Sharing during lockdown

[Courbette]

Just wondering what peoples experiences were during the last lockdown? I gave up my wonderful share horse in Feb due to a range of issues but the main one was that I didn't think he was sound and I felt it was unethical to continue riding him. I have really missed him over the last few months as he was such a lovely boy. It turned out to be good timing though as my yard is a BHS livery yard and sharers / loaners were not allowed on site during the first lockdown. In May I began loaning a pony that seemed ideal on paper but was described as fairly sharp. It was going well until he ramped the evasions up a level after about 2 months and he got me off quite spectacularly twice with a very near miss and I reluctantly decided he wasn't for me.

I was hesitant about looking for another horse over winter as I was concerned I'd get a couple of months of riding in to be potentially banned from the yard if we went back into lockdown. I was also unsure what the etiquette would be regarding paying my share if I couldn't go up to the yard although I appreciate I would of had to discuss that with the owner. I know sharing will be off the cards until Dec at the earliest now but I'm wondering about the experience of other loaners / sharers?

 

[Cob Life]

Currently I do yard duties in exchange for riding. I’m the only rider on a private yard so I’m still allowed to go for lockdown 2.0.
Last lockdown his owner could still ride so my dad actually banned me from going (it wasn’t an argument worth being kicked out over).
I’m incredibly lucky where I can go whenever I want, I just let them know, head out to the yard and get on with the horses (Stopping along the way to give the cats a fuss too of course)

I think shares can be very varied depending on what the owner and sharer are looking for. I tried one where she told me I had to be mucked out and finished riding by 5pm which wouldnt have worked as I don’t finish work until 4/4:30. Most people do set days, and usually pay or do chores, sometimes both.

 

[Uliy]

Last lockdown my yard owner wanted to limit the people coming on to the yard (which is also her house) and unfortunately sharers (of which I was one at the time) were asked to keep away until the restrictions lifted. I agreed with the owner of my share horse that I would not pay for him during that time, but I expect this will vary depending on the owner’s circumstances. Sorry that’s not what you wanted to hear!

 

[chaps89]

I've shared current share horse for 5 years.
Last lockdown owners and sharers weren't allowed on the yard to start, then owner was allowed up, then sharers were allowed up. (Horse is on full care bar riding/grooming livery and that rule was across the yard)
Haven't heard the rules and regs this time round.
I don't pay so can't help there I'm afraid, it's worth a conversation as I see it same as if horse is lame/ill etc, do you pay then too.
Every yard is different though and most seem to be being a bit more relaxed this time round so possibly still worth keeping your eye out for something

 

[Annagain]

There are so many different possibilities with this one (due to differences in the way yards are dealing with it and owners' ideas) it's almost impossible to advise as your situation could be completely different from another sharer's even if your agreements are similar on paper. All you can do is discuss it with any potential owner and get that agreement from the start. My sharer was welcome at the yard as long as she was there instead of me rather than with me and carried on doing all her jobs even though we decided between us not to ride during the first lockdown. I wouldn't have stopped her if she wanted to but we were on the same page. Archie (her main ride) never managed to come back into proper work after that so is now retired but she still rides Monty once a week and does her jobs. She never paid for Archie as I needed her help more than her money but she is paying for M's shoes as i used to pay for them before I got Charlie. Our situation is complicated!

 

[Lexi_]

Nothing changed in Lockdown 1 at our yard so I can’t see anything changing this time round.

 

[scruffyponies]

We are limiting riding out to family groups or 1:1 with the exception of a couple of young girls who are friends but too young to ride unattended. They will go out together with someone more competent keeping an eye on them from a little way behind.

Last time we also had non-horsey parents going out with them on bikes etc, but I expect they'll be less keen to do that in November.