Returning Adult Rider Part Loan / Experience?

[christine456]

I've been lurking for a while and can say this forum is a great source of information!

After being a horse mad kid who was costed out of horses, I'm now 27 year old home owner with a good job who has refound my love of horses with aspirations and the budget for ownership in the next year or so. I have been back in private lessons / hacks since spring and can comfortably walk. trot canter and tack up. My instructor suggested my riding is at an acceptable level for horse ownership. HOWEVER I find there is a gap between riding school (both in horses and expectations) and starting to part loan in terms of ground work - I am lucky my school does tacking up / grooming / occasional chance to turn out and rug (although I have to fight off the kid helpers to do this) however I'm not sure how to get the relevant experience for bridging the gap to initially part loan / and potentially follow to ownership. 2 hour lessons a week is just not feeling like enough!

Looking for advice on where to start with this transition and whether this is something that will come with time and a bit of initial guidance from the loaner. Has anyone else who went through something similar as an adult?

Keen to learn & thanks in advance!

 

[Jess1994PM]

I went from riding schools when I was young to part loaning and just learnt from there - none of my family are horse orientated so I found advice off videos/loaners/instructors helped me for years and now im 28 with years of experience and my own horses. I would choose a nice safe cob or similar that is stated suitable and just be truthful that its your first loan horse and you would like a bit of guidance. I would always watch them ride their own horses a few times too. If your on a big livery yard chances are most people are helpful enough too but sounds like youll be just fine for part loaning. I would loan for at least 6-12 months before going on to owning just as there is so much to know. Once you develop a bond and start to know the horse your riding you will find you improve anyway so i wouldnt be too worried about the riding part (just make sure its not nuts though and suitable for you) i would say its more about the general care with ownership - things like spotting when to call a vet, basic first aid, feeding what and how much, safety for your horse (things like tying up correctly), when to organise farrier, dentist is more important. but good luck and hope you enjoy it!

 

[Red-1]

My sharer didn't even know how to out a halter on when she started, much less a saddle and bridle. She was sensible, kind and wanted to learn, that is all I cared about. I was happy to teach her.

She was reliable and also gave me some £ towards keep. Small price to pay for me to train her.

 

[sassandbells]

Red-1 said it perfectly. I’ve had a few sharers for my guys and the best ones have ended up being the ones who want to learn and ask questions, even if they don’t know that much to begin with. If you’re up front about your experience you’ll probably find they’re more than happy to help show you the ropes!

 

[JBM]

I full loaned my first horse and kept her at my riding stables so I had support
Then I bought her ?

 

[christine456]

Thanks all for your comments - makes me feel a bit better! Just don't want to be wasting anyones time and wouldn't want to put myself in a situation out of my depth and wreck my confidence! I have been approach by 2 people locally (online) who have 14.1 / 14.2 cob types but I've never ridden anything under 15.1hh in the riding school. Would this be too small for an adult (im 5'5 and about 10.5 stone) ? I see alot of adverts stating not a novice ride / 13hh so haven't responded to those. Will make it clear I will need showing the ropes if I do find one which may work.

Im certainly not as brave as @Katie&Judy - glad to hear it worked out for you! My stables is always quite quiet as only small usually 1 lesson and instructor certain times of the day and I work full time so not sure I would manage this!

 

[JBM]

Thanks all for your comments - makes me feel a bit better! Just don't want to be wasting anyones time and wouldn't want to put myself in a situation out of my depth and wreck my confidence! I have been approach by 2 people locally (online) who have 14.1 / 14.2 cob types but I've never ridden anything under 15.1hh in the riding school. Would this be too small for an adult (im 5'5 and about 10.5 stone) ? I see alot of adverts stating not a novice ride / 13hh so haven't responded to those. Will make it clear I will need showing the ropes if I do find one which may work.

Im certainly not as brave as @Katie&Judy - glad to hear it worked out for you! My stables is always quite quiet as only small usually 1 lesson and instructor certain times of the day and I work full time so not sure I would manage this!

brave or silly we will never know! Completely fair my stables was a riding school mostly with a few liveries so always someone around

 

[Pmf27]

For me, a part loan IS the 'bridging the gap' bit. This is where you will learn so much and it'll all come thick and fast.

When I started on the loan I have now, I was pretty much fresh from a riding school, though had a few short-term loans in the interim that hadn't worked out.

I'd been riding for years and felt very comfortable and confident around horses, but suddenly I felt like a fish out of water.

Then it all just clicked. You've just got to give it time. But don't feel put off by your lack of experience, loaning is where you learn all the stuff that is necessary to eventually go on and own ?

ETA: The cobs you have mentioned don't sound as though they'd be too small for you. You're a similar height and weight to me and I'm currently riding a similar sized cob, if that is of any reassurance at all.

