Kids and share ponies - are we being taken for a ride?

[Kirstineridesagain]

This is one of the reasons we bought out own, so frustrating for you. Not that its an easy option either...

I would agree find a good riding school that also offers pony days, competitions etc too so they can get involved in that aspect of care and save up for your own. Or put an advert up on FB or somewhere for something else??

I have put an ad up at the livery page where I ride. Already the kind lady who owns "my" horses has suggested rehoming a pony on full loan from a rescue. She says livery is cheap there. Unfortunately my husband has a hangup about buying a horse. He is convinced it's very expensive to keep horses (he may be right). He's unfortunately aware that they need shoeing, dentist, vet, feed etc.

 

[rabatsa]

I am sure that the tax man would be very interested in this set up, as well as the local authority re https://www.gov.uk/government/publi...cess-statutory-guidance-for-local-authorities

 

[Ample Prosecco]

They are totally taking the mick! And poor ponies being used as riding school ponies/hire ponies but presumably without the the restricted hours and breaks they would be entitled to at a proper RS. To be 'back at a certain time' for the next child queuing up to get on board is shocking! Leave for sure. Own a pony days are great. The other option may be working livery. Almost every child rider my kids grew up with started off buying a pony from the RS (or buying it independenrly and then offering it to the RS but the owner had to approve suitability first) and keeping it on working livery - at least initially. So they built the relationship with one pony, but with cheaper livery and a lot of support. Then went fully DIY for their 2nd ponies afer a year or 2 of that. It worked very well at the RS I was at - but I know arrangements vary so check it out carefully first.

 

[criso]

I don't think £45 for 2 ponies is necessarily expensive but I think there is a lot wrong with this set up with the number of sharers. As others have said it seems more like a business.

However I do think it is reasonable to charge the same every month whether you ride or not. The expenses don't stop and the horse or pony still needs exercising.

I personally wouldn't consider a sharer who could only do term times even if they paid every month as for me when I had a sharer it was about exercise.

I would compare it to a gym. Sharing is like signing up and paying a monthly fee and it's the same whether you use it or not. It works out cheaper than pay as you go if you use it enough but not if you don't. A riding school would be like paying when you use the gym.

If you want a pay as you go situation, then a riding school may be better depending on how often you use it.

However I looked at pricing locally and the cheaper stables would be £48 per child for an hour's group hack, £58 semi private.

 

[twiggy2]

If the ponies are on DIY then I think the price is a little steep if you are paying part for shoes too.
When I loaned my horse, it was an agreed amount per week, no extras, that day was there's though so they had to muck out, bring in, poo pick etc etc.
They were great and it was no hassle.
I never messed them about though, their day was their day not mine so if they were in holiday ar couldn't come up for any reason they had to let me know and still pay the agreed amount for that time.

 

[conkers]

You are being taken advantage of. Not the paying when you are on holiday part - I would expect to do that. But having your times changed or restricted on a regular basis without an alternative being offered.
I would end the share. I would also make sure that I would put a message on the Whatsapp group explaining exactly why I was ending the share. You are probably not the only person who is having these thoughts and it may prompt a few of the other sharers to question what they are paying for.

 

[Jambarissa]

This sounds terrible but I think the only real bit where they are taking the mick is you not having a fixed time to share the pony each week.

The multiple sharers thing sounds awful but it's not like you don't know about it.

Sharing is basically owning the horse on your day every week so doing the jobs is to be expected, and not only should you expect to pay when you are away you should expect to pay extra for someone to do your jobs when you are away.

I dont think £45 is excessive for 2 ponies under a normal arrangement but this one is vile.

If the kids are young and inexperienced a riding school would be better, they're not all about going around in circles if you can look for a good one.

 

[Kirstineridesagain]

Thank you all for your advice. Now I just have to let the owners know...I'm dreading it. But I won't criticise her, I don't want an enemy (we have friends in common). Also, our children are friends (although they don't see each other that often).

The good news is a lovely lady I know from previously is offering her giant Shetland for both kids. I think my daughter might be small enough for it. He's really huge! The Shetland is at the yard where I ride, which is only ten minutes away, has indoor and outdoor schools and great hacking.

 

[Jambarissa]

That's good. Once you're on a yard it's often easier to find others to share.

 

[Gamebird]

I am sure that the tax man would be very interested in this set up, as well as the local authority re https://www.gov.uk/government/publi...cess-statutory-guidance-for-local-authorities

Legally they require a riding school licence to do this. The definition is 'hire of horses for reward'.

 

[Cloball]

When I was a young teen I had a pony on part loan with multiple people and it worked ok as the others were my friends, we had agreed days and the owner had no one else to ride the pony. It got very messy when the owner suddenly had friends with children who wanted to ride the pony all the time without a financial contribution so we would turn up and the pony had already been ridden (badly). Definitely soured things and we left shortly after. Just to say a share with multiple people can work but I feel like I've seen both sides

 

[ester]

This is a business, multiple shares can/do work but not like this.
We do also have term time only uni sharers at the yard as we’re close to Cambridge, they usually pay a bit while they’re not here but not full amount.

