Part loan for 13 yr girl

noblesteed

noblesteed

Well-Known Member
Joined
3 August 2009
Messages
1,872
Location
Up North
Visit site
My friend's daughter is horse mad and always has been. My non-horsey friend is looking for a loan horse for her. She says she rides well although has only ridden at (an excellent) riding school, and she helps out there with stable duties. My friend wants to find someone who will show the girl how to look after the horse first then let her ride in exchange for doing stables. The girl is tall and quite mature and sensible I must add, but mum doesn't want to buy her a horse until she has 'learned the ropes'.
I just wondered how many people would allow a 13 year old girl to look after their horse and ride it a few days a week? Even if you had shown the girl exactly how to care for the horse, do you think at that age girls are responsible enough to do it unsupervised? Would you allow them to hack out unsupervised at that age?
Is my friend being realistic or should she be thinking of other ways to satisfy her daughter's horse obsession?
 
It wouldn't put me off, but obviously it depends on the type of horse and what she will want to do with it; ie competing, or just schooling and hacking.

It also depends on the yard I would say, people would be more obliged to loan a horse to a 13 year old if the yard was busier, seeing as there would be more people around to help her if she needed it.

But don't let this limit your options, it varies from owner to owner I would imagine, but if she has enough experience and as you say, is mature enough to do it then she should be able to find one.
 
We had a nightmare with similar. My sharer started with my horses at almost 14. I sat down with her (non horsey) mother and explained how dangerous it could be, that my horses were well behaved but not fool proof and that I was not prepared to be a substitute parent ie no more responsible than I would have been had sharer been an adult. All agreed.

By the end of the summer that she was 14 my 15.3 had been sold due to change in my circs (last in 1st out) and she had way outgrown the 14.2 and the 30y/o wasn;t up to enough to keep her occupied. She looked for AGES but most people wouldn't let her share/part loan as she was under 18. She did get offered lots of 13.2s but at 5ft11 this is not going to work!!

By now 15 she only got offered 1 in 6 months and it was a bit of a nutter, unfit unschooled etc.

She still came and helped me out but very little riding. When my sister offered me her mare on loan I grabbed it as it meant sis didn't have to sell and sharer now has a horse. her parents contribute to cost and she mucks out for me a couple of days a week to pay her way for the short fall.

I think your friend's daughter will be able to get up to 14.2 or maybe 15hh easily enough but with bigger horses people don't want under 18s on them, which is funny coz the ponies can be way naughtier!!

It is a sound plan to get experience before committing but at that age it can be hard to find. Good Luck.
 
Sounds like a share horse might be a better option, and an arrangement where the owner was present some or most of the time. Personally I would hesitate to leave a 13 year old unsupervised with my horse, no matter how well behaved the horse. I would expect the mum to be around at all times when the child did stable duties, and for another adult to acompany on hacks. I would also be a bit hesitant to take responsibility for someone else's child myself, especially as the mum is not horsey and may not fully appreciate how dangerous horses are.

I may be being too cautious though and she may find plenty of people who feel otherwise.
 
I used to help out a couple of people with their horses at that age to get experience. ALthough they were always with me when I was down with the horses. The first one had her own land and 5 horses. I didn't get to ride that much, but really enjoyed learning how to look after them. I was down ever weekend and holidays.

The second was on a DIY livery, she had a riding horse and a shetland. We used to do all our jobs then hack out together. Most of the owers were more than happy to have me ride their horses, so there was always something for me to ride.

I then got my own horse which I looked after on my own with none horsey parent at 15.
 
I think she's really looking for a share. I've had a few sharers for OH's pony, and usually am around when they are, as they have always been 11-14yo due to pony's size. Those with sensible horsey mums have done her on their own, or in places where YO will keep an eye and I'll be down at some point just to check jobs were done correctly etc. For someone to share with no financial contribution, it'll be time that they need, and they may not be able to be around all the time, or may need significant chores doing that don't just cover the horse/pony's care.
 
i would be happy to have someone like that help me out, i have 4 neds ranging from 3yrs to 18yrs, 2 are in the process of being backed so always need help, the other 2 are rideable and safe, although i am possesive over my big lad!

the yard they are on is well equipped and always someone around and to be honest i'm lost if i don't go up so enjoy being up the yard even if i put them on full livery for the day!

so yes i would have someone like the girl you are describing help me out, lots to do and it would relieve the pressure of juggling the neds around and what i can do with them!
 
I had a share when I was that age and my non horsey parents would sometimes be arround. It was on a busy yard with los of others arround and the person whos horse it was had another so they were there every day. I had a pony that was semi retired and was the been there done that type of thing, it worked really well as I kept her ticking over but didnt work her hard as I wasnt capable enough and in return she looked after me through all my numpty moments. It might be worth looking out for something like that or some one with an outgrown pony that they dont want to sell if she is not really tall.
 
My friend did have a sharer that was exactly who you described, she taught her to tack up and everything, girl has no lost interest but she is looking for someone. She is round swindon if thats local for you?
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top