Share horse advice

[lexy17]

So my parents have recently agreed to get me a share horse (well, mostly agreed) but before we go ahead and start looking they have a few concerns they were hoping I could come up with solutions to. The main one is that they are concerned about my safety if I am riding alone. I'm confident enough in my own ability, but despite having ridden for years now most of my riding has been in riding schools. I have ridden more than just riding school ponies, but I have never really been in the situation where I am riding in an arena completely on my own. I am just wondering what people do to keep safe while riding alone, and also what kind of things are generally done on livery yards safety-wise. Plus, if anyone has any experience and can offer any help on the transition from riding school to sharing, please let me know!

 

[ihatework]

Riding horses outside of riding school is very different so I think your parents are probably wise to be asking these questions.

On a livery yard generally no one is obliged to watch or babysit you. Depending on the yard then people may well be around but you can’t rely on it.

If I were you I think there are a few things you could probably negotiate with your parents.

Short term (first 3 months?) you won’t ride the horse unsupervised. So you will either ride while others are in the school or arrange for someone to be around. It could be that your parents do the odd supervision shift too.

Once you and the horse know each other then maybe you could say you won’t hack or jump alone, but could go in the school alone for flatwork and you will text before you get on, keep phone with you, and when you get off safely.

 

[moosea]

I think your parents concerns are valid.
Riding is high risk for a reason and falling off happens to the best riders sometimes!
I would suggest that the idea of not riding alone for the first 3 months is a great idea.
After that could you not text them when you are about to get on, let them know how long and where you plan to ride and then tell then that you will text them when you dismount in 1 hour or however long you are going to be?

 

[teddypops]

How old are you? If your parents are concerned with you riding alone, can they not go to the yard with you?

 

[twiggy2]

How old are you? If your parents are concerned with you riding alone, can they not go to the yard with you?

This if your parents are concerned they should be there when you ride.
I part loaned my mare to a 13 yr old and part of the agreement was that a parent would be there with her on the yard at all times not just when she was riding.

 

[turkana]

I'm another one who thinks your parents are right to have concerns but it should be them who supervise you when you ride, one of my pet hates on yards are parents who leave their children to be supervised by other liveries, your safety & well being is their responsibliey nobody elses. It's not just the riding but general handling as well that you will probably need support help with
Some riding schools offer part loaning, is that something that yours would consider?

 

[lexy17]

I'm another one who thinks your parents are right to have concerns but it should be them who supervise you when you ride, one of my pet hates on yards are parents who leave their children to be supervised by other liveries, your safety & well being is their responsibliey nobody elses. It's not just the riding but general handling as well that you will probably need support help with
Some riding schools offer part loaning, is that something that yours would consider?

Yeah, that makes sense. I'm 15 and though I've mostly only ridden in riding schools I'm not completely clueless as I also work at my riding school and do know how to care for horses generally besides riding. I've talked to my parents and it seems they're less worried about me riding alone as such, and more about what happens if I fall off or inure myself- how will I be able to get help etc. I think the main issue is that my parents are both pretty busy with work, and so they can usually supervise me riding on a weekend, but if I am riding at a time when they are working (which on a weekday it is pretty difficult not to as they both get home at at least 6:30/7) they can't. Do you reckon it's completely unreasonable to ask anyone who is there to just maybe keep an eye (not stand there watching, just to keep us in mind I guess) while me and the horse are still getting used to each other at times when my parents can't be there?

 

[Winters100]

. Do you reckon it's completely unreasonable to ask anyone who is there to just maybe keep an eye (not stand there watching, just to keep us in mind I guess) while me and the horse are still getting used to each other at times when my parents can't be there?

Well where I live is not in the UK, and we do not have the same problems with people being 'liable' in case of an accident, but I can say that on our yard we have one teenager and I think that all of us keep an eye out, and if no one else is in the arena pop in to see she is OK if it seems like she has been a long time. She is a very good rider (competed for the national showjumping team) but she only does flatwork alone. Also if anyone goes to the forest alone all of us adults are asked to mention to the groom if we are going to be more than 1.5 hours as otherwise they send someone on the quad to find us.

