New to UK. Horse advice?

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Showryder

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Hello,
I was offered a job in the UK almost a year and a half ago, and the VISA process is FINALLY almost finished. They have me set to move there in January. I am equally excited and terrified. The position is in St Albans (in Hertfordshire). I have never been to the UK before, and the first time will be when I move there. I am equally excited and nervous!

I am a experienced rider. I have competed in show jumping (through 1.2m) and eventing. I used to work for an Olympic eventer schooling horses, being the primary rider for his CCI*-CCI** horses, and doing all the conditioning for his CCI**** horses. I haven't done much in the last couple years though due to graduate school and career. The idea of riding in the UK has always excited me, but I don't know how things work there. I am ok with just taking lessons or leasing a horse. Will I be able to find lesson programs/horses in Hertfordshire for more than novice riders? Is leasing a good option in the UK? I usually have plenty of people asking me to ride their horses and/or compete if I wished for free here in the US. Is that common in the UK too? I hesitate to just show up at barns to introduce myself. Any advice? Any one familiar with that area? Suggestions on where I might look?
 
We tend to not lease horses here. You may find a share, which means owner allows you to ride a set number of days per week with stable duties (or not) for a fee. Our barns are called livery yards, a good option would be an advert in your local tack/feed merchants as owners tend to go to these places.
 
Where are you moving from? I'm guessing from your use of 'barn' that it's America? You might have to learn a whole new horsey (and everyday) language!

I don't know the St Albans area very well so can't help you with that but could answer some more general questions. Over here it's fairly common for people to advertise for "sharers" or "part loaners" where you pay (or sometimes just do jobs) to have the horse for a few (usually set) days a week. That could suit you and it might be worth keeping an eye out in local tack shops or riding schools for adverts or joining local horsey facebook groups.

To get you started, there are all sorts of different riding schools and I'm sure there will be some in the area that cater for the more experienced rider with decent horses who are up to the job. I would look for a British Horse Society (BHS)approved establishment as these tend to be at the higher end of the market and more likely to have what you're looking for and should generally be better run as the criteria is higher than just licensing, for which the Local Authority is responsible.

Welcome to the UK, hope you enjoy it here.
 
I think what is a lease in the US is a loan in the UK. Arrangements vary a lot, but I'd be searching for loans if you want to have full responsibility for a horse, but don't want to buy.

I moved to the UK over 8 years ago, and I am offered plenty of rides these days if needed. But it takes time for people to get to know and trust you, and your skills as a rider. I wouldn't rely on offers to get you started here.
I'd probably aim for a livery yard and riding school that has instruction and competitions at the sort of level you hope to ride at, and see if you can get started with lessons or on a share/loan horse. That way you are more likely to cross paths with people that have similar ambitions and the horses to go along with them.
 
This sounds very exciting, good luck with the move when it eventually comes around!
I think you would find a share very easily, riding schools probably won't be of much benefit to you, especially if you wanted to go out an compete as well.
I agree with 9tails, an advert in your local feed/tack shop would probably be the best way of advertising for a share/loan - I always find myself staring at the notice board even if I don't need anything!
Personally I wouldn't just show up to a yard however my last sharer did just that and as it happened I was considering putting an advert up in the next week for my mare so it certainly worked out for them :)

As for general horsey differences I know from talking to some American friends that competing here in the UK is generally cheaper and much easier to do due to the proximity and frequency of shows and along with that livery(board) is also significantly less expensive. Horses are also much cheaper to buy if you were ever going to consider getting your own ;D
 
Yes, I am from America. I am going to have to learn a whole new vocabulary (and I thought it was bad enough moving from the Northwestern US to the South).

I have also noticed that despite the exchange rate differences horses are a lot cheaper in the UK. I am pretty excited about that!
 
With those sorts of credentials, you could do quite well in terms of getting rides. Can you get references?

Event riders in Herts include:

Kylie Roddy
Kirstie Short
Lisa Keys - who also runs a livery yard
Georgie Dalton
Gavin Makinson

All of these people can be found by Googling. You could contact them and offer yourself up as a weekend rider or ask whether they know anyone willing to loan a horse. Also keep an eye on the BE website. Occasionally you'll see a ride wanted ad. There was one up for a young horse in Buckinghamshire (next door county) not long ago.


In the meantime, have a safe trip over. Bring warm things. Snow is not so common these days, but by God, we can be damp. Seattle has nothing on an English winter.
 
Leasing is not common over here in the way it is in North America, more common to loan (no money exchanged, loaner responsible for full care of horse) or part loan (part loaner tends to pay 1/2 of horses costs in exchange for riding 3-4 days a week plus chores). Depends if you want that sort of commitment!

I don't know the area especially well but there are loads of horses/equestrian centres in this part of the world. A quick google shows Oaklands Equestrian Centre/College is just outside St Albans which might be a good place to start if you are interested in lessons. An equestrian college will usually have more capable horses to ride than the average BHS riding school.

Most areas have horsey fb groups with lots of local info, a quick search shows Hertfordshire Horse Riders has 12000 members! If you are interested in finding local eventers join #twittereventing on facebook too which is a fab page. Hope you find lots to get involved in!
 
If you want to get into eventing, there is a forum on the British Eventing site. It's a pity that the season is nearly over, but if you advertise, you may well find somebody in your area who wants a young horse brought on with a view to getting the ride next season. You may well find things are done very differently over here as far as horse care is concerned.
 
Welcome - I used to live in St Albans and ride regularly at a number of stables locally..I even helped exercise full livery horses at a yard in Wheathampstead where my instructor worked. I don't think you ll be lost for places to ride or opportunities to loan/share.
 
As others have said it is more common to loan or share horses here however sometimes competition horses are leased - often ponies where they will be outgrown quickly or school master types. Once you find your feet contacting local eventers or an advert on eventing Facebook pages could be the way forward. Good luck!
 
You might also find it surprising how cheap it is to buy a decent horse in the UK, especially if you are capable of improving it. From St Albans there will be many events within a two hour drive, it's a very small island :)
 
St Albans looks quite a nice little town and there are other nice places nearby. Do you have to sort your own accommodation out or does the employer help / offer anything? St Albans isn't that far away from me (I'm in north Bucks), feel free to message me if you' d like to make contact.
 
Clearing up some language differences here.

Lease = Loan/share in American.

Full lease = Loan. Leaser takes on full responsibility for horse's care and rides/competes it more or less when they want. Sometimes they pay the owner for the privilege, sometimes they don't pay the owner anything but cover all horse-related expenses themselves, in which case it might be called a "free lease."

Part lease = Share. Usually (but not always) pays a fee to the horse owner, contributing to the care, and rides a few times per week. Leaser does not have full responsibility for the horse.
 
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