Pros and cons of offering someone the ride on my horse?

cptrayes

cptrayes

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I've got a hunter who needs to come back into work soon, and I have plenty to do with two other horses I'm doing dressage with at the moment. Lucky me, I know :)! I really only keep the hunter to hunt him, I'm not that fussed about riding him any other day but Saturday. He's a LOVELY horse, but I just have other stuff to do. I could try and find an adult rider to come up once a week and hack him out (can't stand kids and anyway they'd have to drive here!), but I'm not sure whether I would regret it if I did.

So, can anyone offer pros and cons of having someone help you exercise your horse when it lives at home with you?

All answers gratefully received.

Cheshire/Staffordshire/Derbyshire borders if you want to PM me!
 
I'm sure that there are lots of people who would be willing to exercise your horse for you and as long as you get the right person I don't think there would be any cons. I met a girl through a neighbour who is a vet and has always ridden but doesn't have the time to own a horse so she rides with me to help keep the horses fit while my OH works away during the week.
 
Personally I'd be requiring anyone who rides my horse to have their own insurance (or be BHS gold members).

Also, you need to go into it with as much care as you would, for example, loaning your horse. I've been caught fair and square with letting people ride mine in the past - one person ruined my lovely saddle by plonking it down with the cantle against a brick wall, which ruined it (she was a friend as well); another "friend" who'd been to equine college just couldn't cut the mustard with my boy and he developed some really evil little habits - and then, unbeknown to me, she was taking him up the pub rather than taking him for a good trot which was what I thought she was doing!!!! grrrrhhhh.

So personally, I'd consider getting some thoughts down on paper about the whole thing; and have a rather more structured approach.

If you can get the right person who will respect your horse and ride it well, it would no doubt be fantastic for everyone. Its just finding that right person.
 
katherine1975 said:
I'm sure that there are lots of people who would be willing to exercise your horse for you and as long as you get the right person I don't think there would be any cons. I met a girl through a neighbour who is a vet and has always ridden but doesn't have the time to own a horse so she rides with me to help keep the horses fit while my OH works away during the week.
Click to expand...

Same as above.

If you find the right person surely there couldn't be any cons, just make sure they are well matched, honest and have the correct insurance, it could work very well for both you, your horse and the rider.

Good Luck
 
Its ok so long as you know no one ever treats or teaches your horse as well as you do.

If he is the forgiving sort that won't easily get into bad habits then it is easier.
 
He's a solid IDxShirexTB who just loves moving. I don't think there would be any bad habit issues with a decent rider.

I'll check my insurance with BD but I'm sure it covers my horses for any activity that they are doing with someone with my permission.

Lot's of reasons Mrs M :) It's the end of May already and drag hunting starts before the end of August with full on galloping for those who are up for it, and I am! I also like my horses to be fitter than they "need" to be for the amount of work that I ask them to do, I think it saves on injuries.

The poor fellow loves to work, too, and is looking at me all the time asking why he's not going anywhere and the others are.

Lastly, he's barefoot and he needs time to get his foot growth matching his wear rate. I don't want to have to boot him up, and I'd have to if I give him more time off, slowing his growth rate, and we don't take the build-up gradually.

Thanks for the comments, it's sounding like quite a good idea at the moment.
 
MiJodsR2BlinkinTite has reminded me of a similar saddle incident. (it was years ago) My father had a local lady exercising his quieter horses in the week, and on one occasion, my mum witnessed the saddle flying across the yard. The girth had been undone but the saddle left on top of the mare, and the mare flung herself round, sending the saddle flying.

A different girl, and a different horse; my dad's old ex-chaser was crippled one day after he'd been exercised, causing him to be PTS a few months later. It was back in the day when they fired tendons. He'd been sound for over 2 years, and was a light hack. The girl who rode him was aware he was not to be galloped, jumped or ridden through excessively boggy ground. Regular road walking was done to keep him fit, and sane! He was a very nice hack. We never proved it, and we never accused her, but we all quietly suspected the cause of a tendon literally bursting out of its skin was caused by him being galloped.


I suppose you just need to make sure you've got an honest and experienced person, as novice people seem to do stupid things and you don’t want them making mistakes whilst handling your horses and kit.

I've since not let anyone ride my horses, apart from paying instructors do do a specific job if I'm away on work or holidays, etc.
 
From the other side of the equation i have been exercising other people horses for a few months now and personally i make sure i do everything by the book exactly how the owner wishes me to as at the end of the day it is their horse and it is my privilege and good luck to have fond a nice willing owner who thinks i am good enough to ride their horse. My job is to exercise the horse so i exercise the horse what ever the weather etc. and then report back. All the owners so far have made sure they have seen me ride and supervised to start with so they can tell if i am competent or just if they or their horse likes me so far has worked out fine.
 
I agree that if you find the right person there should, in theory, be no cons. And you are right that your insurance should cover them as long as they have your permission. If you were paying them it would be different.

Were you intending to ask for a contribution as this is a sure fire way of warding off the non-genuine and non-commited people who just want to mess people around. I once advertised my old mare for part loan but as she was at grass and cheap to keep wanted nothing in return. All the replies i got for my advertised 'non novice ride' was parents seeking a free ride for their kids or teenagers who were not brilliant at riding. As soon as i added a charge to the agreement of £15 per week i immediately found a lovely, reliable girl who rode her for a good few months and treated her as her own before i ended up selling her.

I would say it is most definately a matter of trust and just outlining the do's and dont's very clearly. Especially if they horses are at your home that is someone else you are inviting into your space- a stranger initially. And you also need to bear in mind responsibility should the horse or any equipment get damaged. I think as long as you are present the first few times they ride, just so you can be sure they are the right person, there should be no problems.

There are some part loan/ sharer agreements on my website if you wanted to look for some ideas as to what to consider. Just click on 'Equine Guides' on the homepage.
 
Great advice thankyou. And a seriously good reason to keep the battered (but sound, just not pretty) WOW saddle I was about to sell. It can "belong" to the rider. I think he'd be difficult to "break" he's as tough as an old boot, already with a blemished knee from a kick so no looks to spoil, and I expect him to gallop through and across all surfaces and there is nothing round here that a rider can do that I don't expect him to do. Now, where do I find one???

I'll think abouta contribution. Do you think it would make them feel as if they have a "right" to come into my home though? I wouldn't want them to feel that I owe them a service because they are paying for it.
 
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