Ring for owners - wondering if its worth the effort

Maybe the answer is to have a written agreement with the owner that if they decide to sell you get X % of the value. Still won't stop them selling the horse on but it will at least give you some payment for the work that you have put in.
 
Shame you are not nearer to me in Kent! I have a lovely 7 year old who is coming on brilliantly who needs someone experienced and confident to get him out to some dressage parties and fun rides....no interferance from me except as a groom and proud mother!

oh any my husband does not know the meaning of jealous;-)
 
conkers said:
Maybe the answer is to have a written agreement with the owner that if they decide to sell you get X % of the value. Still won't stop them selling the horse on but it will at least give you some payment for the work that you have put in.
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For me its not about the amount of work I put in as my free time is exactly that, free, its loosing the horse that bothers me.
I would be useless at buying and selling as would never sell.
 
PaddyMonty said:
Thought of that but a tad difficult when I have a wife and two teenage kids. :p
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The jealous husbands dont need to know that do they;)? - Between you the jealous husbands wife, she can go home and tell him 'aw he is wonderful, he has great knowledge of curtains/cushions and the different fabrics that are available'...:p


He wouldnt dare ask again through fear of being nagged to death over patterned cushions!:D
 
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Feel for you :( Al now has an amazing owner, but 12 years of loaning or riding for people means you really do get the crappy end of the stick sometimes (which sounds wrong without the proper word there!).

It does mean the amazing owner is all the more appreciated and her support is just incredible- how many people will merrily tell a 17yo girl to 'just do what you think is right- I'll support any decision you make'?!

I hope you find someone soon. Riding horses that aren't yours is so hard because always seem to get taken off you.
 
PaddyMonty said:
For me its not about the amount of work I put in as my free time is exactly that, free, its loosing the horse that bothers me.
I would be useless at buying and selling as would never sell.
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Maybe if you went into it knowing that it wasn't a long term arrangement though....... so if you bought a little project and were strict with yourself from the outset that it had to be moved on within a year....

I can completely see that the problem with riding for other people is that you get attached and then are upset when the horse moves on. That was why I vowed not to share again and put up with riding schools until I could afford to buy. Sharing upset me too much.

I also appreciate that much as another horse would be nice keeping another is expensive (hence why husband and I share) it means that we have to have something suitable for both of us, so it did make finding the right horse more difficult.
 
Hovis_and_SidsMum said:
There is a simple solution.
Live in a caravan and drive between all our horses riding them. :)
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Good idea. I do have a caravan but my little furry friend informs me it is against Whippet Law for her to be forced to live anywhere that might result in the temperature dropping below 16 degrees. :rolleyes:
Does this mean I can ride the Destroyer? :D
 
PaddyMonty said:
Good idea. I do have a caravan but my little furry friend informs me it is against Whippet Law for her to be forced to live anywhere that might result in the temperature dropping below 16 degrees. :rolleyes:
Does this mean I can ride the Destroyer? :D
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You can ride the Destroyer anytime you're up this way.
You may be put off going XC or SJ-ing for life once you've jumped the Destroyer in full sail. 3/4 of a tonne of heavy horse muscle going at full tilt, well lets just say its an "experience".......... :)
 
Sadly it’s the way things go in the horse world and it happens on a regular basis to many pro riders. It’s hard but when you don’t own the horses there is always a chance of this happening as the owner will always have the final say.

When my son was 14 he was approached to ride some 148cm jumping ponies for an owner. It appeared to be a golden opportunity, initially there were 3 ponies plus 128cm ponies for the owner’s daughter, lovely facilities, grooms and coach was employed full time – in short much, much more than we could ever provide. The owner became more and more ambitious and starting looking for more ponies (for ridiculous amounts of money) and a 6 horse Whittaker lorry arrived with son’s name on the side! The owner promised my son so much, including birthday presents we couldn’t afford etc. Sadly it was all too good to be true and despite consistent results the owner became unreasonable, lambasting my son in public on one occasion when he was beaten into 2nd place in one class by 0.01sec in spite of having had several wins and qualifying places over the preceding few weeks. The owner then asked us to stop competing our own pony and another he rode for someone else as they weren’t good enough and he would buy better ones to replace them.

Throughout the time we were involved with this man another girl had been asking for the ride on the ponies and eventually she got her way. The owner dropped my son in the most horrible way possible – called him stupid and many others things, criticised our parenting including saying the school he went to gave too much homework! My son was devastated and his self confidence was shattered which affected his school work and his riding. The girl that took over the rides barely lasted a month before a very public fall out! In hind sight we should have been prepared for this but at the time we were blinkered by the promises made. While appreciating it gave my son some very valuable experience he would not otherwise have had it put him under a lot of pressure and has left us wary of riding for anyone else and has put my son off pure show jumping – hence the reason he turned to eventing.

Sadly with many people feeling the pinch financially at the moment the appeal of selling a horse they don’t do much on themselves is bound to be there.
 
I think it's just the way these things go unfortunately. The plus side is that you get a nice horse to compete for free, with no costs, or responsibility - you can walk away at any moment, so if the horse goes lame or develops an issue, it's not your problem.

