Planning ahead for young horses future, ideas pls?

[Littlebear]

Pondering the future and my options for a young dressage horse and wonder if anyone has any ideas?

I don't want to sell but also do not have the time to ride more than once or twice a week at best (not ideal for youngster) and that is very unlikely to change anytime very soon - so options for the future would be something along the lines of finding someone who maybe would like the ride, do i approach pros? decent amateurs?

My own trainer has tonnes of horses so doesn't need the ride, but there must be other pros short of decent, capable horses, or should i swallow the cost and pay per ride long term to keep more control of things and have the option to ride myself a bit when i have the time (cost not being the most important factor here)?

There is no end goal or expectation on the horse, but if someone else were to ride him I would like them to be capable, so i wonder what do others do in this situation?

I realise a lot of pros don't own the horse's they ride and have 'owners' - is anyone an owner on here and how does it all work? I have only ever had horses to ride myself.

Any thoughts appreciated

 

[paddi22]

what quality level is the horse? a lot would depend on how talented they think it is? so it have good breeding?

 

[Littlebear]

what quality level is the horse? a lot would depend on how talented they think it is? so it have good breeding?

I guess at present its a little unknown, but GP dressage bloodlines, conformation and movement is excellent (i know everyone thinks that about their own but it really is), has been backed nice and easily and is on a break at the mo and planning on restarting in Autumn. Whether the horse will be amazing under saddle for competition is yet to be seen of course.

 

[LEC]

I think more and more breeders are trying to partnership with young riders/up and coming pros now who are in a good system. Provide them with a very nice young horse and they pay towards costs. I would possibly put the feelers out and see what happens. You don't need to make any decisions unless you find the right fit.

 

[milliepops]

if your trainer has connections i would try picking their brains as they may know of someone who would benefit from having a ride, that would also suit you.

 

[ihatework]

It’s going to boil down to how good the horse is, how good a rider you want on board, how much you are willing to put in financially and whether you are prepared to give up a % of ownership.

You’ll most likely find a decent amateur. You may well find a talented junior without horsepower. But pros need to earn a living and can rarely afford to take on someone else’s horse for nothing.

 

[windand rain]

Costs will vary I am an amateur owner I pay all the costs including livery,vets, lessons and entry fees the amateur rider gets a quality young horse and does the work to bring them on they do need their own insurance though. If they fall in love and want to buy they get a big discount as I know the horse is their forever horse and they need a reward for their work in making it. I won't sell from under them either unless they give up themselves

 

[Littlebear]

It’s going to boil down to how good the horse is, how good a rider you want on board, how much you are willing to put in financially and whether you are prepared to give up a % of ownership.

You’ll most likely find a decent amateur. You may well find a talented junior without horsepower. But pros need to earn a living and can rarely afford to take on someone else’s horse for nothing.

Totally understand that, thanks for the input. I guess a decent amateur may be the best way to go idea and as milliepops said it is probably worth a chat with my trainer once the horse is there, i would not be prepared to give up any ownership, i wasn't sure how it worked to be honest and what options may be available.
.

 

[eggs]

I looked into it a few years ago with a good pro rider. Basic livery with them was £220 per week with all running costs (entry fees, insurance, vets, shoeing, etc) on top.

 

[maya2008]

If I was in this position I would probably sell, change my hours/commute/whatever so I could ride more or find the money to put the horse with a pro. I know you don’t want to sell - what about the last two options?

Why?

An amateur, offered a free ride. Sounds perfect right?

To get to the level you need, a rider needs years of riding and competition experience, a fair few of those on young horses of a similar calibre to yours. GP bred horses come with pre-installed buttons and sensitivity. Different experience to your average all-rounder. They need the time to develop your horse, transport and skills. If they have all that, and they choose to ride your horse for you, they will put thousands of pounds of value onto your horse, along with hours of their time, risking injuries etc (young horses do sometimes cause accidents!). What are they getting in return, for skills that other people would pay them for?

