Sharers - perfect solution or potential disaster??

[melv1lle]

Hi - I have a post running in the Competition Riders section (Berkshire Agri College - thoughts on working livery) and a number of the people who said not to go for working livery suggested I get a sharer for my horse. My original reason to look at working livery is because I live in central London (nearly an hour from my horse) and I worry all the time that I am not riding him enough (I ride him 3 to 4 times a week) - mainly because I am forever getting snide remarks from people at the yard about him being firery because he isn't ridden enough - well some say because I should just take him for "a bloody good gallop" once a week but that is another argument

Anyway my question is do people find that sharers are a good idea? I do not know anyone at a level to ride my horse (he can be a bit of a handful - see my blog below for evidence!) and he needs a good but quiet rider - so my only option is to advertise for a sharer in H&H and similar places. But my worry is how do you manage the whole arrangement and (I know it sounds sad) but how can you manage it so that he still feels like my horse and I don't feel like a stranger is taking over

Just wondered if anyone has any experience or ideas on this??

 

[cosmo_sam]

I've been a sharer for the past 5 years.

I shared Shellee (the white grey in my sig) for 4 years until last year, and I sort of share Dragon (the bay in my sig) with my friend - when I say sort of, I ride him for her, and we help each other out.

I would add I've never paid any regular contributions (although I have always bought comp kit - paid entry fees etc), as my main reason for being there is that I love schooling and the owners didn't!

In my experience, the lack of financial contributions always kept the owner feeling like the owner.

Part loan set ups that I have seen, have had more of a tendency to go adrift, as the loaner pays and so feels "entitled" to things, and the owner can feel a bit unsure as to what control they are left with.

Agreements are all well and good, but it's the "feeling" that matters in my experience.

I suppose what I'm saying is that if you can afford to take no financial contribution, then the power issue should not arise, and then a good (maybe youngish) rider a bit strapped for cash could still come forward.

Hope this helps

 

[wizzi901]

I have two sharers that are both fantastic but it took a few rubbishy ones to find these shiny diamonds!

Take it as it comes, keep a close eye and you will sort out the rubbish from the gold eventually.

 

[piebaldsparkle]

You will horror stories re: sharing and working livery.

I used to share Sparks, before I brought her from the people I used to share with as they weren't getting on with her (called her a bully and a thug). Up to that point it had worked very well.

When I 1st got Sparks I put her on working livery at an Agri college (not Berkshire), as I work shifts. I found the level of care deteriorated, until after a year I had to make other arrangements. I don't know what the contract is like with Berkshire or what their routine is like, but where Sparks was their year round turn out, turned out to be every other weekend horse put out 24/7 having been stabled all week. Also out 24/7 all holidays unless you DIY. I also found her without any hay left at 18:00hrs on more than one occasion. Once found her eating her dinner whilst sweating under her stable rug as she hadn't been cooled off after a jump lesson, just chucked in her stable, fed and rugged for the night. The final straw was when she had a nosebleed and they didn't tell me, until she had another one a few days later when I rode her. They then used her in a lesson before she had finished her course of antibiotics.

Oh and she was lame for nearly 6 weeks having been kicked in a lesson and I got given the vets bill.

I was just lucky she didn't end up with a broken leg.

She is now on DIY and I have someone to ride and muck her out when I'm working.

 

[Stella]

I personally couldn't do it, I'm just too possesive

but I know it works for many people.

I would say also, don't do this just because some busy bodies are telling you he isn't having enough work. I know plenty of horses who are only ridden 3/4 times a week (including my own mare) and they are fine on that. So long as he has enough turn-out too, I don't see a problem

 

[Baggybreeches]

I agree with cosmosam, it is the feeling that matters, I have had several horses that I have ridden for folk, but not given anything for their keep,nor been paid for riding them. I also have one of mine (the orange one) would I will never sell, but she doesnt like competing, so she is last to be ridden and quite oten it is too late, so I have a friend who lives about 1.5miles up the road, pays me £20 a week for feed and shoes and she comes to ride whenever suits her, I enjoy the company for hacking out and she has a horse at her disposal on full livery!
As the others have said it can be difficult, but if you find a good sharer they are worth their weight in gold!

 

[melv1lle]

Thank you thank you

To be perfectly honest I don't want to have a sharer and I don't want to send my beloved horse to working livery but you are the first person to say that riding a horse 3 to 4 times a week (if they have the turn out) is ok. Seeing as my yard is full of yummy mummy's whose partners pay for everything (and so can spend all day at the yard) I begin to feel like a monster that I can only get to the yard 4 times a week.

 

[cosmo_sam]

I would agree if your horse is turned out 3-4 times if fine! that's most often all I manage - especially in winter!

I thought being you were in London your horse may be stabled all the time

Tell em to nob off!!!

 

[melv1lle]

Hurrah - thank you

I may live in central London but the hoss lives miles down the M4 near Windsor and has lots of lovely turn out (see below). I moved down from Cheshire last year and so my main requirement when I looked for a new home (for him) was year round turn out - even if it does mean he is now 40 minutes away from me

I am so pleased to know that there are at least two other people in this world who obviously have a day job and so can not spend all day every day riding. You have made me feel much better about the whole thing!

He is the one on the left:

 

[kick_On]

i would say of if you ride your horse 3-4 times a week and have turn out on days not been ridden, unless your competeting at very high standard i would say your horse is fine...
As for sharers, good one are very rare and when you find them there brilliant, it's just a shame that some timea you have to wade through the cr8p to get there.
I know folk would can only ride at weekend but turn out in week and there horses are fine...

 

[Stella]

He's very handsome and doesn't look at all neglected to me

You get these little cliques at too many yards and they can make others feel so miserable. Its common for liverys to arrive and their heart sink when they see certain cars there

I've been in that position myself and I know lots of others who have too.

Yes, it would be lovely to spend every day with our horses wouldn't it, but as you say, us mere mortals have to work for a living. I know several horses who are only ridden (or lunged) 2/3 times a week and some, as mentioned by another poster, who are only ridden at the weekends. So long as he has turn out and is well cared for don't worry, ignore them and keep you chin up

 

[melv1lle]

You have all made me feel so much better so thank you

You are right though you do get some really unhelpful people - one of the grooms tells me so often that it is terrible that my horse isn't ridden every day that she has made me cry a couple of times (and I never really cry). But there is nothing worse to me than thinking that I am not being the best mother I can be to my wonderful Sam.

Everyone has cheered me up so much I think I might slope off early from work, head down the motorway before the London rush hour starts and go for a ride

 

[Stella]

[ QUOTE ]
You have all made me feel so much better so thank you

You are right though you do get some really unhelpful people - one of the grooms tells me so often that it is terrible that my horse isn't ridden every day that she has made me cry a couple of times (and I never really cry). But there is nothing worse to me than thinking that I am not being the best mother I can be to my wonderful Sam.

Everyone has cheered me up so much I think I might slope off early from work, head down the motorway before the London rush hour starts and go for a ride

[/ QUOTE ] I'm glad you feel better, but I must say The bloody Groom made you cry Grrr....

I'd respond by saying in a 'don't mess with me' tone "He's fine", and follow that with a withering 'don't you have anything to shovel' look

You are the client here and your horse is fine.

Now go have fun with your horse