Sharer - would you consider someone under 18?

Yes I would the problems of unreliability, lack of experience, differing views, and lack of transport apply equally to adults too. Some of the best riders and carers are those who have done it since they were toddlers, I would rather a child rider with an able adult/me around than a novice adult who thinks they know it all or a careless young adult who thinks galloping everywhere is a great idea including on the road
 
Friend of mine had a 13YO sharer for her nice little Section D. He's a cracking pony, well mannered and a fantastic little jumper. Trouble was that the girl was only interested in jumping. An adult family member would bring her to the yard and was supposed to supervise her. The owner also set down rules about how often and how high the kid could jump the pony, owner had to terminate the share because the kid would tell her family that the owner had said she could take the pony round the XC course etc. This has put her off younger sharers full stop.

I had an adult share my pony for a while and she was basically an adult version of the kid mentioned above. She'd take my pony out and gallop her everywhere and then dump her in her box covered in sweat. Needless to say I terminated that share very quickly.

I agree with what others have said, that you do have to take the attitude and maturity of the person concerned in to account.
 
No. I once had a sharer who was 14 for my old cob. She was crap at grooming and didn't give a damn about anyone elses property. When another livery told me that my horse was a bit stiff/off but the girl still got on and rode him, just basically cantering him about on hard ground I called it quits the next day and even gave her a manual for equitation and stable management and told her to read that and grow up a bit.

She had been absolutely fine for a few months, but after we moved yard she just turned into a brat.
 
Yes. I have someone out riding my pony and she has been for nearly 2 years.

She is not super amazing at cleaning my gear on a day to day basis, but she does give it a wipe down - and she is getting a lot better. She may take forever to wash him and it may not be 100% up to my standards, but she tries. If anything is damaged (only once I think?), she got it repaired straight away.

I am confident in her ability handle him at shows now, so this season she can take him to a few more shows. She absolutely adores him - I thought I spoilt him... She has more boots, bonnets, bandages, saddle pads and treats for him alone then I do for both my horses. She always brings treats for him and is quite content to come out to hold him while I prep him for shows.
I sent him away to spell for a month, she refused to let her mum wash one shirt that still had his hair on it until he came home. Even though GK was away, she still came out, rode and helped with the other horses on the property.

I think it is all down to the individual. Grace is very responsible, very respectful and always thanks me when I take her to shows or help her with him. Would I consider someone else under age to ride one of my horses? Sure, but it would depend on the person and it certainly wouldn't be for GK as Grace takes care of him as well as I do.
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Thanks for on the replies - I agree that there are some adults out there would be less reiliable or capable than a teenager - I met plenty of them at my previous yard where all the ex schoolies had adult sharers who just wanted to gallop the legs of them with no concern for their wellbeing.

I'm still on the fence - met them yesterday. Strangely, she wasn't dressed to ride or even really handle the horse and said she didn't want to ride but had just wanted to meet him - fair enough but it didn't give me a sense of how capable she was. Has apparently had a "loan" and share previously but the most recent one ended due to horse retiring - I do actually think however that it may be a riding school horse that she's loaned out which in my experiance, can be very different from dealing with other horses who don't get worked so much and aren't in such a regimented routine.

Here mum and her mum's friend were there and they did much of the talking - oh this would be perfect for her etc - erm, she's not even sat on the horse yet? Here family isn't horsey though and I don't think they know what they are talking about and she seemed a bit too shy to speak up.

She is very slight and while my boy is generally good, he's a cob and can throw his weight around a bit (in fact he barged passed me out the stable yesterday - this is rare but he does sometimes take a notion) - I don't know if she'd physically be able to handle him and she's very quite and shy and I wonder if he might take the mic a bit?

I've said they can come up again during the week and she can ride and handle him and see how it goes. It might be absolutely fine, she might be a capable, competent rider/handler but just very quite in which case, that's fine. But equally, he might be too much for her - which is ironic given he is generally a dope on a rope but he does quickly get the measure of people and suss out who he can push around.