 

[christine456]

Thanks @Pmf27 I've agreed to go see a 14.3 chunky cob who's available wednesdays and fridays, was hoping for a weekend day but I imagine the owner probably wants them then? I can finish early on Fridays so could work okay, but will be limited for hacking etc due to the daylight, but imagine this is quite a normal limitation at this time of the year. maybe thats for the best so I can get used to the care side of things? Seem like a friendly yard with people around to help. Anything I should ask / look out for to make sure it would be a good match?

 

[JBM]

Thanks @Pmf27 I've agreed to go see a 14.3 chunky cob who's available wednesdays and fridays, was hoping for a weekend day but I imagine the owner probably wants them then? I can finish early on Fridays so could work okay, but will be limited for hacking etc due to the daylight, but imagine this is quite a normal limitation at this time of the year. maybe thats for the best so I can get used to the care side of things? Seem like a friendly yard with people around to help. Anything I should ask / look out for to make sure it would be a good match?

Hacking is hard this time of year unless there’s off road hacking or you’re confident in the dark (wouldn’t until you’re confident with the horse)
I’d be asking about arena availability if you have to book
See them ride the horse before you do
I’d be asking to catch the horse (if turned out) and tack up to see what the horse is like and also pick up the feet and give a quick brush while owner is there
My mare used to be tickly on her pecks and would get nippy if you went to hard was good to know!
How much is the horse usually worked and what they do
What cost or jobs are needed
Is there anything special they need? One of my horses used to get mud rash of wet sand was left on her legs so always had to hose/brush it all off

 

[Pmf27]

Thanks @Pmf27 I've agreed to go see a 14.3 chunky cob who's available wednesdays and fridays, was hoping for a weekend day but I imagine the owner probably wants them then? I can finish early on Fridays so could work okay, but will be limited for hacking etc due to the daylight, but imagine this is quite a normal limitation at this time of the year. maybe thats for the best so I can get used to the care side of things? Seem like a friendly yard with people around to help. Anything I should ask / look out for to make sure it would be a good match?

Great! I hope that it all goes well, it's so exciting going to see a horse for the first time.

Yeah, as Katie&Judy said, this is a really difficult time of year for hacking. I've just had to change one of my days to a weekend day because of this.

You might find that, as you get to know horse and owner a little bit, they'll let you have the odd weekend day. And over the spring/summer they might be happy to give up a weekend day as they'd be able to ride in the week. But this ofc isn't guaranteed, so if you were really wanting a weekend day, I'd say you've got nothing to lose by mentioning this and seeing if they'd be open to it.

Let us know how you get on!

 

[christine456]

Incase anyone would like to know - I Went along yesterday evening and I think it could be a match - he's got lovely ground manners (minus me needing a little assistance to get him to stop nibbling his hay and to get his bridle on) had a nice little trot round in the school and he was pretty easy to keep going but not overly forward (the owner showed me first and was using alot of leg but seemed alright once I got on). Though it was a little different feeling his paces compared to the 16hh plod I have lessons on but sure Id get used to it! There may also be option for a Sunday potentially in the future as the owners not sure if her other loaner may drop that day. Going again this afternoon to hopefully have a little hack out with one of the other loaners, apparently he gets a little nappy at the top of the road but after that is fine, so I will see how we get on there and have a better tour round the yard. If all goes well we have agreed look at doing a weeks trial and go from there! There's a livery down the lane which does lessons / clinics so may look into this though reluctant to give up my regular riding school slot just yet - just incase!

 

[Pmf27]

Incase anyone would like to know - I Went along yesterday evening and I think it could be a match - he's got lovely ground manners (minus me needing a little assistance to get him to stop nibbling his hay and to get his bridle on) had a nice little trot round in the school and he was pretty easy to keep going but not overly forward (the owner showed me first and was using alot of leg but seemed alright once I got on). Though it was a little different feeling his paces compared to the 16hh plod I have lessons on but sure Id get used to it! There may also be option for a Sunday potentially in the future as the owners not sure if her other loaner may drop that day. Going again this afternoon to hopefully have a little hack out with one of the other loaners, apparently he gets a little nappy at the top of the road but after that is fine, so I will see how we get on there and have a better tour round the yard. If all goes well we have agreed look at doing a weeks trial and go from there! There's a livery down the lane which does lessons / clinics so may look into this though reluctant to give up my regular riding school slot just yet - just incase!

This sounds great! Really pleased for you that it went well. Here's hoping the trial goes well ?

 

[Winters100]

To me I would be absolutely happy to part loan the right horse to someone like you, that is someone keen to learn and who knows that they are in need of more experience and help. Where problems arise seems to be mainly with people who think that they know it all. The reality with horses is that none of us do, we are all learning, and it sounds as if you have exactly the right attitude. Good luck with the trial and I hope that it is a really positive experience for you.

 

[Bernster]

I jumped right in at a similar stage to you. Had owned a pony as a child but hadn’t really done any of the horse care. Not sure in hindsight it was the best way as I was pretty inexperienced but I had a good yard and got an experienced sharer early on who helped me. You could look for a share or part loan arrangement. It really helps to start getting that network of support, which I’ve found really useful over the years.