RS horse share - advice

[vixeyann]

Hi,

Was after some advice from you knowledgeable people if possible. Sorry if it's long!

I've been riding for a long time, mainly RS but also friend's horses along the way too. A few months ago I started sharing a horse at my local RS, the deal being you ride 3 times a week (one of which is a lesson), 2 days in the week, one at the weekend and help with stable duties. I really enjoy the latter, so always muck her out and groom on those three days and also help tidy yard and if any other stables need doing. However, it's the riding side that is niggling me at the moment and has been for a few weeks. Horse is an absolute bugger to catch and has to have a head collar on. She's turned out with other mares so if you try to bribe with treats like I did this morning, it causes arguments in the field and another mare got a kick from the top dog who took exception from her trying to get a look in. Someone had also removed her head collar so I couldn't catch her this morning, when she was free and the school free. I'm finding that on my weekend day the school is either totally booked (understandable for their busiest day) and even if there was a quick slot she is doing too much work for me to ride. So, unless I have my lesson on that day, riding on a Sat is out. I still turn up to muck out etc and groom, tack up... but for someone else to ride and sometimes I can't do that as Pony Clubbers have sorted it already. I'm getting frustrated that I'm riding once or twice a week at best and that I am not offered a different day if I can't ride. I realise it's not just the riding but I feel I am shelling out for something that I could get paying for 2 lessons a week and saving myself £60 a month in the process.

Am I being unreasonable?

Thanks

 

[Cutgrass]

Not sure how much lessons are near you but £60 would pay for about 1.5 per.month here, so it sounds like you're getting a very good deal and the trade off is not always being able to do things exactly as you'd like. Saying that, if you can afford it a private share with a proper loan agreement in place might suit you better. I'd be annoyed if the RS wasn't delivering on what had been agreed, but anecdotally RS shares seem to be known for that.

 

[vixeyann]

Forgot to add: not allowed to hack as RS insurers won't allow

 

[Uliy]

My advice would be to look for a private share, especially as you are so keen to get involved in stable chores! I saw a local RS advertising a similar arrangement to what you describe and was flabbergasted at the price. I’ve shared horses on both DIY and full livery for much, much better value. The problem at that point though is finding a suitable horse & a suitable, sane owner!

 

[vixeyann]

Not sure how much lessons are near you but £60 would pay for about 1.5 per.month here, so it sounds like you're getting a very good deal and the trade off is not always being able to do things exactly as you'd like. Saying that, if you can afford it a private share with a proper loan agreement in place might suit you better. I'd be annoyed if the RS wasn't delivering on what had been agreed, but anecdotally RS shares seem to be known for that.

Thanks for the reply. Private lessons are £20 here for half an hr. It's not so much the money, it's more getting the opportunity to ride. I pay £250 pcm for the share

 

[vixeyann]

My advice would be to look for a private share, especially as you are so keen to get involved in stable chores! I saw a local RS advertising a similar arrangement to what you describe and was flabbergasted at the price. I’ve shared horses on both DIY and full livery for much, much better value. The problem at that point though is finding a suitable horse & a suitable, sane owner!

Thank you I'm thinking the same. Frustrating as it's perfect in many other ways and nice people.

 

[Uliy]

Thank you I'm thinking the same. Frustrating as it's perfect in many other ways and nice people.

If you can find a good owner and a good horse it will be much more enjoyable for you! It seems RS shares are best suited to kids or people with very little stable management experience. There is nothing worse than paying for the privilege of mucking out, which it sounds like you’ve been doing! Fine and often enjoyable if it’s incidental to riding/spending time with the horse, but frustrating if you could be getting paid to do it or doing it for free, especially if someone else gets to enjoy the benefits.

 

[Country Mouse]

What you are doing is great for getting hands on experience, but not being able to go off the yard for a hack would drive me mad. Watching other people going out, perhaps on 'your horse' would be the worst. Time to look around for something better.

 

[Durhamchance]

£250 a month seems very steep! I pay less than half that on a private share. I go up at least 4 times a week, I can school or hack and I get the opportunity to compete too.
If you're on Facebook try joining one of the loan/share groups or your local equine group. Failing that- Preloved are good for rider/sharer wanted ads.

 

[vixeyann]

If you can find a good owner and a good horse it will be much more enjoyable for you! It seems RS shares are best suited to kids or people with very little stable management experience. There is nothing worse than paying for the privilege of mucking out, which it sounds like you’ve been doing! Fine and often enjoyable if it’s incidental to riding/spending time with the horse, but frustrating if you could be getting paid to do it or doing it for free, especially if someone else gets to enjoy the benefits.

Thanks for the great advice Definitely started to give me the hump a bit after this morning and the weekend. Better start the search! x

 

[vixeyann]

What you are doing is great for getting hands on experience, but not being able to go off the yard for a hack would drive me mad. Watching other people going out, perhaps on 'your horse' would be the worst. Time to look around for something better.