I'm going to get the details of the previous people they shared with to get some references and if I do go ahead there will be a contract (they did say they had one with their other share which stated responsibilities etc so thankfully that is nothing new to them.

It's a tough one!
 
Jingleballs said:
Thanks for on the replies - I agree that there are some adults out there would be less reiliable or capable than a teenager - I met plenty of them at my previous yard where all the ex schoolies had adult sharers who just wanted to gallop the legs of them with no concern for their wellbeing.

I'm still on the fence - met them yesterday. Strangely, she wasn't dressed to ride or even really handle the horse and said she didn't want to ride but had just wanted to meet him - fair enough but it didn't give me a sense of how capable she was. Has apparently had a "loan" and share previously but the most recent one ended due to horse retiring - I do actually think however that it may be a riding school horse that she's loaned out which in my experiance, can be very different from dealing with other horses who don't get worked so much and aren't in such a regimented routine.

Here mum and her mum's friend were there and they did much of the talking - oh this would be perfect for her etc - erm, she's not even sat on the horse yet? Here family isn't horsey though and I don't think they know what they are talking about and she seemed a bit too shy to speak up.

She is very slight and while my boy is generally good, he's a cob and can throw his weight around a bit (in fact he barged passed me out the stable yesterday - this is rare but he does sometimes take a notion) - I don't know if she'd physically be able to handle him and she's very quite and shy and I wonder if he might take the mic a bit?

I've said they can come up again during the week and she can ride and handle him and see how it goes. It might be absolutely fine, she might be a capable, competent rider/handler but just very quite in which case, that's fine. But equally, he might be too much for her - which is ironic given he is generally a dope on a rope but he does quickly get the measure of people and suss out who he can push around.

I'm going to get the details of the previous people they shared with to get some references and if I do go ahead there will be a contract (they did say they had one with their other share which stated responsibilities etc so thankfully that is nothing new to them.

It's a tough one!
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I think there is a gut instinct you develop when it comes to sharers. But I do invest quite a lot of up front time supporting mine, before I allow them to do stuff unsupervised.

Most of my sharers have struggled a bit with tacking up the way I want, and leading to and from the field at the very beginning. Partly nerves I think. Similar with the leading to turnout because one of my horses is a bit cheeky (grabbing grass etc), and they needed to be feel happy to assert themselves with a strange horse, with the owner watching.

For me it is not the sharers that know or don’t know my way of doing things. It is the ones willing to listen and follow instructions e.g. if I show them how far back I place the saddle, I don’t mind reminding them once or twice, but then I expect them to remember and do it. And the ones that notice and care the small things about the horses.

And more than anything, it is the people that care about the horses, more than what they get to do with things. The good owners and sharers are driven by caring about horses. If you have someone that follows instructions when asked, queries if think different / or spot anything of concern, and genuinely cares about the horse they are sharing, combined with an owner that really cares for the horse, you will generally have a good match. (Similar with loans really)

Maybe with the girl you mention, if the next visit goes well, I’d suggest to her and her parents a two week trial, where you see if her and the horse are a good match, and I’d explain to the parents that he’s quite a big horse for her, you’d want to be sure she was assertive enough for him not to take the mickey out of her.
 
You make a good point - it is about investing a bit of time at the begining to see if they are the type of person who can follow instructions - most people with her experience could catch/groom/tack up a horse but it's whether or not she'll do it the way she is asked to.

Think what I'll do is like you suggest, arrange a couple of weeks of supervised sessions - I'm up 2 nights a weeks and one or two days at the weekend just now so she can just come along and I'll see how she goes. Means I won't get much riding done myself for now but at least I'll get to see how well capable she is.
 
Absolutely, as long as the horse is suitable and the 16yr old is a sensible one, then it could work really well. As with all sharers, it just depends on the individuals involved.
 
Some comments on this thread really do sadden me - but luckily it had forced me to stop being a lurker (of several years!) and finally post.

