Sharers Good Idea or Bad Idea?

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LeicsGal

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I am currently being driven to desperation by my sharer!!!

Is it just me or do most people find sharers hard work?

I am rather fussy over my tack being cleaned, I always wipe over after every use, wash the girth, wash the bit and then take apart once a week and clean properly.... However even though this has been mentioned, horse is now 8 weeks into wearing dirty tack, let alone the fact that the bit has not been washed off at all?
The horse is never groomed.... unless mention is made about it, even to the point that sharer will put on tack complete with yesterday's sweat marks!
Sharer pays nothing towards keep whatsoever and I only got them so I could ahve more time to do other things like family etc and it seems now I am ending up with more work....
Is it just me being fussy or have I got good cause to moan?
 
I think you have cause to moan. I am a sharer myself but would always respect exactly what the horses owner wanted. But maybe that's just me as I hate confrontation!
 
You need clear ground rules with sharers as they can tend to seem like they are taking over at times....

I have a sharer for my TB and its a learning curve for all of us..... however if you set down certain rules then the sharer should respect them.... try talking to sharer and if that doesn't work I'd get rid....

Edited to add, I have very strict rules over tack cleaning, how many times a saddle cloth is used before being washed etc, how many times boots are used before being washed.... and quite frankly if someone is not willing to keep my horse, how I would keep it, I would rather have all the work back to do myself....
 
Of course you have cause to moan. If this person isn't looking after your horse properly then get someone else! There will be people falling over themselves to ride for nothing other than caring for your horse and keeping the bits and bobs clean!!
 
Not even washing the bit??? Bob would object most strongly if I went near him with a dirty bit. I know people don't clean tack after every ride but surely you rinse the bit??
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Personally I feel you are quite right to have a moan!
 
As Ovidius stated you need clear ground rules before even starting. I have been considering a sharer, but only because I want someone who has the time to compete the mare. I would insist though that the bit was at least cleaned after use, even if they did not clean the bridle, or saddle.
 
You have every right to moan.
I have had a sharer before and wouldn't even consider having another one now, sometimes they can hinder more than they help. I would lay down the rules again and what you expect and tell them that they stick to them or find another horse to share whos owner isn't bothered about having clean tack and bits.
 
I'd just remind them that you want the horse to be groomed before every ride, and tack wiped over every time and properly cleaned once a week, and give them the benefit of the doubt that they had forgotton those bits of info in the huge amount they had to take in about how to do your horse (although regularly not grooming before every ride -
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!!)

It does sound like you have very specific ways you do your horse though, and I hope you don't mind me saying but in my experience of sharing its always a LOT easier and more harmonious when the owner is a little more laid back about things. Don't get me wrong, there are things that are massive no-nos and are unforgiveable (e.g. feed wrong feed to a laminitic) but personally I could live with a bridle not being cleaned daily as long as it was done every week or other week or so.

If you really can't stand a dirty bridle or bit then then do simply point that out to her - she might have just forgotton, and be mortified that you had to point out to her, and clean up her act!
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If however she is fully aware of how you want her to do things and she is just not bothering to because she doesn't want to, that is a different story.
 
Well mine left my one to rot after she rode in it in the rain. And there is still mud on my leather girth and saddle from a week ago. Don't even talk to me about the crud on her bit. But, she is good with the pony so I try not to complain too much.
 
Well, I thought it was an abstract question, and was going to leap up and down and wave my arms and shout Good Idea, seeing as i am one (and I'd like to think, a reasonably good one)...but I think yours is taking the proverbial.

This may be a really stupid question but are you sure your sharer knows how to take a bridle apart? It may just be that she honestly hasn't got the first clue how to put the thing back together, hence her not taking it apart and cleaning it properly. Obviously that doesn't excuse her not even giving it a wipe over, or rinsing the bit (yuck).

Overall, I think you should have a quiet chat with your sharer, reminding her of the ground rules, before you go in all guns blazing and fire her. Tell her again that the horse MUST be groomed before she tacks up, that the bit MUST be rinsed off at the very least and that you would like her to clean your tack at least every other week.

I hate to sound all smug about it, but "sharing" is after all, sharing the horse, not just showing up and riding it. I'm just bringing my share horse back into work after she had six weeks field rest for muscle damage - it didnt mean i stopped sharing her, just because i couldn't ride. I did a lot of tack cleaning and school-raking instead, and just spent time bonding with her and fussing over her....
 
Although you say you've mentioned it did you specifically say you expected her to do these things?! sounds daft but she may think that you do these things so she doesn't have to. If you have actually already made it clear that you expect her to do it then i'd be pulling her in for a little chat and explaining that if she wants to continue riding then she needs to raise her standards a little. Even my 7 yr old daughter knows that you groom before and after you ride and that bits are washed off everytime
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Thank you for all you views.....

Yes it has been mentioned specifically that she was expected to do these things, after all i have practically given her full rein with the horse 7 days a week at no cost to her at all..... For my own sanity I think I will cut it down to three days a week as I just cannot justify all this extra work being caused and of course falling onto my shoulders.

Dont get me wrong, she is a lovely person, but those rules are quite simple.... and not a lot to ask considering the amount of use she has of the horse. After all, would you put on the same pair of knickers unwashed everyday? I dont think so! YUK!
 
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