Moving on from RS - Is this asking too much?

M

Mythical

Well-Known Member
Joined
24 November 2011
Messages
310
Location
Lancashire
Visit site
I'm horsesless. Always have been and will be for the forseable future - as much as I'd love to have my own I just can't afford it (and the commitment terrifies me - I've never even had a hamster!!) but I'm getting more and more frustrated with the "advanced" class at my RS and, as much as I love the place, they can't offer me anything more.

If I look for a share, would it be asking too much/way to cheeky to look for a horse that's already fairly well schooled that I can have 2-4 lessons a month on and ride in the school once or twice a week just for practice?

I see lots of "dope on a rope" and "looking for someone to hack my horse" ads, but I can find no enthusiasm for hacking and I'm enjoying the RS horses who have a bit of spark. I'd want something that can do some lateral work, is capable of working in an outline, and can pop a decent sized jump occasionally, but I know people put alot of time and effort into schooling their horses at that level and don't necessarily want some muppet to come along and ruin it.

Is there any other option for me besides "lump it" and "get your bloody own"?
 
I was in your situation a little while ago :) I started with just riding a lively ladies pony and still having the lessons at the riding school. It was just for hacking. But she was all that was available, but I had a lovely time with her and miss rising around! If there's a horse just for hacking don't turn them down as she was better than the riding school horses I had ridden :) and the owner was a lot more flexible with everything. It was a great way to start with the commitments and I was very nicely looked after until I for used to having to do things differently :p
Good luck with your search and I'm sure you'll find something suitable :D
 
Firstly I think a share is deffiently the next step for you.

Secondly, I do not think its cheeky. Have you tried putting up wanted adverts in your local newspapers and tackshops? I would write how you are willing to have lessons with owners RI.

The thing is, if people do have a school master, they want the Horse to be ridden the same way. If another rider was to bring in a different RI, it could comprimise the Horses way of going as the teaching would be different. However if your willing to use the owners RI, there shouldn't be too much problem as long as you can ride to a decent standerd :)



Where are you based BTW? someone on here maybe looking. Good luck in your search and I hope you find something soon.
 
They are out there- to be honest if I was looking for a sharer I'd welcome the fact they wanted to have lessons as it would suggest that they actually want to learn how to get the best from my horse and not just gallop it around the countryside. You may need to be flexible as to what instructor you use though- most owners will prefer you use the same one as them (if they have lessons) so you are then using the same riding style/training methods.

Maybe put an advert up and see what sort of response you get? Good luck :)
 
I think that that is a reasonable request. As someone has already said, I'd rather someone had lessons if they were sharing my horses. I wouldn't really care who with either, unless the instructor they chose had obscure methods or wanted to drastically change tack or use gadgets..

My horses, one in particular, would fit your description, and I don't think you would undo them if you didn't ride the same. As long as you were sensible and cared for the horses well I'd be fine about you.

Good luck. Hope you find something. Perhaps put what area you are in - you may find someone on here that needs someone..
 
I think you'd find something if you looked.

I can completely appreciate where you are at, I've been there myself! I shared a Welsh D for a while and would have a lesson a week on him at the yard where he was kept with my usual instructor (he was on livery at the riding school) and then hack or occasionally school him on my other day. I generally did two days a week but sometimes more.

He was a super PC/RC type, a bit more buzzy than the school horses and quite responsive and light too so he really brought my riding on.

I after I stopped sharing him I started having some private or semi private lessons alongside my regular group lessons. The extra one to one time and the opportunity to do what I wanted without worrying about the rest of the group satisfied my need to "do more" for a while.

Then two years ago I started looking for my own horse. I worked out that for what my husband and I were spending on lessons we could get part livery (everything included bar the riding) therefore the commitment became a little less scary as the yard staff are attending to the essentials. Then you think that if you were struggling you could loan out or share for extra help with time or finances and it becomes a little less scary.

We bought our horse a year ago next week and it was honestly the best thing I have ever done! Wouldn't go back for the world!

The other thing to consider while you are looking for a suitable share is maybe doing some other things to push you. Can you compete on the RS horses? I used to do that and that gave me focus for my lessons and made me feel like I was progressing. Or could you train for your BHS exams? Or have some lessons at a different RS with a different instructor for a different outlook? My DH at one time was riding at three different yards and gained a lot from the different approaches and the variety.
 
As someone who as bot been a sharer / loaner and also loaned one of my horses out a couple of thoughts cross my mind with your post

If I were currently offering my horse out that it capable of what you are asking for ...

good you want to continue with lessons

I wonder if you would learn a lot from hacking out even if it is not your passion ( how much have you done)... B's last sharer had no experience of hill work or road work for example despite saying she jumped and galloped ... she found it difficult to do and learnt a lot form hacking out. My horse also loves hacking out and I would not be very happy with her doing only school work ( if its a loan rather than share)

NOt that am implying this about you but actually B's last owner was not really a capable rider despite her riding school experience and she struggled when I let her try and ride my own horse who is quite sensitive :rolleyes: .

