Sharers, money etc. Hypothetical question.

[Pigeon]

This is purely hypothetical at the moment, depends on a lot of variables, and wouldn't be until spring at the earliest.

My dad was made redundant last year, and my sister has started A levels - so my family are considering a sharer for my sister's horse. Livery bills etc are not a problem, and I am happy to ride him when she can't, but as a young competition horse, he really needs to be out seeing the world, and more than one competition/lesson a month isn't really possible at the moment.

He is a quality horse (or at least he will be once all the fuzz is shaved off, he looks like a yeti at the moment) and I think he will compete at a decent level eventually. Definitely has the potential for BE100 in the next couple of years, which is unfortunately out of the question for my sister given my parent's financial situation. I think he also has potential for dressage and showing (WH) at a good standard.

Would be kept at full livery done by me, yard has good facilities (floodlit arena, good set of jumps) brilliant hacking (within five mins ride of two national trust properties that you can hack around - lots of gallops!) and is very close to loads of competition venues. Sharer could hitch a lift when I go to dressage/riding club or my mum could drive them to stuff if they covered costs.

So the questions.

Firstly, would someone suitable even be looking for a share? Most people I see wanting a share are first time owner types, wanting a confidence giver. He's an enjoyable ride, but not suitable for a novice due to being big and young and gangly.

Secondly, how much would you charge a person per week to share him? Days would be completely flexible and because of full livery they could do as much or as little with him as they like. I know people who would love to compete him for us, but if at all possible, help with livery bills/feed/farriery would help the fam out a lot.

Just a pondering really, it seems like a good option if we could find someone

 

[Lexi_]

I'm sure you could find someone - sounds like a great opportunity for the right rider! Maybe someone recently graduated who isn't quite in a position to afford their own at the moment?

£100-150 a month and get them to cover competing/travel costs? The going rate seems to vary depending on facilities/standard of horse/type of livery. For reference I'm paying a max of £25 a week to do as many days as I want and Monty is on DIY so that includes all the chores as well. That seemed pretty standard when I was looking at ads (although some were asking up to £40 a week) and I'm quite happy with my side of the deal

 

[bexcy-bee]

I now share a horse after having horses all my life, competing up to national level and having a riding instructor as a mother, so experienced people looking for shares are around. I didn't have the time for one of my own due to my job, so had to sell both after one got returned from loan.

As a reference, I'm paying £100pcm, but I get completely free rein on everything, can compete or ride when I like, no one else actually rides the horse at all. The owners have their own land, so no livery bills for them, and they are really lovely people, I definitely see them as good friends now! Facilities aren't perfect, all weather manège, but no lights, but then the only chores I need to do is poo picking.

Bexcy-bee x

 

[WelshD]

My first thought was that this would be worth £30-50 a week, unlimited riding on a good horse at a good yard and no real chores

My second thought was keep it low like the £100 a month already suggested but have a strict criteria on number of outings so that the experience of the horse is the main aim, that way the sharer has more money for entries. The more accessible you make it the better chance you have

 

[kc100]

You will definitely find someone I'm sure - there are not many competition horses available to share/part loan so I bet you will be quite surprised by the response! I share a dressage horse who is on full livery at a good yard with floodlit outdoor, jumps, offroad hacking etc and I pay £150pcm plus half her shoes when it comes around. We are in the West Mids as well - this is probably top end price wise (my previous 2 shares were £110pcm for a gelding on DIY so I had chores but he couldnt compete as was a bit of a challenge and other share horse was £120pcm with no chores and could compete). So depending on where you are in the country I'd advise £100-£150pcm.

When I was looking for my (now current) share horse I really struggled to find anything that was good enough to compete, had many people offering me cobs or naughty youngsters but nothing that was of decent quality with any real potential. It took a while to find my share horse, I had to post an advert about myself as she wasnt even advertised!

I think if you are offering a horse they can ride around 3 times per week, dont have to do any chores and can compete as often as they want you will get someone snapping your hand off for the opportunity! Nothing against cobs and natives at all but it is rare to find one that can get you up the levels in the competition world (whatever your discipline), and generally these are the ones that are offered for share/part loan - so for a competitive rider with a bit of ambition, yet cant afford their own horse, your sister's horse sounds perfect!

 

[khalswitz]

Recent grads who can't afford to compete themselves, recently-marrieds or recently babied riders who can't commit the time/money to fully looking after and keeping fit a comp horse but would love the chance to get away for a bit and do come competing, good riders who have horses out with injury and would love the chance to compete without extra chores... there are lots of people who would jump at the chance.

 

[Pigeon]

Thanks guys, this all bodes well He would need someone fairly experienced I think, he doesn't do anything wrong as such but he is green and you do have to ride him confidently into a fence etc. (unless it's XC at which point he'll take himself around lol) He's about 16.3/17hh.

This is him, you can see he's pretty cute!!

 

[khalswitz]

Ooooh, I remember seeing pics of him before, he is stunning!! You'll be batting all those potential sharers away with a stick.

Be completely open about what you are looking for and prepared for a few who think they are better than they are, but the right person will be there. Good luck, and let us know how it goes!!