Pros and cons of sharing/part loan

[Zoe08]

After a long break from horses due to uni, moving away from home and starting a career, I have taken the plunge and bought my first properly ‘own’ horse who arrives this week! She’s a 6yo, ISH, done a bit of BS and generally a laid back easy to do type.

A few months back I started helping out a friend of my OH with her horse, riding and doing chores. She then offered me a more formal sharing agreement but by then I had realised how much I missed being a horse owner myself and that I wanted to have my own again.

I have found a good yard with decent facilities (part livery) with a friendly YO but I am feeling rather overwhelmed! While I have plenty of experience of horse ownership from when I was younger this was with the help of a very good support network including my parents. Now I am living in another part of the county with no horsey contacts whatsoever apart from the friend I’ve been helping out. I’m hoping that I’ll get on well with a few people at the yard (there’s 15 liveries) and I can make a few friends that way.

Prior to helping the friend I hadn’t really come across or heard about sharing/part loaning but it does appeal as a possibility further down the line - especially as a way of making another friend to go out and about with. What do people generally expect from a share/part loan? For a straightforward ride than can hack out safely, no chores, a decent school (30x60m), and the possibility to go to shows/outings what would be the right contribution to ask for? What are the downsides to an arrangement like this? I would be thinking 2 or 3 days a week plus any outings at the weekend. Any advice would be helpful thanks

 

[twiggy2]

I wouldnt look to start my partnership with a new horse with a loaner personally, i woukd want to know my horse inside out so that i would notice any changes in bahaviour.
I have a lovely 15yr old part loan my mare (alqays with dad there on her days), to be honest i rarley saw then as they were there on the days i wasnt, she had lessons qith my instructor for a while so things were consistant for the horse and a trusted person was watching over things and helping out whilst they got to know each other.

 

[starbucker]

Well done for taking the plunge its a big step up in terms of life organisation from helping out.

I think the key is to not be reliant on the loaner time wise or financially. many stay for a few months / year then drop due to commitments or wanting their own. about £10 - £15 a day for better facilities but some more experienced friends have their days for free (as you save money not driving to the yard / paying for services anyways and they are happy for them to be fussed and rode. Set clear boundaries e.g not to be jumped or bombed about , hack in company whether you want to be present and notice period for ending (again dont rely on them) etc. Not all want to compete some are happy to just hack its up to you to decide what sort of loaner you want. Any changes in their routine in advance so they don't rock up and the horse is geared up for a show with someone else (happened to me). Most are open to chores. Downsides - damaged tack, someone creating bad habits from not being as confident, chucking out too much bedding, being unreliable, stopping paying, not being as experienced as said,

Id be very picky about who you let on your horse, and be open to politely ending it if they are not right, perhaps putting your horse on full a couple of days a week would help lighten the load for you if you can afford it while tentatively looking for a reliable loaner?

 

[Wishfilly]

Firstly, I've very much been where you are- buying my pony after having been out of things for a little while and not having many horsey contacts where I was living. Plus covid lockdowns meaning I couldn't even get an instructor in at one point! Now I'm further down the line, I'm lucky to be on a lovely yard with lots of horsey friends, which I'm really happy about. It is definitely totally different when you're basically on your own to having parents and trusted people to support you.

In terms of part loans, it's not something I've ever done because I'm a bit of a control freak, but I have been the loaner in this sort of situation. I do think it's the sort of thing that makes most sense once you're an established partnership? It can be tricky, because I do think you need a level of trust.

In a lot of cases, the loaner is doing it (like you were) to gain experience, so it may not help with your feeling of being overwhelmed? I wonder if finding a decent instructor who you trust may help? That was a game changer for me!

Later on down the line, I definitely think you could charge £20 a day for all that with no chores, if not more! But equally I'd do it cheaper for the right person!

 

[dorsetladette]

Congratulations! Exciting times! we will obviously need photos of new horse when they arrive!!!

I'd wait and get to know your new horse for a while first. Does the yard offer extra services to help out if that is the part that is the overwhelming part?

You could join your local riding club to make some friends. Often they run social nights and clinics, and then later on join dressage or SJ teams.

As far as being the newbie on a yard - I was given this advise years ago from a lovely HHOer. Be wary of the first person to offer you a coffee or advise, they are usually the weirdo/bully. Every yard has one to a certain extent, it just depends how well the YO manages them that varies.

 

[Zoe08]

Thanks for the advice. I think the overwhelm is mostly worrying about the yard not working out - such as not getting along with people there, yard politics and the like! It seems friendly so far but I’ve only ever kept horses on a neighbours private land so the whole livery yard thing is very new to me and you hear so many horror stories!! I also won’t have transport for a while until I have set aside money for a more suitable towing car and trailer - the idea of to towing a trailer terrifies me but that’s another story! I’m probably thinking far too far ahead for now and need to just take it a day at a time…

 

[starbucker]

Get in to a routine - you will be absolutely fine.. take it slow if you want to, get to know the horse, I spent the first month mostly on the ground, walking out, odd ride out while I was waiting for the saddle fitter, if you dont settle at the yard you can always move