Loaning a quirky horse just for hacking/jumping

dressager

dressager

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There is a bit of upheaval at my yard at the moment and I *might* need my horse exercised in the week maybe twice. Its an option of paying one of the yard girls to hack him or finding someone competant to loan him, but only for hacking, or possibly a bit of jumping if the rider is good enough. Only thing is he can be a bit of a handful hacking on his own, very spooky etc, so not sure if this would be an option... However he is currently on competition mix and we are going to take him off it. He used to be fine before he was on it. He's pretty chilled in the school. There are other people to hack with who are very knowledgable and helpful, and he is fine in company. Plus its all off road, very idyllic riding, TROT rides etc.

Do people actually pay just to hack a horse out? Especially as he's not really a happy hacker but a fit 7yo WB competing BD, professionally schooled. If so what would you pay?

P.S This is not an advert so don't even offer! Likely I will do it through word of mouth through trainer. Just not sure if he's suitable for loaning and I'm better off just paying one of the girls working at the yard who know him well and are confident riders :confused:
 
I would look at the sharer option initially as it won't cost you money but will give you a contribution towards his keep. However if that isn't of importance then think about paying someone.
 
yes i paid last summer to hack horses out £20 a time the women charged me which was a lot but didnt include any stable duties and they were 3 hour hacks at a time and very fun

Defo worth thinking about a sharer for him but alot of the adverts seem to want £20 a week plus shoe costs for someone to ride a horse the owner wont ride for whatever reason - If this is the case i think its taking the mick a little bit. I was paying £80 a month for a share of 2 horses which the owner would ride and had interest in. I had it quite good but if you are looking for a sharer be reasonable with it and they are likely to stay longer etc
 
I loan a very spooky 'fun' horse and pretty much just hack, the odd schooling session and a bit of jumping with him. I love quirky horses, and there's lots of other people out there who do too. The only problem is that you would just have to be mega careful to make sure they could ride before you sent them out or else it might come back to bite you!
 
If you're in a financial position to pay someone then I would do that. You know they're competent. If money is a factor then word of mouth is a good way to find a sharer. You can usually get a realistic picture of their riding ability from impartial parties.
Plenty people will happily 'just hack' and a lively hacking horse will suit many of them very well. Good luck!
 
Thank you for the advice everyone, all sounds promising. I could afford to pay someone to ride but would much rather save the money and spend it on lessons instead :D
 
I must admit I pay the yard to hack George out when I'm struggling - YO will ride him forward and not let him slob on his forehand. I've learnt from experience that someone "only" hacking or jumping your horse can undo all your hard flatwork just as easily as if they were schooling.

But, if you find someone who rides yours as you would want, or your horse is more established, then a "sharer" could be a real benefit :)
 
Toffee was my first loan pony and my first pony I had on my own at a yard with no owner there 24/7 she spooked, barged, bolted and was generally not a ideal first pony, however shes my one and looking back although I was normally s*****g myself I actually had my best years horse riding of my life with her. Who needs brakes at pony club rallies anyway?

There is bound to be a teenager out there up for a challenge. As long as said rider is safe and competant then there is loads of fun to be found. GOOD LUCK!!
 
Bit confused....(easily done) are you looking to pay someone to ride your quirky horse out for you (when you can't) or are you looking for someone to pay you for the pleasure of riding said horse out??
If the latter - wonderful, well done, and if you are successful i might try similar!
 
Gleeful Imp thanks, hadn't thought of that. I guess my criteria is a sensible adult with some interest in schooling, but not sure if they'd want to just hack :(

dressedkez now I am confused also :confused: By your first option do you mean I can't because I am incapable or because I can't for time reasons?? And by your second option I assume you are referring to a standard loan, when someone pays to ride your horse for the pleasure??

As I said there is a change in the yard circumstances which means my horse will no longer be on schooling livery. I am not really interested in hacking and don't really have time just to hack out. I want to carry on training and competing BD, therefore its a good opportunity if someone wants to hack a quality horse in lovely countryside (120 acres private off road riding), and if they want to jump him say once a week/fortnight that is fine too. But just no schooling! And it would be much better if they did not hack alone. I will be riding him 3-4 times a week, loaner can hack twice and then one day off. Hope this makes sense!
 
There are a lot of people who like jumping but hate flatwork - if you are willing to let someone jump him once a week as well as hack out you would I think have a good chance of finding someone - maybe a student who has some free time during the week but can't afford their own horse. If you make your charge less than the cost of riding at a riding school then you will have more chance of getting someone!
 
and as your boy is working well on the flat - why not open it upto someone who could do a bit of that - IF they have a lesson with your trainer to make sure that sharer and your horse click? a very good friend of mine has done just that - took her a bit longer but she has 3 really super sharers to help with her 2 - 1 is a pure dressage horse and the other a bit more of an all rounder but both are not novice rides - fine for a compentant amateur. By going through this criteria and then testing the water with possible newby having a lesson it meant that all parties knew they could work together.

And I have just benefited as have been away on training and my friends lovely sharers took my boy on as well so he has been out and worked in my abscence!
 
The only problem i would have with not letting them flat school, but letting them jump, is that anyone who was into jumping should know you need to flat school/ do pole work and grid work etc as well. The only people who i have met who jump but don't school have been the 100mph ragging round and booting over jumps just to see how high they can go- kind. Which ruins a horse quicker than it would if you let them school a bit too.

I would be worried it would attract the wrong sort. So i do think you need to allow some schooling, as above with an instructor if needs be. Or just hacking. Just my opinion!
 
Hmmm ..... Hacking and jumping but no schooling?

I think I probably wouldn't mind the hacking bit...but jumping without schooling?

I've always been taught that it's the job of the horse to jump the jump, but our job to get them there. That means that all we have to concentrate on is the schooling - the jumping will either happen or it won't.....?!?
 
First find the person you want to ride your horse, then find what they want!!!!

Some want money, some want opportunity to compete, some just want to have the opportunity to hack out without the responsibility.

If you pay then you have more control over the situation. If you are paid then you may have to compromise a bit more ... !

I would advertise for someone to ride and see who comes along.
 
CalllyH said:
Luci07 - 3 sharers for 2 horses?! That seems a little much. how does that work then?
Click to expand...


Effectively its 4 riders as my friend rides too - one is fully shared and the other is shared with the owner - so they have a number of days and can swap between themselves. All 3 of the sharers are very good riders, not just happy hackers (absolutely no dis-respect towards happy hackers!) but for different reasons are without horses atm. They school/train/XC and compete. My friend did put a lot of effort into getting really competant riders and it is working well!
 
My share had 2 other sharers at one point. Now there's just me and a girl who potters about on him a couple of times a week. It worked well, we all rode rode a couple of days, i sometimes rode 3. He was a super fit mucle man. Now he's a fat bloater! He needed all us sharers! So yep, have seen it work well
 
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