It depends on what sort of horses you are used to riding... on the other hand some riding school only riders are very good and maybe got more about them in some ways than me cos I dont "do" jumping for example ;)


anyway if you dont ask you dont get and someone might be looking for someone just like you ....... and if you are prepared to adapt to the owners wishes / ways if required soemone might want just schooling in a school ;)
 
Ooh, plenty of food for thought there, thanks to everyone who replied!
I certainly have no problem with taking lessons with an RI who is approved by the owner (unless they're ridiculously expensive).

I may not be a capable rider. I have had part loans and shared before, and through that, hacked out alone and in groups, done roadwork, hill work, galloped and done some xc, but I wouldn't be confident taking some of the rs horses I ride at the moment out of the school! (the horses i had were bombproof - I could have fallen asleep riding either one! I absolutely adored them both but that was then.) I could probably learn lots from hacking, just as a happy hacker could learn lots from schooling - I wouldn't turn hacking down if that's what was available - I expect to learn/gain more from a share than just riding, but it probably wouldn't inspire me to cycle ten miles in the rain for it, iykwim.

I'd rather not put adverts up or advertise where I am - a bad experience in the past means I'd like more control over who contacts me than.....probably more than is reasonable! I accept that this may make the search an awful lot longer. :-). I'm just glad to know the share I'm looking for is not unreasonable.
Thanks again everyone!
 
Mythical said:
I'd want something that can do some lateral work, is capable of working in an outline, and can pop a decent sized jump occasionally.
Click to expand...

Pretty much any horse is capable of this...

No, I don't think you are cheeky but a lot of 'competition' riders would rather not have anyone else schooling unsupervised - although the fact you are wanting to have lessons would help.

I also think you may be underestimating 'proper' hacking; all our horses school on hacks - the full range of lateral work, changes etc. They also do a lot of fast work and jump...
 
I am looking for someone to help with my two horses. ideally someone who'd school when I'm not there, and hack with me on my days off. My older horse is a nob to hack out on his own, and my youngster hasn't yet hacked on his own, although he actually has to act as the schoolmaster when out with Mr Been there, done it and got the t-shirt... so if you are anywhere near Biggin Hill drop me a pm....! :)
 
mainpower said:
I am looking for someone to help with my two horses. ideally someone who'd school when I'm not there, and hack with me on my days off. My older horse is a nob to hack out on his own, and my youngster hasn't yet hacked on his own, although he actually has to act as the schoolmaster when out with Mr Been there, done it and got the t-shirt... so if you are anywhere near Biggin Hill drop me a pm....! :)
Click to expand...

Aww dude...all the best stuff happens in London!
Unfortunately I'm nowhere near it, which is gutting because the situation sounds beyond perfect!

I think I better put a rough idea of where I am in my profile so no one else types a whole post/pm out needlessly. Sorry to anyone who did.
 
Have a chat with the people in your local tack shop, they may know someone who is looking, or have adverts up. There are usually plenty about, as not everyone has the time to do everything themselves, or can pay someone to do it for them. Not asking too much at all,when I had sharers for my pony, who does all the lateral work etc as well as being great to hack it was good when they schooled or had lessons, as it meant I didn't have to
 
Sharing is probably the way to go. I was lucky when I was younger, even though we couldn't afford a horse (it was so much more expensive than now), I was offered rides on three of the instructors horses at the RS where I rode/helped out. I had choice of three BS showjumpers, 1 Grade B and 2 that were Discovery level and a very experienced hunter/team chaser. I would hack them out in return for lessons on them and groom at competitions, sometimes picking up a ride there too.
When I got my own horse and was at Uni, I had a sharer who rode him during the week when I was busy and had lessons on him, he was BD affiliated at Novice/Elementary so not a plod. She had a lorry too so in return for giving me a lift she got to ride him in a Prelim if we went unaffiliated, I would then ride in the Novice and/or Elementary too.
 
This is exactly what my friend does for her sharers! She has an older great all rounder who has been there and is still up for bright lights and parties. Her sharers have lessons , do clinics and go out locally competing. You are exactly the sort of person she has on board. I would put up a wanted ad, maybe run it through on here first, say area and have a mobile number on it. Good luck!
 
OP I suggest that you add to this post and your profile at least the county/city you are in so that anyone in your area can keep you in mind.

I'd also let your instructor know what you are looking for as they might know people who could do with a bit of help, a few people I knwo found shares through their instructor.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top