Joy Riders - should I charge to try out

[TheChestnutThing]

So it’s been an absolutely awful March for me…redundancy and then breaking my wrist in 2 places and a severe concussion.

Due to this I had to choose between horses and food and have advertised my boys for share.

firstly…wtf is wrong with people…have had joy riders coming out my ears - would you charge someone to try out your horse?

secondly…why do people think that shares are £10 a day?! It seems that nothing has moved on in 5 years

thirdly…when one says absolutely no novices and someone who can not get the horse to bend into the leg or ask for a contact (we are talking about a horse that literally holds his head there for you but somehow managed to look like a giraffe) comes to ride and tells you they are experienced, then why you pull them up they say oh they have only ever hacked…do you tell them to get off or let them continue?

 

[Pearlsacarolsinger]

I think you need to talk to them a little more before letting them get on your horse. To answer your question, no you can't charge someone to ride without a RS licence and the correct insurance.

 

[ester]

Pretty much all the horses on my yard have a share and I don’t think anyone has had a joy rider problem but that might be luck. I’ve always sent photo/video evidence of me riding/doing different stuff before going in person so there is at least some proof of capability but I’ve also done a terrible job on a first ride which probably looked awful (person already knew me from riding others so that was ok at least)

£10 a day is standard for diy shares here too so I guess that might depend on location, that’s for pretty expensive diy (imo) too

 

[webble]

£10-15 a day isn't unreasonable depending on horse and facilities

I wouldn't charge to try out you might put off someone who is perfect

I guess everyone has an idea of what a novice is

 

[JBM]

I usually ask for videos of them riding in the conversation stage
You can either charge per day or you can half livery if they’re happy to ride half the week
I am guilty of making my horses sound a little bit worse than they are to deter novices

 

[ihatework]

The cost of a share IME is generally directly proportional to the value the sharer brings. Ie the more work they do either chores or ability to improve horse, the less they pay.

I can guarantee you any decent sharer will not be paying you for a test ride!

I would probably suggest you have a think about how you suss people out and what questions you ask before inviting them for a trial ride. Maybe even ask for some video. Novices generally do not quite grasp how novice they are.

 

[asmp]

I’ve been riding for over 50 years and have owned horses for 40 years but I only hack so I’m obviously still a novice

 

[ponynutz]

I don't think £10 a day for diy loan/share is unreasonable but it is on the lower end, people are of course going to push their luck because everyone's in the same boat with the cost of living. I wouldn't hold it against them but would be firm about the price you want.

 

[twiggy2]

So it’s been an absolutely awful March for me…redundancy and then breaking my wrist in 2 places and a severe concussion.

Due to this I had to choose between horses and food and have advertised my boys for share.

firstly…wtf is wrong with people…have had joy riders coming out my ears - would you charge someone to try out your horse?

secondly…why do people think that shares are £10 a day?! It seems that nothing has moved on in 5 years

thirdly…when one says absolutely no novices and someone who can not get the horse to bend into the leg or ask for a contact (we are talking about a horse that literally holds his head there for you but somehow managed to look like a giraffe) comes to ride and tells you they are experienced, then why you pull them up they say oh they have only ever hacked…do you tell them to get off or let them continue?

Many hackers are far more experienced than others that never leave the school don't dismiss them.

 

[TheChestnutThing]

I think you need to talk to them a little more before letting them get on your horse. To answer your question, no you can't charge someone to ride without a RS licence and the correct insurance.

I talk to them plenty and ask for videos etc.

 

[TheChestnutThing]

Many hackers are far more experienced than others that never leave the school don't dismiss them.

I gave an example…I wasn’t dissing hackers.

 

[TheChestnutThing]

Firstly I was not dissing hackers. I have an example.

I also do not just let anyone and everyone come. I have a solid conversation about what is expected and ask for videos etc.

also I’m on the edge of London so it’s a little pricey here. Also I didn’t state that it was DIY. There would be no duties and they would be able to compete BS and BD and BE (affliated before I get called up on that aswell).

they wouldn’t be getting donkeys. Both are experienced show jumpers and the one is schooling elementary dressage and competing novice. And safe as houses to hack.
Also includes use of my trailer for shows etc.