Yep..this is a bug bear. There is direct access to the forest and initially this was the reason for wanting the share. It changed last minute when their insurers said no. Yes, actually quite gutting to groom, tack up and watch someone head out on a hack!!

 

[vixeyann]

£250 a month seems very steep! I pay less than half that on a private share. I go up at least 4 times a week, I can school or hack and I get the opportunity to compete too.
If you're on Facebook try joining one of the loan/share groups or your local equine group. Failing that- Preloved are good for rider/sharer wanted ads.

Sounds perfect Thanks...it's good to hear what others are paying and doing to help make a decision. It's a decent wedge of money which, given the current climate, is not easily parted with! x

 

[Uliy]

For reference, I paid £100pcm to share a horse on full livery, and that was in London! Hacking, schooling, anything was my choice ?

 

[Skib]

Forgot to add: not allowed to hack as RS insurers won't allow

I have been in this position. I had a favourite RS mare with whom I had been partnered many years. RS insurance and (I believe) local authority licencing does not allow a RS client to ride without a member of staff being present.
The sharing deal I was offered was similar to yours and likewise cost more than paying for normal lessons and hacking. We did not go ahead with it.
I have twice shared a horse on full livery and the cost per hack was about the same as a 1 hr lesson, now £60 a ride.

 

[criso]

In terms of private shares, a good starting point is about £10 a day Some are less especially if doing chores are involved, some quite alot more at very smart yards.

The only thing I would say is at your riding school, I assume there are staff keeping an eye albeit at a distance and there to ask for advice. A private share especially on DIY you could be in a position of total responsibility, depending on the yard you may even find you are the only one there at quiet times. That is not to put you off, just something to be aware of and everyone has to take that step at some point.

You could put a wanted advert on preloved, usually I would say facebook but in your case you may not want the fact you are looking to get back to the riding school Preloved you can stay anonymous.

 

[J&S]

£250.00 per month is to my mind extortionate! It will be helping them out during this Covid time though as according to the BHS all riding schools are suffering badly.
Hopefully you could find a nice horse or pony locally that needs some extra work and be of help to the owner by doing jobs to save her/him time. A weekly/monthly contribution towards shoes and feed will also be of help to them, it should be decidedly less than what you are paying now. Downside might be having to work or ride on your own.

 

[vixeyann]

In terms of private shares, a good starting point is about £10 a day Some are less especially if doing chores are involved, some quite alot more at very smart yards.

The only thing I would say is at your riding school, I assume there are staff keeping an eye albeit at a distance and there to ask for advice. A private share especially on DIY you could be in a position of total responsibility, depending on the yard you may even find you are the only one there at quiet times. That is not to put you off, just something to be aware of and everyone has to take that step at some point.

You could put a wanted advert on preloved, usually I would say facebook but in your case you may not want the fact you are looking to get back to the riding school Preloved you can stay anonymous.

Bit mixed really. Quieter times in the week, might just be me around, so don't really ask for much help to be honest! I always ride alone.

 

[vixeyann]

£250.00 per month is to my mind extortionate! It will be helping them out during this Covid time though as according to the BHS all riding schools are suffering badly.
Hopefully you could find a nice horse or pony locally that needs some extra work and be of help to the owner by doing jobs to save her/him time. A weekly/monthly contribution towards shoes and feed will also be of help to them, it should be decidedly less than what you are paying now. Downside might be having to work or ride on your own.

Thank you To be honest I ride alone and it's usually quiet doing chores in the week, so I don't mind that too much.

 

[vixeyann]

Thank you for your words of wisdom. I think this has confirmed what has been in the back of my mind for a few weeks!

 

[ownedbyaconnie]

That does seem quite steep but as someone mentioned above you are (hopefully) better supervised than on a private share. I know when I first got into horse care as a young adult I would have paid more for that security.

Re the not being able to ride I completely get being frustrated, but bear in mind that not always being able to ride is often the case with all horses! I really try to organise physio, farrier, teeth, jabs etc to not be the day of my sharers day but sometimes it's unavoidable and they then can't ride. Although they pay about 1/3 what you do so I guess that is less annoying!

 

[vixeyann]

That does seem quite steep but as someone mentioned above you are (hopefully) better supervised than on a private share. I know when I first got into horse care as a young adult I would have paid more for that security.

Re the not being able to ride I completely get being frustrated, but bear in mind that not always being able to ride is often the case with all horses! I really try to organise physio, farrier, teeth, jabs etc to not be the day of my sharers day but sometimes it's unavoidable and they then can't ride. Although they pay about 1/3 what you do so I guess that is less annoying!

