Looking for a horse-share opportunity

[giulia98]

Hello!

I’m looking for a horse-share opportunity in West London.
I started riding last year and, through volunteering regularly at my yard, I’ve gained solid hands-on horsemanship experience. I’m confident with full grooming, mucking out, leading, and tacking up.
I also volunteer for the British Horse Society.
I’m 28, based in West London, and weigh around 60 kg (132 lbs) for 156cm (5.1').
Please send me a message if you know of any suitable opportunities.

Thank you
Giulia

 

[Skib]

You would be better looking at the facebook horse share page for London and the neighbourng county or counties where you might want to share. Or look on line at the BHS list of recognised schools and call in to talk to them. Sometimes taking lessons at a yard is the best qulification for sharing there.

Like you I did the BHS stable management course and helped on a yard, leading and tacking up etc.
If one shares at a riding school or sharing yard, there is usually someone to help you tack up and to mount. And an RS horse is used to different riders and sharers. But it is a different matter if you are going to catch a horse from the field, bring in, groom, tack up and ride by yourself, especially if it is a privately owned horse.
You have to be realistic about why owners look for a share - There is always a reason. Do they need the money or does the horse need exercise?
And demand outstrips supply as many people after a year or two riding are looking for a less expensive way to get more time with horses.
If you have ridden only in the school, you will not be used to long canters, so I suggest you do some hacking and learn how to slow and stop a horse that is running away with you. How to sit a spook or persuade your horse to pass something scarey.

I always looked on learning to ride as similar to school education. At primary school you know the letters of the alphabet but that doesnt mean you can read Jane Eyre. After two years basic riding, you can compare it to A levels and start to specialise in what you like best. Jumping or dressage or eventing?
I also aimed in my second year of riding to ride lots of different horses.

Once you settle in at a riding school it is quite possible to have a regular slot to ride the same horse - long term that is similar to sharing. I have had three long term shares in the last 20 years and thus never felt I needed to buy my own horse. I loved them all.

And the extra year of education which I am suggesting will really set you up as a desirable sharer in a year's time if you are still loking for a share. If a rider turns up in all weathers, pays on time and the horses like her, then one is a desirable rider. I was offered my first share after 6 years of riding. And Googled and then answered an ad for the next.