Here is a few reasons I think people should consider sharers under 18:
* I, for one, would not of rode at all in my late teens if it was not for some kind people who trusted me to loan or share their horses. I always followed every rule they set and treated the horses like my own. As far as I know they were never disappointed as they all gave me references to help aid my next ride when circumstances changed.
* If they really want too they will find transport. At 16 I cycled, got the bus or if I begged enough got dropped off by my mum at the yard. Luckily it was only 2 miles from me, but the lack of transport would never mean that I wouldn't turn up, if I was asked to do those days I would.
* Insurance wise riders should always have their own insurance anyway and considering most companies do this from 5 years old up it is hardly an issue.
* At 17 years old I made sure to pass my driving test as soon as possible so I could seek more of a range of riding. So not all under 18 year olds have no transport! Which brings me onto the next issue, if they can drive they should know the rules of the road to ride a horse.
* Most riders I knew when I was younger hacked out alone from 13 years onwards, some 15 year olds I know of go hacking to meets and hunting alone!

I guess the reason I am so passionate to make people give under 18s a chance is that riding in my teens absolutely changed my life. Thanks to many fab owners I got to compete (I never had a chance when I owned), hunt and ride some amazing horses I couldn't of dreamed of riding if I hadn't been given the chance. Yes there may be some bad, untrustworthy, uncaring young sharers but there are just as many adult ones out there. Give someone a chance and follow your gut! If a 13 or 30 year old cant put on a headcollar then judge them equally!
 
I've known many confident/competent teenagers. At the same time, I've also known many people, well into their mature years, who shouldn't have been allowed within 50 yards of a horse, imo.

Age is a number, not an indicator of competence.

Ulimately it's down to you, OP. It's your horse, after all. You can only go on your judgement. If you don't think she's suitable then don't loan her your horse.
 
As others have said it really does depend on the individual, I'm 16 and have been hacking out alone competently for years. That being said I know several my age (and older) who I'd never dream of allowing them to ride my horses unsupervised in the school, let alone out on a hack!
 
follow up references, and as you said essential to have a share agreement in place. Their must be an adult that this aagreement is with not the 16 year old as A minor can enter into a contract. However, the law also assumes that a minor cannot understand the implications of a contract. So, whatever caveat is drafted into the contract, he or she will remain protected to the disadvantage of the other party.
 
saddleoversofa said:
Some comments on this thread really do sadden me - but luckily it had forced me to stop being a lurker (of several years!) and finally post.

Here is a few reasons I think people should consider sharers under 18:
* I, for one, would not of rode at all in my late teens if it was not for some kind people who trusted me to loan or share their horses. I always followed every rule they set and treated the horses like my own. As far as I know they were never disappointed as they all gave me references to help aid my next ride when circumstances changed.
* If they really want too they will find transport. At 16 I cycled, got the bus or if I begged enough got dropped off by my mum at the yard. Luckily it was only 2 miles from me, but the lack of transport would never mean that I wouldn't turn up, if I was asked to do those days I would.
* Insurance wise riders should always have their own insurance anyway and considering most companies do this from 5 years old up it is hardly an issue.
* At 17 years old I made sure to pass my driving test as soon as possible so I could seek more of a range of riding. So not all under 18 year olds have no transport! Which brings me onto the next issue, if they can drive they should know the rules of the road to ride a horse.
* Most riders I knew when I was younger hacked out alone from 13 years onwards, some 15 year olds I know of go hacking to meets and hunting alone!

