Letting someone ride your horse?

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JessnGeorge

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Can anyone help with a dilemma?

I keep my horse at home where I also work and sometimes struggle to find the time to ride as much as I should. A local lady has approached me who would like to do some light hacking.

Here's the bit that's bothering me - I asked her to come and meet him, I was called away for 5 minutes while she was here and I asked her if she'd like to groom him - hadn't a clue which brush to pick up. By her own admission she knows nothing about handling/grooming/tacking up as when she was having lessons, all this was done for her.

She'd like to gain experience handling him which is fine as he is very well mannered and forgiving BUT he is an ex 2 star eventer whom I use for dressage and riding club activities (bit of XC and SJ but not too much as he's now around 22). He is great to hack but does need a waterford gag as he gets very excited and strong at times. I watched her ride and her seat wasn't that great, double bumps in trot etc. All I want is her to walk him round the private tracks but I am concerned that she may get overconfident and try for a canter. She can't hack out accompanied as it is just me with the one horse.

I have said that she MUST have personal accident insurance and he is obviously insured, I just can't decide if this could be huge mistake. All the time I'm dithering I'm putting her off but she is VERY keen, calls and texts etc. What do you all think.

Ice cream to those who have read this far.
 
She doesn't really sound experienced enough to handle your horse. Maybe she was nervous when you saw her ride, don't know,but for a horse that does everything your horse does, I would have thoughtyou need a competant, experienced rider. Just my thoughts tho.
 
Doesn't sound a suitable combination to me! If she can't even rise to his trot then what on earth is she going to do in any slightly problematic situations? And although it sounds awful to say, I think it would come back on you if she had an accident whilst riding your horse. Don't go there!!
 
Sounded like a NO in the third paragraph but by the time I'd got to the fifth, it was a definite NO!
 
I would be concerned about how good her hands are if he's ridden in a waterford. Novices shouldn't ride in anything other than a snaffle IMO
 
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I would say it was a bad idea letting her ride-not because she dosnt know much about grooming and tacking up as it shouldn't take to long to teach that and everyones got to start somewhere, but the fact she hasnt got a good seat and dosnt sound too experienced even in the riding part of it so could be quite dangerous if hacking alone and like you say if your horse can be quite strong she may not be able to handle him. Reckon you should bite the bullet and tell her that you wouldnt be comfortable with her hacking out alone. x
 
Sounds like she is not the right person for you and your horse.

My best friend and fellow livery is the only one who I would allow to ride my horse. Because she is a fantastic rider and horsewoman and knows my boy nearly as well as me and I trust her 100% with him.

The right person will be out there. Just may take some time finding them
 
Thanks for the feedback everyone, I know gut instincts are usually right. Perhaps she would be happy to perhaps groom and handle and learn that side of things as she says she does and suggest that she takes riding lessons at the riding school
 
Been in a similar situation before, although the lady I'm thinking of lied about her experience - not good when you're dealing with a sharp youngster :rolleyes:

Avoid avoid avoid.

The only way I could see it working out for you is if you babysat her all the time: which defeats the object of having helpt to exercise your horse, I'm sure. Otherwise the bridle could be on backwards and either the rider or the horse could come home without the other one day.
 
I have to agree with everyone else here, and say that she is not suitable for your horse.

It could really dent her confidence (and a nasty accident) for one if something was to happen to them both out hacking, but not only that your horse might get into some really bad habits which could be hard to rectify!

How about asking about for a more steady horse suitable for a novice that she could ride? She seems keen and it would be sad to just sod her off!
 
I agree with that the other posters have said. If she's not been able to convince you of her competency in the school, it's just not worth the risk.
 
As someone who was given a chance to ride and care for two quality horses who, looking back, were really both too good for me at the time, I often feel that I would like, when the time comes, to be able to give the chance to someone else. We all have to start somewhere. Saying this, it really does not sound at all like this woman is ideal for your horse. In fact it sounds a recipe for disaster - she has only ever ridden supervised in a school, it is a big step up to hacking out a strong ex eventer on her own.

Perhaps, so as not to damn the woman completely, you could be honest and say that you don't feel she has the experience to hack him out solo, but if she would like to gain some handling experience you would let her come up to groom/practice tacking up/bandaging/rugging. All of which could hold her in good stead for finding a more suitable share/loan horse.
 
My mother (who is also a fount of horsie wisdom) always says it takes years to make a good horse, and moments to ruin one. I would say no, because not only would she be at risk, but there are all kinds of ways an inexperienced rider could (with the absolute best of intentions) put your horse at risk. Tell her as kindly as you can that she needs to have more lessons and / or find a share horse who issuitable for novices. Your horse sounds gorgeous and I'm sure you could find a more experienced rider who would be delighted to help you..
 
I agree with Poodle20 to be honest. If she's not experienced enough to groom and handle then she's not really experienced enough to have your pride and joy. That's the way I'd look at it. To be honest I would be so fussy about having someone share my horse I think it would be totally impractical to try. They would have to be as knowledgable as me to let me share my pride and joy with them on a daily basis.

Don't get me wrong I am not worried having anyone on the yard ride my horse, I have offered him to people many times, more people refuse than accept and then I give up asking although I do wonder why they don't want to ride him as he is a smashing ride (in my opinion) but in the past I have had lots of people ride him without a problem. But it would be more the day to day handling aspects I would find worrying about having someone share my horse. You sound like you are wary already so in that case I would leave it and wait to find someone more suitable.
 
Hmm, by the sounds of it OP yours is not the horse for her! I have a had a few sharers now for my older girl, and the first TBH was a bit like your lady sounds, but the crucial difference is ythat my old girl these days is a real dobbin - in company she happily superglues herself to the horse in front's tail, and I didn't need her to be hacked out when I wasn't there - it suited me perfectly as I was grateful of the company and I was always there to keep an eye as I took my boy out with them. Said sharer learnt a lot from my girl and now (not advocating the wisdom of this TBH!) has her own 4 year old!
But to take even my mare out alone, well I let current sharer but only after she has ridden with me a few times a week for a couple of months, then with others on the yard, and I was happy she was competant. And she had been sharing quite a difficult horse before so my girl is super easy for her.
So in conclusion no, I think you might regret it if you let her loose on him, and I'm sure that someone out there would be much better, and another horse better for her.
 
mmmm....she does'nt sound too good. What does your gut instinct say?

I'm really, really fussy who rides my mare but thats just me.
 
No, would be my simple answer, if you need someone to keep him fit and ticking over when your busy, you need someone who can ride and someone who is capable of most things, ok maybe not jumping but everything else, last thing you want is to be worrying when she takes him out, sorry but no amount of insurance will stop her hurting yourself or your horse tanking off after a fall and getting injured.
 
perhaps you could suggest the lady goes and offers her help at a yard where she will have company as by her own admission she needs to learn so ideally needs the company of experienced people. Hope you find someone suitable.
 
Whilst I'm all for giving novice a chance to learn (we all have to start somewhere), I wouldn't be doing it with your horse.

I have shared my horses before with very novice riders but they were laidback and sensible types who would look after their riders. And they were never allowed to ride out of the yard on their own until I was completely happy they were competent. If they fell off in the school it wasn't the end of the world, but if they lost control out hacking it could be disaster.

Would it be possible for her to come and gain handling and horse care experience, and in return for her work you could let her ride under supervision once a week maybe? If she is genuinely keen you might find yourself a really good stable hand help, and if not then she'll soon get bored and you can find someone else.

Either way you need to be honest to her about your concerns.
 
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