loan horses

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rodger

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my wife and I are both novice riders and are looking for a loan horse. Can anyone help as we seem to be hitting brick walls. We have plenty of friends in the Equestrian/Yard world but do not have the actual riding experience.....Any ideas anyone?
 
I would get lessons first.

I would imagine people would be reluctant to loan to novice riders?

ETS Maybe you could help out one of your friends for a while in return for some experience?

Good luck xx
 
The only advice i can give you is to get some lessons.

Would you lend your car to someone who hadn't a driving licence? and who'd only ever pottered around a car park in 1st gear?

What you're asking is for someone to lend you their horse, for you and your wife to take responsibility for it's life (afterall a simple mistake can easily kill a horse) when you have no experience?? Bearing in mind the average horse to suit a novice would cost in the region of 3k and would have had years spent on it's schooling and training. You are seeking the impossible. No one would lend you their horse without you having a bit more experience under your belt.
If you can afford to keep a horse, you can afford lessons for the next 12 months....
 
You'd be best off looking for a share from a reliable owner with a safe horse - perhaps an older one that has got the T-shirt and taught novices to ride before. It's a rarity but there are some out there.

Some people are willing to offer part loan to novices so that their horses get more time spent on them.......

Try posting in your local tackshops and equestrian mags.

In the meantime good lessons at a reputable riding school will enable you to get more saddle hours - try and get variety from your lessons and hack out or even consider jumping once you're safe, competent and confident on the flat.

Many people start at riding schools before they move on to their own horses and the experience is invaluable.

Owning or loaning a horse isn't just about the riding anyway - there's hundreds of things to looking after a horse that you only learn with good experience and teaching.
 
Not much to add to the above. All sound advice.
But can i just say how nice it is to see a novice rider ho is actually willing to ask and accept what they are told.
Good luck with your hunt, perhaps someone where you have lessons may be able to help?
x
 
I agree that a share arrangement might be the way forward for you, so that you can do things with the horse under the direct supervision of the owner until you have the handling experience to do more things on your own. As somebody else has said, looking after the horse is about so much more than riding it, and in my view you are more likely to do harm in the management side than simply riding.
Good luck in your search, there are suitable horses out there for you, and plenty of owners who might be happy to share their costs and like a riding companion
 
start at a riding centre, lessons can get boring going round and round in the school , go and book a hack, they provide horses 4 all abilities, and it will also teach u how to behave in traffic , etc, thats where i picked up wen i got older, and its great fun to , and value 4 money ... enyoy yourself
 
Many riding schools now offer training for your BHS Horse Owners Certificate. This is a great way of learing about all the things you won't get taught in your weekly riding lessons and once you pass, will be a great way of showing that you are dedicated and understand how to care for a loan horse properly.
 
I'm in east yorks so i will keep an eye open. I've got a lovely horse for loan/share but he is definitely not for a novice
blush.gif
 
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