The downside is as you've described - you put the work in and the owner can take the horse back, or sell it, at any moment. And it is a shame - its happened to me a number of times so I know how gutting it can be, but it's just one of those things.

Hope you feel better for the moan though, sometimes it's good to vent. :)
 
The Fuzzy Furry said:
I'd just like to clarify that I am NOT the furry friend being mentioned! ;)
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I can confirm this is true unless you happen to look like this young lady
other057.jpg
 
Hmmm its the fickle world of SJing really.

I would have loved to have found someone like you when I had my horse produced but its very rare to find someone with the talent thats not already ' set up' with their own yard / horses.

Personally in your shoes I'd find a project horse, turn it around and any decisions made are yours. I know you mentioned finances but there are some bargains to be had particularly if the horse is trickier and grass livery needn't cos the earth.

I also think it noble of you to cast aside your own riding ambitions so that the others in the family can ride. What about finding a family horse that can do all jobs for all people.
 
Haven't read the whole thread (not enough time, need to go and play nursemaid to my big grey donkey), but if you were closer to me I'd bite your arm off . . . my horse is with me for life (mine or his - I'm not picky), will never sell him, would lurve someone to share his riding education with me, no yard duties required but any offered appreciated.

Oh . . . and my husband is likely to be far more jealous of my relationship with Kali than any "bloke" who happens to ride him for me ;). He knows the only reason Kal doesn't actually live in our house/sleep at the foot of my bed is b/c it's impractical.

P
 
I was going to start a new thread looking at this subject from the other side - that is an owner looking for a rider; but thought I might add my perspective to this thread (hope thats ok folks )

I have two lovely horses, one older experienced established ride who I want to go out and do dressage, and one younger green specimen who could go to HOYS as well as doing very good dressage.

Trouble is, I am not a good enough rider nor is my nerve up to doing it myself, so have spent months and months now trying to find a rider to 'help' and take a proactive role with the riding, schooling, producing, and doing ALL the competing entirely at my expense, unlimited riding, opportunities etc etc. Neither of these horses will ever be sold, only over my dead body so's to speak, and I am looking for a long term commitment without any input into the poo picking, mucking out etc side of things unless of course said person wanted to help.

I've advertised, spread the word, asked people I know who might know someone who may know someone but without any success at all (apart from teenagers who can 'walk, trot, canter and gallop' - not quite what I had in mind and being of the 'older generation' don't want the responsibility of someone else's kids and would prefer adult company anyway - of either gender!)

I can't afford to pay, being a single full time worker with an elderly parent to care for as well.

I'm beginning to ramble now, but get my drift?

Fairy (and a frustrated one at that)
 
Because may daughters no longer ride and I need my pony fix I buy and bring on youngsters. I do most of the ground work my self, send them away to be backed and then a teenager hacks them out and takes them to a couple of shows.
I have never paid them but pay all their costs, food if we go to shows, buy them equipment and am very open that the pony will eventually be sold. I also if possible have older ponies that they can ride and compete.
When the pony is sold they get at least 10% of the sale price. I have no contract with them but I think that is fair. I rode for a small old fashioned dealer as a child, all the ponies were 'ours' until sold which as he sold my word of mouth could be 6mths to a couple of years, but we always knew they could be sold.
I would be more upfront about your situation, you obviously have something which is priceless and thats knowledge. Next time you are offered a ride give them a probation period of say a month and then after that a contract were you get a % if the horse is sold within a certain period after you have rode it. Now it may put some people off but if it does its there loss, let them pay someone to ride.
It a sad fact that people tend to only value what they pay for and because you do not charge they can get away with it.
I am trying to get a Section A backed at home ( I may have to cry and get my daughter who's 5'7'' to hop on it), have offered an hourly rate plus petrol but have had no takers which to me when everyone is saying how short of money they are is crazy.
 
PaddyMonty said:
I can confirm this is true unless you happen to look like this young lady
other057.jpg
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PM you really need to post warnings before photos like that. :mad:

It is taking all myself control and will power to persuade myself (and the OH) that we DO NOT need (or have sufficient space/time/knowledge for) a whippet in our lives and photos like this really don't help :mad:
 
Kat said:
PM you really need to post warnings before photos like that. :mad:
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So telling you she was a rescue job. Runt of litter that nobody wanted doesnm't help then. I did have to drive to deepest wales to get her though.

Whippets dont need much space, just a bit under the duvet or on the sofa. Time not an issue as they sleep most of the day (and night). Only 2 bits of knowledge you need 1) not to disturb them when under duvet, on sofa etc or you will get the whippet 'look'. 2) if whippet is not sleeping and house is quiet then its up to no good. :D
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Or maybe you should look at the whole plan, so horse is being schooled to compete at x....then what happens? So how about an upfront conversation to put rules in place, so you will do xxx, they pay for y. Whe horse has reached x standard, it will be a, sold and you get an agreed percentage, b, it won't be sold, but owner wants to compete once horse is established so agree what time that would be c, you keep going and improving horse but require x months notice if horse is being taken off you.

Or buy a youngster and bring it on and ignore the issues with owners!! I don't buy the while pretend to be gay, you are married with kids so can totally ignore any overtures and if your owners OH start to get jealous, then maybe a meal out with your wife and them could put paid
 
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