 

[ester]

How do you then end up with someone who says they’ve only hacked then if you’ve asked for videos ? I’ll tell someone what I’ve done, to what level, there’s a bd record if people want to check/I’d crop up on RC results. I do add the caveat that at the time it was all on a 14.2 welsh not a big moving warmblood and that I was out of match practice when I was looking.

it’s worth keeping an eye out for any wanted ads as then people are giving more what they can offer.

ps I didn’t say you had said diy, which is why I added the caveat that £10 was standard if was diy. For me cash is more important than my time so I’d only be able to take a diy option. But I’m also known as a useful sort of sharer . There’s always been someone waiting for me to need a ride

 

[TheChestnutThing]

How do you then end up with someone who says they’ve only hacked then if you’ve asked for videos ? I’ll tell someone what I’ve done, to what level, there’s a bd record if people want to check/I’d crop up on RC results. I do add the caveat that at the time it was all on a 14.2 welsh not a big moving warmblood and that I was out of match practice when I was looking.

it’s worth keeping an eye out for any wanted ads as then people are giving more what they can offer.

ps I didn’t say you had said diy, which is why I added the caveat that £10 was standard if was diy. For me cash is more important than my time so I’d only be able to take a diy option. But I’m also known as a useful sort of sharer . There’s always been someone waiting for me to need a ride

i need a useful sharer as I want someone to fit in with our little team and drink wine with us on a Friday.

unfortunately I don’t think that the hacker sent me recent videos or maybe not even videos of themselves.

 

[JBM]

There are many people out there who just love to waste your time
I’ve had many people schedule a day and time then never show up and never text me ever again! You just stand waiting like an idiot for ages
It’s gonna take time as there are a LOT of people who think they ride much better than they can it’s a long frustrating process sometimes hope you find someone soon

 

[SantaVera]

Maybe go down the leasing route rather than the sharer,that way I think you have more chance of a rider of the right caliber for the horse turning up.

 

[GinaGeo]

I’d make it very clear the sort of person you are after in the advert. If you include what you’ve said above it would be a good starting point.

And then question them when they get in touch and reiterate the sort of person you are after.

 

[RachelFerd]

I always thought it was incredible cheek that anyone pays anything to share a horse - they're usually saving the owner a bunch of money that would otherwise be spent on livery services and exercising the horse.

I'd also note that most of the really competent end of riders are not expecting to pay to share, and would instead be more likely to expect to be paid to ride.

It's a pretty narrow gap in the middle with people willing to pay to share, who are also competent.

In the brief period of time in my early 20s when I was interested in sharing, everything I went to look at was owned by some kind of lunatic daydreamer who grossly overrated what their horse was capable of - usually leading to me to wishing I could say "Sandra, It's very kind of you to say that I'm welcome to compete your horse in affiliated competitions. But right now, it's lame on three legs, requires a deathwish to get on board and all of your tack should be consigned to the tip before it gives way whilst said horse is broncing around the school with its head between its knees" ... I did not take on any share horses!!

I did however find a couple of owners who wanted someone competent to do some schooling on their perfectly nice horses on a free-of-charge basis with no money changing hands.

 

[AmyMay]

I always thought it was incredible cheek that anyone pays anything to share a horse - they're usually saving the owner a bunch of money that would otherwise be spent on livery services and exercising the horse.

I'd also note that most of the really competent end of riders are not expecting to pay to share, and would instead be more likely to expect to be paid to ride.

I don’t agree. I don’t want to have another horse full time, but if I was interested in ‘going back’ say three days a week I’d happily pay a share cost. I’m also a competent rider.

But it’s not just about the riding, it’s the care side I (and most) enjoy too.

 

[ihatework]

Per RF it is a fine line to be had!
A level of competence that means you can trust someone not to screw up a nice horse usually equals free in return for owner not having to pay a freelancer.

If you want money (fair enough), then you have to expect a level of rider that wouldn’t be of the standard to get free rides.

There are a few people out there but it’s not easy to find.

 

[Fieldlife]

I always thought it was incredible cheek that anyone pays anything to share a horse - they're usually saving the owner a bunch of money that would otherwise be spent on livery services and exercising the horse.

I'd also note that most of the really competent end of riders are not expecting to pay to share, and would instead be more likely to expect to be paid to ride.

It's a pretty narrow gap in the middle with people willing to pay to share, who are also competent.

In the brief period of time in my early 20s when I was interested in sharing, everything I went to look at was owned by some kind of lunatic daydreamer who grossly overrated what their horse was capable of - usually leading to me to wishing I could say "Sandra, It's very kind of you to say that I'm welcome to compete your horse in affiliated competitions. But right now, it's lame on three legs, requires a deathwish to get on board and all of your tack should be consigned to the tip before it gives way whilst said horse is broncing around the school with its head between its knees" ... I did not take on any share horses!!

I did however find a couple of owners who wanted someone competent to do some schooling on their perfectly nice horses on a free-of-charge basis with no money changing hands.

There’s lots of what you describe around.

But also if someone with horses doing BD & BE that are sound and solid citizens, is offering chance to ride and compete, I don’t see why competent capable riders shouldn’t be willing to pay to cover some of the running costs of the horse!