The kids will be sad to leave the ponies but you’ll find other/better opportunities.

 

[MidChristmasCrisis]

Contact the local branch of the pony club…lots of parents keep their ponies and loan them out when their own children move on. I do think you need to call time on your current arrangement.

 

[Rowreach]

We wouldn't mind coming twice in a week, however it's hard to find a time when the ponies are free and we are too (and we live 30 minutes away). I don't mind paying when we're away, although a reduced fee would have been better. They don't need extra sharers when we're away as 1. their own children ride the ponies and 2. they have four ponies and multiple sharers - I would guess three or four per pony. They are also multimillionaires.

I bet they are

 

[Mrs. Jingle]

They are also multimillionaires.

Well yes, I expect they are!

 

[Mrs. Jingle]

@Rowreach Great minds, yet again!

 

[MereChristmas]

.

 

[MereChristmas]

I bet they are

Well yes, I expect they are!

@Rowreach Great minds, yet again!

I was just behind you both.

 

[Rowreach]

@Rowreach Great minds, yet again!

We're so in tune it's like we share a dorm

 

[Polos Mum]

£45 a week wouldn't buy you two riding lessons a week (sadly) - you would probably need twice that and then there is no grooming / spending time with the pony which kids do enjoy and get something out of.

But if you're not happy then find another share. Coming into spring with the grass as it has been loads of people will be looking for ways to get porky ponies more exercise.

If they are multi millionaires the volume of sharers might not be to do with money / tax dodging.

My fattie could do with being ridden 3-4 hours a day every day in summer to keep weight off. I would need 20 sharers to do that if they only came once a week.
I would need the mother of all spreadsheets to coordinate it though so he'll likely to remain porky and muzzled !

 

[SaddlePsych'D]

It doesn't sound like a bad deal in terms of cost and payment over the holidays. However yard culture/environment are really important to me and it sounds like with this set-up it kind of sucks so I wouldn't be sticking around. It also makes me cross when, as pointed out above, people do things like this and dodge the proper licensing/insurance/tax.

 

[4Hoofed]

I would find another share. I don’t think the price is wrong but if you’re sharing and doing the work you should be a dedicated day!

 

[blitznbobs]

£45 a week wouldn't buy you two riding lessons a week (sadly) - you would probably need twice that and then there is no grooming / spending time with the pony which kids do enjoy and get something out of.

But if you're not happy then find another share. Coming into spring with the grass as it has been loads of people will be looking for ways to get porky ponies more exercise.

If they are multi millionaires the volume of sharers might not be to do with money / tax dodging.

My fattie could do with being ridden 3-4 hours a day every day in summer to keep weight off. I would need 20 sharers to do that if they only came once a week.
I would need the mother of all spreadsheets to coordinate it though so he'll likely to remain porky and muzzled !

If they are multimillionaires doesn’t mean they don’t want to make more or dodge taxes — most multimillionaires I know are very careful with their money… it’s a fallacy that rich people are wasteful with money they wouldn’t be rich very long if they were

 

[Vodkagirly]

Thank you all for your advice. Now I just have to let the owners know...I'm dreading it. But I won't criticise her, I don't want an enemy (we have friends in common). Also, our children are friends (although they don't see each other that often).

The good news is a lovely lady I know from previously is offering her giant Shetland for both kids. I think my daughter might be small enough for it. He's really huge! The Shetland is at the yard where I ride, which is only ten minutes away, has indoor and outdoor schools and great hacking.

Thank them for the share of the ponies and say you have been offered another at a more convenient yard

 

[Goldenstar]

Just stop .
You are not happy it doesn’t work for you .
Find a decent riding school and pay for proper lessons or look for a share that suits better .

 

[Glitter's fun]

Thank you all for your advice. Now I just have to let the owners know...I'm dreading it. But I won't criticise her, I don't want an enemy (we have friends in common). Also, our children are friends (although they don't see each other that often).

The good news is a lovely lady I know from previously is offering her giant Shetland for both kids. I think my daughter might be small enough for it. He's really huge! The Shetland is at the yard where I ride, which is only ten minutes away, has indoor and outdoor schools and great hacking.

Glad it sounds like you are getting sorted.

(You already know this but leave nicely - it's a small world.)

 

[Wishfilly]

This does sound pretty much like an unlicensed riding school, which is wrong. For that reason alone, I would definitely get out of the set up!

In terms of the things you mention, paying over the holidays when you're not there I think is probably to be expected to keep the share. Most people who share do for financial reasons or because they need the help, so if you can't be reliable year round, then you will probably find yourselves paying something for the share when you are not there.

I think it's increasingly usual to be asked to pay and do chores, but your contributions do seem high. That said, you won't get 2 riding lessons a week for £45 either.