I totally understand the not being able to ride sometimes but I do think I am very accommodating - she was lame for a week and I never asked not to pay or for an alternative ride, if the close on a bank hol I don't get an alternative day to ride, a few times she has done more than her allocated work so I couldn't ride or have given her a day off in the field as I knew she had been worked a lot. I think maybe I am too agreeable sometimes and people take advantage

 

[ihatework]

I totally understand the not being able to ride sometimes but I do think I am very accommodating - she was lame for a week and I never asked not to pay or for an alternative ride, a few times she has done more than her allocated work so I couldn't ride or have given her a day off in the field as I knew she had been worked a lot. I think maybe I am too agreeable sometimes and people take advantage

It sounds to me like you have the horses best interests at heart. To give them some time in the field rather than ride them as you would be fully entitled to do is commendable.

I think the right private owner would be lucky to have you. Don’t however underestimate the steep learning curve of private yards and riding. You may only pay £10/day but keep investing in private lessons, freelance instructors will cost circa £30/lesson

 

[MissTyc]

If you give me £250/month, you can come to my yard and ride both my horses as much as you like .. OK, I'm joking, but being serious: when I was freelance teaching, a lot of my clients had lessons on share horses as that's what they'd arranged with the owner. Learn to hack with other yardies + lessons with an instructor. It was a great way for them to learn and really be part of the yard.

 

[criso]

Bit mixed really. Quieter times in the week, might just be me around, so don't really ask for much help to be honest! I always ride alone.

It's not a question of whether you usually ask for help, it's the fact it's there if there was an emergency. I wouldn't think there would be no member of staff on site at a riding school.

As I said, it's not a reason not to do it, just to be aware that you are taking the next step.

 

[ownedbyaconnie]

Don’t however underestimate the steep learning curve of private yards and riding. You may only pay £10/day but keep investing in private lessons, freelance instructors will cost circa £30/lesson

This in spades! My sharer is a lovely little rider but she looks a lot better on her schoolmaster RS pony than she does on my green connemara. I had another sharer teach my mare an impressive napping habit because all she did on her own was go large around the school, she didn't know how to ride without someone shouting instructions. When my instructor then taught her and asked for her to do a 20m circle or go on the inside track my mare would nap and that sharer quickly realised that despite being in the highest ability class at her RS, she didn't actually know how to steer.

So in short, yes factor in the cost of a lot more lessons with a freelance instructor!

 

[maya2008]

After one bad experience in the past, I would say - never share a horse you cannot easily catch! Not worth it.

Look for a private share, as others have said. Then you can hack and (mostly) get into the school when you need to and all the other things you might expect!

 

[Uliy]

Alternatively, if you were to volunteer at the riding school would you get a free ride in return? Doing this allowed me to begin schooling by myself, whilst under the supervision (although I didn’t realise it at the time as a teenager!) of staff members who were still on the yard if anything happened. That could be a stepping stone before you begin a private share?

 

[vixeyann]

This in spades! My sharer is a lovely little rider but she looks a lot better on her schoolmaster RS pony than she does on my green connemara. I had another sharer teach my mare an impressive napping habit because all she did on her own was go large around the school, she didn't know how to ride without someone shouting instructions. When my instructor then taught her and asked for her to do a 20m circle or go on the inside track my mare would nap and that sharer quickly realised that despite being in the highest ability class at her RS, she didn't actually know how to steer.

So in short, yes factor in the cost of a lot more lessons with a freelance instructor!

I love lessons and I wouldn't want to stop having them. I was lucky enough to ride a friends horses for a few years. They were wonderful, obviously different from RS horses and kept her home. Unfortunately we moved and I know I would be very lucky to find that set up again! Life and a young child sometimes get in the way, hence why I thought the RS share would be great. I suppose, like most things, they never go quite to plan! x

 

[vixeyann]

It's not a question of whether you usually ask for help, it's the fact it's there if there was an emergency. I wouldn't think there would be no member of staff on site at a riding school.

As I said, it's not a reason not to do it, just to be aware that you are taking the next step.

This is very true - thank you. Ideally something in the middle of both would be ideal! Thanks for the advice

 

[vixeyann]

It sounds to me like you have the horses best interests at heart. To give them some time in the field rather than ride them as you would be fully entitled to do is commendable.

I think the right private owner would be lucky to have you. Don’t however underestimate the steep learning curve of private yards and riding. You may only pay £10/day but keep investing in private lessons, freelance instructors will cost circa £30/lesson

Thank you. I really do. I know it's often a hard life for RS horses, so I do try to have her best interests at heart and have tried to bond with her by spending more time on the ground with her and really giving her a fuss, also in the hope she might be more inclined to let me catch her. She is an older horse and apparently has always been difficult to catch at previous yards. I don't think I'm going to have much chance of changing this, given the limited days I have and the fact she will be caught by other people on the other days. Perhaps lesson learnt! Thanks for your help x