Speaking from my stance here I would have no problem if a parent or young person asked me to 'keep an eye out' and I would gladly do so. I think however that in the UK I might be less willing, as I would be afraid that if there was an accident I could be held liable for poor supervision, and when I am on the yard I don't have time to closely supervise.

Lexy17's suggestion of a riding school loan is a great one - and you might well find that you had the opportunity to ride other horses too there if you help out a lot on the yard. Also you will have much more fun at a yard with a lot of other young people, so if there is one nearby maybe find some contacts there and ask about horses to share / loan.

Good luck and I hope that this proves to be a wonderful experience for you!

 

[twiggy2]

Everyone at a yard in my experience looks out for each other, I think asking someone to jeep an eye whilst you and the horse get used to each other is unfair as you and the horse may not be suited and parental responsibility is being passed to others, however once you are up and running I would expect anyone to help if something happened.

 

[Barlow]

I used to be the only person on the yard when I shared a horse. I would text a friend before and after I had ridden so she knew that if she hadn’t had the second text to alert someone.

I’d also say that riding in an arena without supervision can feel very different without the safety blanket of your instructor. I’d suggest getting hold of a book like 101 schooling exercises so you have a plan of what you want to practise each time you ride in there. I know the key to riding my horse in the school well is to keep him busy and keep him thinking so I always try to ride with an aim when I’m in there.

 

[Translationsneeded]

I ride a lot on my own and sometimes I use earphones and call someone before I start and stay on the phone for the time I’m riding. They don’t have to talk to me but be on the end of the phone in case something happens!

 

[SusieT]

I think this is not someting you can ask other livery owners unless you know them well - but a yard owner may be willing to take this on?

 

[Tiddlypom]

Are your parents aware that you are posting on this forum? Whilst most of us on here try to be as helpful as we can, there are some weird people about.

From the Terms and Rules (at the bottom of the page).

4.9If under the age of 18 a User will need to obtain a parent or guardian's permission before posting anything onto the Forum. You should never reveal personal information about yourself, such as your name, age, address, telephone number and school.

 

[lexy17]

Everything everyone is saying is really useful, so thank you! Obviously I’m slightly new to all this so any input is useful, especially as my parents are non-horsey (despite knowing many horsey people in the family). Also yes my parents do know that I’m posting on here, they were the ones who thought it would be a good idea to get some more input from other more experienced people!

 

[Shay]

You may struggle to find a share where you would be unsupervised - simply becuase the legal framework in the UK is such that the owner has signficant liability should there be an accident. As you are under 16 you cannot ever be held to have consented, caused or contributed to your own injury. When I had sharers I had a contract clause requiring parental supervision.

You parents are right to be concerned about you being alone on a yard - but you may well be able to find a yard where you would not be alone. A loan at a RS is an obvious possibility - but my experience has been that these can be an absolute rip off for the rider.

Pony Club can be a good transition from RS to share to own pony. Pony club camp is a great way to start to get that "own pony" feel whilst still absolutely safe. If you start at a PC Center with good links to a branch so you get camps etc then you can get to know the kids with thier own ponies, know who has one available for share, they will know you etc. Obviously that is easier in areas where there are a lot of branches close together and harder if you have a limited choice. OP - do not post where you are. But look on the PC website - if you are in areas 11 or 13 you are likely to have a good choice.

Otherwise perhaps training for your BHS stages?

 

[Cob Life]

I ride alone on a private yard, the first few weeks his owner stayed with us, there are 3 neighbouring properties that look onto our arena and I
They often wave to me while I ride so I know they keep half an eye out.

I always text my mum before I tack up and once I get off, if I haven't text in an hour she calls me, if I don't answer she is to call the house phone at the yard, or his owners Mobile as they are always home while I ride.

That being said, at 15 my parents would not have been comfortable with this arrangement, and neither would his owners, they did have a 15 year old sharer along side me at one point but she had to have a parent with her at all times.

 

[Red-1]

I have a phone app that sets off if I stop moving for more than a minute. It first sounds an alarm, but if I don't turn it off it then texts Mr Red so he can call me and make sure I am OK. If I don't answer it also sends my location on a map. I set it running when I get on.

I think it is called horserider SOS or something.