part loaning

nicole1968

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hi just want to know what experiances people have had when part loaning and whats the best way of finding the right person never part loaned my horse before so i am a little wary of doing it but i am struggling financelly since losing my job and sometimes time wise he is only just coming up to five and with the kids i sometimes cant keep his work consistent so we end up back at square one i didnt intend to get a youngster but due to cicumstances i ended up with one
 
Just reacently got a part loaner for my mare, she pays a little towards keep and does a few chores by choice. She does 3 days a week, sometimes more sometimes less, we have a very relaxed relationship and get on well so i go up at the same time and we do my two ponies together, i was a little wary but its worked out well :D

I advertised on pre-loved :)
 
I found my first pony via a work colleague of my mums, word of mouth I suppose....
I now share the lady's horse as me and her daughter both outgrew the pony (her daughter bought another horse which I also reguarly ride) and I've been sharing with them for 8 years now!
I know sharers have got this horrendous reputation - but we're not all bad, I promise. It's all about finding the right person who gets on with you and your horse and making sure your horse is getting the maximum amount of attention. I started off paying £40 a month for 2 days a week, mucking out, grooming, riding, water, nets etc and doing the shows on Rebel. When I took Kelly on, I did the same until I went to uni - now I've come home from uni, I go down every day me and Kelly's owner ride more or less every day n her daughter's horse and Kelly, and I don't pay any more - Kel's owner said she's as much mine as she is hers! :)
Kelly's been out of action for nearly 6 months now and still I went down every day to brush her, and do her jobs - we're also not all in it just to ride.
I don't know what I'd do without Kelly now and I'm very lucky I found her! I hope you find the right sharer and enjoy the experience :)
 
i know not all sharers are bad ive just seen bad ones on yards that ive been on were the sharer is doing things with the horse that i know they shouldnt be doing and this is what puts me off i know there are lots of brill people out there that do a really good job of shareing
 
I appologise in advance for the ramble....It ended longer than i thought.

I part loan Blue, along with another women (he's owned by the YO). The way our arrangement works out is that she pays her half as half full livery, so she doesn't have to do chores etc, and my half was originally DIY so to save hassel i said I'd just muck out everyday, however her half covers straw and mucking out charges if i'm not there (the YO then decided that if I mucked Herc'l - the family cob - out too i wouldn't have to pay my share as it comes out of the livery my mum pays...but again i don't have to pay for straw etc - My sharer knows of this arrangement, is aware i effectively pay nothing and is happy about it)

We split costs such as shoeing etc, and share stuff like fly spray etc buyin it as we need, or split the costs on big things that we need (as oppose to one person deciding they want like the brushing boots i bought) I (ok mum) also provides his feeds as he just has what Herc has, however if he needs a bulking agent due to weight loss in winter i'll talk to my sharer in to going halfs as it'll only be for Blue.

Exercise wise, My sharer rides 3 days a week, and only hacks, I exercise 4 times -ish, and mainly school him, so he doesn't get too many mixed signals in terms of schooling, which i'm thankful for as he's not very good as it is. Again, my sharer is very happy with this, as she is very much a 'happy hacker' sort.


It's a great arrangement that works brilliantly for the both of us, as i'm always on hand to help, which the sharer know. She's even said if she was ever in the position to buy him, she would want to keep our arrangement.

I've heard sharer horror stories, but the worst i've seen first hand is a girl on my yard (who has got alot better) jumping her sharer horse when he's not supposed to (only little jumps, but not the point....especially as this is a horse i've whitnessed depositing a previous rider on the school fence, not due to nastyness, but to the fact he physically couldn't manage the corners well enough) the YM was informed, who told the owner, who (after a quick chat with me) told them not to do that (they tried to deny it before realising they'd been rumbled...however they must have known who shopped them, yet have never had a problem with me, infact the daughter rides out with hme every so often. The daughter also brought him back up from the school a few times with out cooling im down properly....at which point she is promptly sent down the track by who evers on the Yard.

On the whole Part loaning/sharing is a good idea, especially if you have a horse that needs the work (ie your youngster) that through no fault of your own you can not provide.

Try putting ad's in the local tack shops. And make it clear what you are looking for from your sharer (tho can be discussed more in detail when decisions have been made). Also get them to come more than once to try the horse before making any decisions just incase. Then draw up a contract just stating the basics of who pays for what etc (the BHS as a good one for full loan that can be adapted) or any stipulations that you might feel need putting in place (such as them being the only ones with permission to ride the horse)

Sorry for the ramble....cookies if you finish. Lol. Hope it helps.
 
choose someone who actually likes your horse as opposed to someone who wants to just ride - Ruby has had a number of sharers over the years - the ones who have worked out best are those who wanted to build a realationship with a horse & agree on what will happen if the horse is out of work for any period of time:)
 
Are you on a yard where there are other people around? I'm sure people would keep an eye out for you - I'm sure people did with me when I first started :) ask your YO to keep an eye on them - I'm positive the sharer would understand you only want to know your horse is in the best hands, until you trust them.
As said above, make sure you make it clear in your advert what you want money/exercise/work wise and don't leave your sharer alone for the first HOWEVER many weeks until you feel comfortable with them being with your horse :)
 
I have had good and bad experiences. One of mine has has the same sharer for about 2 years - she treats him fantastic and likes to potter around quietly which suits me fine.
My other horse has had 2 sharers which have ended very badly with the horse suffering - both times with me finding out by chance they were doing things with the horse they shouldnt be - the first one was my friend aswell and she totally used the horse for her own jolly up with no regard for her welfare - i swore i'd never loan her again but someone approached me and seemed really sweet - 3rd day she had her i turned up unannounced and lets just say she was shocked as i caught her tearing round our xc course on my horse thats not supposed to do more than light hack - i could have punched her off the horse i was so angry.
 
:D i have just started sharing a horse (have always had my own before and still have one who is not rideable but still costs me the same) so am only paying a bit towards keep. i hope to form a bond with horse and do some schooling and improve her for her novice owner and have made sure that owner is happy with the way i ride and interact with the horse. there are lots of caring sharers like me who understand that the horse belongs to the owner who ,quite rightly, has the say on what you do with their horse. if they say no jumping, then thats the rule.... my owner advertised on the internet and had a few enquiries before me.......you could try in local tack shops, newsagents,ask your farrier/vet to spread the word that you are looking....good luck and hope you find someone nice:D
 
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