It's tricky that the owners have promised opportunities, and then not delivered- I can understand this is upsetting, but I would view this as a "nice to offer" rather than an expectation from a share.

I would expect exclusive use on share days- maybe occasionally cancelled for the owner to compete, do camp etc.

In terms of getting your own- who would look after it when you're out of the country, and how would you afford that?

 

[Polos Mum]

If they are multimillionaires doesn’t mean they don’t want to make more or dodge taxes — most multimillionaires I know are very careful with their money… it’s a fallacy that rich people are wasteful with money they wouldn’t be rich very long if they were

They may well be tax dodging cash grabbing. But also wanting lots of exercise for a pony doesn't have to mean they are only in it for the money.

As a non pony owner the OP may not realise that it is ideal from a health perspective if a rotund pony got 3-4 hours exercise every day.

 

[splashgirl45]

Back in the day if I needed someone to exercise my horses I paid them. Nowadays people pay for the privilege plus they do chores. How times change!

I’m old and I used to ride horses for people years ago and they expected to pay me. I didn’t take any money as I was enjoying the riding. I did no jobs just groomed and tacked up etc . Nowadays I could understand doing all of the jobs for the day and riding but find it hard to understand paying for the privilege . Surely if the owner is getting the day off and they didn’t have a sharer they would need to pay the yard for the jobs… I find the new arrangements very odd..

 

[ILuvCowparsely]

My daughters have been sharing some ponies for over two years. The eldest is growing out of the biggest one (it's quite tiny and my daughter is 11). But that isn't the issue, really, as she can probably ride it for another year.

The main issue is how we are treated by the owners. We pay every single week, year round, despite us being away for every single school holiday. That just means that every ride is quite expensive. We pay 45 pounds per week for the two ponies to take them on a hack, groom them, and do 30 minutes of poo picking. We also pay for part of the shoeing. We have a slot, but frequently we get asked to change it as the owners want to go to events with the ponies, have friends who want to ride etc. There are also plenty of other sharers, some even on the same day, and we get asked to be back at a certain time, not to go out for too long etc. If there is an issue with a pony I am always told it's our fault. "Anna must be a nervous rider, I've never seen Seabiscuit do that with us." That sort of attitude. Last year we kept being promised the opportunity to go on a beach ride, but I realised it would never happen after a while. This week they cancelled our slot because of their own commmitments - when I asked if she could find us another slot, she replied that the share isn't about just riding, it's sharing the ponies. Well, my kids don't want to come to just groom and poo pick.

The tack is also not optimal. It takes me so long to saddle up as the girths are too short. All in all, I'm becoming a bit fed up. The reason we have kept going is that the ponies are generally lovely and my children have been enjoying it. But I could spend some money on lessons and get their skills upgraded instead. I just worry that the children will miss the ponies, and for my youngest, it's a really good match still size wise. I guess I am realising we're just one of many sharers and even though I'm friendly with the owners and have done them many favours (don't want to be too specific) I just feel like they are taking the piss sometimes. We bought a full set of showing gear, for example, as a couple of years ago my children were allowed to go to a show with them and do some classes. The owners reassured us we would be able to use the clothes plenty of times, but they've invited other people along the other times and my children have outgrown their gear now.

The solution to all this would of course to get our own ponies, but financially we can't right now.

How much is normal to pay for a pony share once a week? Is it really fair to keep paying whether we can ride every week, either due to circumstances on their part (injuries, owners' using the ponies) or us being away? We also lose a fair amount of rides due to the weather. I think the owners have been quite clever in their setup, as they make about seven or eight thousand pounds per year on this (based on my own calculations) and can dictate exactly when people can ride.

By contrast, someone we know who has a similar share just pays ten pounds every time she rides, and can choose when that is. When she's unable to ride she pays nothing. And as for me, I don't pay to ride at all, I exercise someone's horses and they're very happy that their horses get ridden. I guess this just makes me question the arrangement I have for my daughters... (having said that, I think it's reasonable to pay for a share, I know it's expensive to keep horses!).

We're in the southeast, I don't know if that makes a difference to how things work.

Addressing some of your questions.

• To be honest £ 22.50 is nothing for a hack ride, you go to a riding school and you will pay a hell of a lot more.
• I wouldn't expect a sharer to pay for shoeing only a loanee
• A sharer, normally has the pony for a day and it is flexible when they show up, they shouldn't have more than one sharer per day as that is taking the p$$
• My liveries charge £ 20 per day to share and that is their day eve if the ride twice in the day
• it is pretty normal for a sharer to pay regardless if they ride, it is not the horse owners problem, they get sharer's to help pay the bills, our sharer's can swap days with the sharers but they still pay weekly. I wouldn't want the hassle of someone paying as and when they want, I still have to pay for the pony's feed and it has to earn it's keep. Is it fair to a horse owner to have people riding willy nilly never knowing when and if someone rides the ponies????

You should have a contract which stipulates what you get without a contract your stuck.