got £10 and the end of the week. If she asked, I did it I learnt everything I ever needed to know from that woman and worked with ponies, horses and foals from the day they were born until they were ready to be broken.
Unfortunately since then I haven't found a single place that will take me on just for labour in return for rides.. (I'm in East Yorkshire by the way )I don't have a job and so cannot afford to 'share' as it were Everyone is different so you can't put a figure on how much people would expect from you

 

[igglepop]

I have shared several different horses first two i just mucked out etc and pains £20 a week. The third was an evener who i did everything for on my days as well as acting as a groom as shows (allowed to do clear rounds etc when time) I also brought in all other horses on livery yard in return for great lessons properly favourite share. The fourth was a dangerous anglo arab who i paid £20 a week for which was fine i liked the expericene sadly it also had me baby sitting other shares just out of riding school with not horse care experience, lasted 8 moths before a major argument (i missed a single launch due to other sharer not turning up no hay or feed and other problems) The share i have now is 2 horses for free and its great the lady does not ride often all i need to do is make sure they are available to ride at weekend (normally need to be available to). I do not have to much out etc but i do, i also check on all other farm animals as i feel i should. Only downside i think she would say about me on this share is i don't poo pick fields as i have trouble with shoulders and it hurts too much. But before you all judge i do feed pigs catch sheep so I'm not all bad Its just the fields.