I guess the reason I am so passionate to make people give under 18s a chance is that riding in my teens absolutely changed my life. Thanks to many fab owners I got to compete (I never had a chance when I owned), hunt and ride some amazing horses I couldn't of dreamed of riding if I hadn't been given the chance. Yes there may be some bad, untrustworthy, uncaring young sharers but there are just as many adult ones out there. Give someone a chance and follow your gut! If a 13 or 30 year old cant put on a headcollar then judge them equally!
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You sound like you were a very sensible and reliable young sharer and its a shame that others actions have given them a bad name.
However you need to understand that as sad as it may be some of us have just been burnt with this in the past and wont go back there again.
Also not all of us have horses suitable for young sharers. My 4 year old mare for example. Shes a full registered sec D and on occasion more than lives up to the reputation of being a firey headstrong little madam. I personally feel she would be too much for a slight teen to handle. Also a lot of time and energy has gone into her education and I am very fussy about how she is handled. So again I would find it hard to trust a child to know how to handle and educate my youngster.
My gelding would be more than suitable but given how a 14yo sharer with his previous owner treated him I could never risk it. The image of the poor thing completely run down and broken is still etched in my mind. I owe him more than to risk that happening again.
No disrespect to you Im simply trying to explain my reasoning a little more.
 
I would be extremley cautious, check refrences, do a trial and have others in the yard keep a close eye out on her, saddly IME all most teenagers want to do is charge around and jump the legs off the pony while hanging off it's mouth, lazy when it comes to chores and unreliable. I know certainly not every teenager is like this, I certainly wasn't but every single one I know does this, they arnt deliberatly being cruel they just can't seem to think of anything from the horses point of view, only their own, I will never allow a teenager to ride any of mine ever again!
 
rowan666 said:
I would be extremley cautious, check refrences, do a trial and have others in the yard keep a close eye out on her, saddly IME all most teenagers want to do is charge around and jump the legs off the pony while hanging off it's mouth, lazy when it comes to chores and unreliable. I know certainly not every teenager is like this, I certainly wasn't but every single one I know does this, they arnt deliberatly being cruel they just can't seem to think of anything from the horses point of view, only their own, I will never allow a teenager to ride any of mine ever again!
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Im afraid this is how the teenagers are on my yard to. I really feel sorry for their horses, well i say their horses, funnily enough only one actually owns hers, the rest have them all on loan....
 
rowan666 said:
I would be extremley cautious, check refrences, do a trial and have others in the yard keep a close eye out on her, saddly IME all most teenagers want to do is charge around and jump the legs off the pony while hanging off it's mouth, lazy when it comes to chores and unreliable. I know certainly not every teenager is like this, I certainly wasn't but every single one I know does this, they arnt deliberatly being cruel they just can't seem to think of anything from the horses point of view, only their own, I will never allow a teenager to ride any of mine ever again!
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I have to say I know of a couple of exceptions - they are my nieces and (luckily for them) they have never been on a livery yard. They have learned to ride and handle horses with me. I can trust them to turn out, bring in, muck out, rug up, tack up, ride, feed, know when shoes are loose.

I started off getting them a loan pony, then another and last year they progressed to riding my big ones. I would have no qualms at all about them sharing/loaning from someone else (although they are not up for grabs they are mine - I trained them :) ). They can (and do) hack on their own - I had a hysterectomy a couple of years ago and they kept all the horses ticking over for me - even my mare who can be a madam at times. They would never rag anyones horse about at canter - they know that the first 10 mins is warm up and the last 10 mins is a cool down on a longer rein.

I know that they are the exception to the general rule but I'm sure that there will be other well brought up teenagers out there so I wouldn't necessarily discount anyone on their age.
 
In my experience you get as many adults who are happy to ride but are lazy with chores. I know some youngsters can be jump and gallop but I have a wonderful young lady who rides my pony she is keen to learn, is happy to follow my ideals as they are hers too, she is sometimes too kind and as a result a little ineffective on occassions but usually works through it to get a better result. She is a committed and brilliant little jockey and is just approaching her 14th birthday. She has ponies of her own but is still reliable and honest with mine and to be honest I wish I could clone her as she truly is a wonderful young lady. On the other hand I had a rider who had learned a a riding school as an adult all she wanted to do was canter about, jump and hand back a sweaty pony for me to deal with. So it takes all sorts to make a world and by excuding under 18 s you seriously damage your chances of finding the right person for your horse. As to riders on young horses and their care the same applies I had children riding my warmblood gelding as a baby, I sold my 4 year old welsh d to a 14 year old she was the perfect match. So in conclusion I would rather have a committed and willing to learn child or teen than a know it all adult with all the gear and no idea. I am not a child I left my teens 43 years ago but it is important to give everyone the chance to prove they are able and not stereotype them. My young rider also sat in a ditch in the freezing cold for three hours while they tried to extract a horse from it She wouldnt leave it it wasnt even her horse. She held it while it was PTS as it had organ failure. She is to me just a real horsewoman
 