 

[ihatework]

There’s lots of what you describe around.

But also if someone with horses doing BD & BE that are sound and solid citizens, is offering chance to ride and compete, I don’t see why competent capable riders shouldn’t be willing to pay to cover some of the running costs of the horse!

I completely agree to an extent.
The active word is solid citizens.

Im not in anyway saying the OPs horses are anything other than solid citizens, but in my experience, more often than not, some of these share horses are anything but … they belong to delusional owners who can’t see what’s in front of them!!

 

[Fieldlife]

Per RF it is a fine line to be had!
A level of competence that means you can trust someone not to screw up a nice horse usually equals free in return for owner not having to pay a freelancer.

If you want money (fair enough), then you have to expect a level of rider that wouldn’t be of the standard to get free rides.

There are a few people out there but it’s not easy to find.

It depends though if I had a quirky or green horse and a decent non pro rider was clearly improving the horse, I can see why they might not pay.

If I had an established nice horse competing BD & BE, same ride might not be improving this horse at all and the rider might improve themselves riding and competing the horse snd probably should pay.

 

[Roasted Chestnuts]

My friend pays £130 a month for her share horse. I would never go view a horse for loan or for sale that charges for viewings. Just seems money grabbing IMO

 

[Tiddlypom]

What do you need to charge for sharing to make it worth your while?

 

[Fieldlife]

My friend pays £130 a month for her share horse. I would never go view a horse for loan or for sale that charges for viewings. Just seems money grabbing IMO

If someone advertised a horse with a good BD and BE record available for sharing and competing and that was what I wanted to do, I would happily send recent riding videos and pay a viewing fee. Opportunities like that are pretty rare for strangers.

 

[gallopingby]

I always thought it was incredible cheek that anyone pays anything to share a horse - they're usually saving the owner a bunch of money that would otherwise be spent on livery services and exercising the horse.

I'd also note that most of the really competent end of riders are not expecting to pay to share, and would instead be more likely to expect to be paid to ride.

It's a pretty narrow gap in the middle with people willing to pay to share, who are also competent.

In the brief period of time in my early 20s when I was interested in sharing, everything I went to look at was owned by some kind of lunatic daydreamer who grossly overrated what their horse was capable of - usually leading to me to wishing I could say "Sandra, It's very kind of you to say that I'm welcome to compete your horse in affiliated competitions. But right now, it's lame on three legs, requires a deathwish to get on board and all of your tack should be consigned to the tip before it gives way whilst said horse is broncing around the school with its head between its knees" ... I did not take on any share horses!!

I did however find a couple of owners who wanted someone competent to do some schooling on their perfectly nice horses on a free-of-charge basis with no money changing hands.

I think this scenario is very difficult. I have someone who comes and helps, she’s learnt a lot over the past few years. I pay competition entry fees etc and she gets to ride the horse in return for helping with the others or holding for the farrier etc. As she’ll be moving away soon l answered an add from someone new to the area wanting to do a similar thing. She said she was very experienced and had done dressage. On quizzing further she likes schooling but has never ridden a test or been to any shows / events of any kind. Difference between no 1 and no 2? Current girl under plays her abilities and although has had to learn she had sound riding school experience and listens/ reads/ and l can ask her to come to whichever things l need a hand at knowing she will be 100% reliable …..and will muck the lorry out afterwards without thinking it’s a chore. Not sure about possible no 2 yet will have to see if she turns up, l suspect she won’t.

 

[maya2008]

In my experience, sharers often come straight from a riding school and need serious input to get them to a basic ‘riding club’ level because they haven’t had access to 1:1 lessons on responsive horses. When I needed sharers, I put the time in to educate them and insisted on them having a lesson a week as well. Competent adults were few and far between. There may be more sharers around in the current market who have had their own horses but cannot now due to financial reasons, but I doubt there are tonnes of them.

 

[ponynutz]

In my experience, sharers often come straight from a riding school and need serious input to get them to a basic ‘riding club’ level because they haven’t had access to 1:1 lessons on responsive horses. When I needed sharers, I put the time in to educate them and insisted on then having a lesson a week as well. Competent adults were few and far between. There may be more sharers around in the current market who have had their own horses but cannot now due to financial reasons, but I doubt there are tonnes of them.

Uni students often are a good bet too (say this as a uni student loaning out atm but also know people who picked students particularly because they were normally reasonably competent riders looking for something to ride while away). Only works of course if you live nearby one.

 

[Sossigpoker]

I'd ask them to send you a video of themselves riding beforehand- joy riders probably won't bother to do that.
Personally I wouldn't pay to go try a horse and anyone charging for it for me sounds dodgy (obviously not you )