Sharing advice

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TheShark

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I was just wondering if anyone would mind giving me some advice on how to be a good sharer. I'm going to see a horse on saturday, it would be the first horse I have ever really ooked after if it all works out.

So I was just wondering - how do I be a good sharer? At the mo I'm just trying to be as honest as possible about my riding skills and stable experiences.

I was hoping to overlap with the owner for a couple of weeks so she could show me how she does everything and what the horse is used to before having him for a couple of days a week on my own.

I'll also ask for a written agreement so we all know who's responsible for what etc. Plus, I was going to say if she doesn't feel confident in my ability after a few weeks that she shouldn't worry about telling me to jog on etc.

How does that sound?

Any input anyone could offer would be great. I always read all the posts and seem to learn so much everytime I look in on the site. It's so addictive - my productivity level at work has plumetted. Ha ha.

Thanks x
 
Everything you have said is pretty much all you can. An agreement is a good idea, you both know where you stand. Also ive learnt from experience dont do anything silly with the horse as other liveries will probably tell on you(people can be very mean) and be clear on exactly what you are allowed to do with regard to riding the horse then there will be no nastyness later on.

Good luck let us know how it goes
 
You sound like a sharer from heaven!
What you have said sounds brilliant.
Lots of communication is important - have each others home + mobile + email + home addresses just in case.
A nice thing to do would also to take a few mints with you when you go to see the horse, and ask the owner if they mind you giving them. When I was buying, owners always seemed to appreciate that. It shows you have thought about it. Just don't bring to many, or they will worry you will make their horse fat!
Good luck and keep us updated.
 
Just like you said, being honest about your ability etc and try to do things i.e. caring for the horse, the way the owner does it, as if it's your own horse. Make sure you've agreed what you can do like if you can hack out alone, jump the horse etc. Also sometimes it's nice to have a few lessons to get used to the horse. Good luck.
 
Being a serial sharer I have condsiderable experience in this area.
The first thing I do is make sure I look after the horse exactely as the owner does. This includes the little stuff like putting things away exactely as the owner would. Simple things like current owner always coils the lead ropes up. Not something I would normally do but as she does, I do.

I also left a diary at the yard and wrote in each day what I'd done with horse, any problems etc.

Communication is top priority. No matter how irrelevant something might seem that the horse has done make sure the owner knows. Owners all have their little oddities so what might seem unimportant to you might be a big deal with owner. If you dont tell them someone else will.

But above all, be totally straight with owner at all times.
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Oh and tell them constantly what a wonderful horse they have
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Ditto the following exactly what the owner does for little things.

Find out the yard rules (think carefully of questions to ask) about things like poo picking the school, sweeping the yard, use of tools, where and when you're allowed to ride, booking the school. As someone said, you'll get told on asap by other liveries!

Do make sure however that a) you don't play you're riding ability down too much and make yourself sounds like you can't ride and b) sound like a wet, cringing blanket. You need to sound capable and confident working with horses, although not arrogant or overconfident.

Most importantly, once you start BE RELIABLE!!!!! If you have to rearrange you life to make sure you're there every single day you agreed to for the first month, do so! There is nothing more offputting that agreeing to do all those set days (and even meaning it) only to say, "but actually I can't do this thursday as I have a doctors appointment...." Once you're proved yourself reliable THEN you can say you can't do a certain day.
 
Oh and be a bit flexible too, you might have agreed to do tuesday thursday and saturday but if the owner needs to swap or wants you to do some extra, try to help them out.

Give them plenty of notice of things like your holidays too.
 
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