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I had a horse on loan from 11 to 15 (before she sadly had to be put to sleep) and I would do everything. I was there every agreed day, took the rough with the smooth, calmed her down on the roads, hacked and schooled.....I think the only thing I didn't do was actually own her! About 2 months before she suffered a serious leg break in the field, her owner offered her to me for sale so I think she trusted me.

I do think it is down to the individual 16 year old though. I knew a few at that yard who I wouldn't have shared my pony with!

It's likely that when I am ready to settle and buy, I will need to potentially part-loan and I would take each person on their merits. If I liked them, I would offer a trial period so both are comfortable with the horse (or not)
 
My sharer was 15 when she started with my boy. she was a friends daughters friend. I had a contract that I went through and got signed by her mum and her which stipulated she only ride with someone else there , though this was because of the horses tendency to shy rather than her age. I saw her insurance and requested that she have a lesson once a month as she was not very experienced. she takes him to pony club and competes and has come on leaps and bounds, she adores him and this year I have changed contract so that she can ride on her own. totally happy with her and so is the horse.
 
It depends entirely on the 16 year old (and her parents) just as it would depend entirely on the adult. I've had a few sharers for my horse - all adults - but there was one adult who came to see him whom I would let look after a Barbie doll.

If she's mature, has the support of her parents and can manage your horse (both on board and on the ground), the fact she was 16 wouldn't put me off.

I started sharing a 12.2 pony at 12 (his owner was an adult, not a family) and moved on to her Section D at 13 as I outgrew the pony. By the time I was 15 he was more or less mine. She had lots of problems which meant she couldn't cope with him too and so I stepped in. At 17 I paid her £5 for him (long story) so he was mine. As I said, she had a lot of problems so it wasn't her fault, but I was far more responsible at 15 than she was at 30 +. He stayed with me until he died when we were both 27.
 
I am another that would advocate allowing a 16 year old sharer from my own experience, in my teens I did the following:

- helped back youngsters and aid in their early schooling.
- handle foals and start their leading lessons
- handle and ride stallions (admittedly more well mannered than a lot of other horses I have met)
- came on leaps and bounds as a rider

All this because at the age of 14, yes 14, a family friend allowed me to work at her stud. She took on a young teenager with only riding school experience previously to handle her precious and expensive horses. She taught me nearly everything I know.

I was there until I left uni at 22, and had been left alone to get one with all the daily stuff for long periods many times from the age of 17 upwards.

In the 8 years I was there I saw other grooms come and go, most of whom didn't get on with the horses, got terrorised by the stallions or just mysteriously didn't turn up to work when they felt like it. All these people were over 25!

I was also very tiny and weighed just over 7 stone at the age of 18, so I'm not sure that should even come into it.

Having said all that, if she doesn't have the support of her parents then she may become unreliable as, until I passed my driving test, I had to rely on parents taking me up to the yard.
 
Well it's not looking good so far. Decided to give her a chance and she (or should I say her mother) has cancelled her first day of the trial - apparently she's worried it is too dark to ride him for the first time (our arena is floodlit???) and her daughter might be uncomfortable. I offered to let her come up anyway just to groom him etc but she declined and said lets leave it to the weekend.

Timewasters! Will see how it goes on Sunday but it's not looking hopeful - weather is looking poor all weekend so changes are she'll bail again!
 
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