So you will find people, but finding someone committed, skilled and long-term will be harder. You also run the risk of someone not being quite good enough. Or of someone just wanting to learn on your horse, ready to bring on their own - ending up with them making all the mistakes on yours.

You could be really lucky, but if your horse is talented, the rider it needs is probably good enough to charge for their skills.

 

[milliepops]

An amateur, offered a free ride. Sounds perfect right?

To get to the level you need, a rider needs years of riding and competition experience, a fair few of those on young horses of a similar calibre to yours. GP bred horses come with pre-installed buttons and sensitivity. Different experience to your average all-rounder. They need the time to develop your horse, transport and skills. If they have all that, and they choose to ride your horse for you, they will put thousands of pounds of value onto your horse, along with hours of their time, risking injuries etc (young horses do sometimes cause accidents!). What are they getting in return, for skills that other people would pay them for?

potentially, access to a nice horse they wouldn't otherwise be able to afford. I am not about to toot my own horn, as I'm a decidedly average amateur rider who just works really hard, but that kind of arrangement would interest me particularly while my yearling grows up. I can't afford a decent horse but I can afford to run one and have trained my own to small tour, i am based on site with my trainer etc etc. there will be others like me - I do think that kind of thing can work well if someone crops up via word of mouth for instance.

 

[Littlebear]

potentially, access to a nice horse they wouldn't otherwise be able to afford. I am not about to toot my own horn, as I'm a decidedly average amateur rider who just works really hard, but that kind of arrangement would interest me particularly while my yearling grows up. I can't afford a decent horse but I can afford to run one and have trained my own to small tour, i am based on site with my trainer etc etc. there will be others like me - I do think that kind of thing can work well if someone crops up via word of mouth for instance.

Yes, someone like yourself would be ideal. I am not trying to shirk costs or get someone to make my horse worth a load of money, I will never sell this horse, ever, i would rather keep as an un-ridden pet to be honest.
Just the thoughts of finding an arrangement that works well all round. I have transport, a decent horse, funds to pay for whats needed etc, just not the time currently. It should have been that i do it all which i have just forward going i have to be realistic about what i can do vs what the horse needs.
A few years back i would have jumped at the chance myself rather than have the expense of buying (especially difficult for some with prices now).
The horse is naturally talented, he is bred to be, but i do not have any expectations here. Just a nice, kind, capable rider that has a decent ethos to the training that will enjoy it, that is all.

 

[abb123]

Some pros will be flexible on cost and how much riding they do etc. I had my young horse with a pro for a bit while I was super busy and I could have had them riding full time or I could have ridden a couple of times a week to reduce the cost. They would compete the horse in whatever I wanted them to or I could take the horse out if I wanted.

Might be a good option to see if someone offers this?

 

[j1ffy]

potentially, access to a nice horse they wouldn't otherwise be able to afford. I am not about to toot my own horn, as I'm a decidedly average amateur rider who just works really hard, but that kind of arrangement would interest me particularly while my yearling grows up. I can't afford a decent horse but I can afford to run one and have trained my own to small tour, i am based on site with my trainer etc etc. there will be others like me - I do think that kind of thing can work well if someone crops up via word of mouth for instance.

Ditto this. I'm nowhere near as experienced as MP and (lucky me) I would be able to afford to buy something nice-ish. But when looking for a stop-gap between my old horse retiring and my youngster growing up, I didn't want the hassle of finding something then needing to sell again 18-24 months later. I just wanted a horse that I could develop, have lessons on and compete. I took on a loan horse from a lady based at my yard - over the last 18 months I have tripled his value by re-training him for dressage and getting him (just about) to Medium level. I get nothing for that and some people thinks it's mad, but ultimately I've had the use of a nice horse, developed my skills and continued to compete. Cost-wise it's been the same as keeping my old horse so I've not lost out at all.

There are plenty of decent amateurs around who would love the arrangement suggested by the OP!