sharing... why?

i found mine through posting on facebook on a couple of horse pages like "horse chit chat" and horses for sale" (in local area)posted what i wanted from a rider, age min, weight max, height of horse and a bit of his personality i got lots of responses, then weeded out the not so capable or experienced, to far away from yard, day dreamers, ect ect

and found a really nice lass who understands what my horse is like, and can work with me (rather than do her own thing) and help me to school him and bring him on. i know she is capable in her riding abilities (let her come down before we agreed and try him out so i knew she could handle his "personality" :D

and i liked what i saw.

we have drawn up a contract of what i expect from her while riding/handling my horse and all is good (she is 17) but i dont think i would let anyone younger than that ride him.... he is young and has a tenancy to buck, nap and try it on with new riders (and he does need ALOT of re-schooling and alot of tlc and work) and she is prepared for that. i did have a lady contact me saying her 12 yr old daughter could ride him for me lol. erm no sorry... she may well be a good rider, but he is v strong and (see above ) and she got stroppy because i said no, even though i explained the above and stated about her not being covered by my insurance. but oh well

im am happy with my choice so far, unless i am proved wrong i think she will help him and me big time :)
 
Reliablity
Commitment
Getting to the horse!
Being a good enough rider!
I know there are exceptions to it but most people don't want to waste their time weeding out the annoying ones!
 
I had a really nice girl who was 14. She rode well and did the jobs I wanted her to do, if she hadn't done something properly it was always because she just hadn't been shown before and once I explained she was fine. She was also worried about puting to much bedding down and using too much hay sometimes so I just used to explain I would rather my pony have to much tha n too little. Her parents would drop her off/ pick her up sometimes, she would also get the bus or a lift from one of the otherliveries who lived close by. I moved my ponies and it was too far to come as getting lifts were difficult so she stopped coming. :( I used to let her get on with it and didn't often supervise her and truste her to hack out without me.

However I now have another 14 year old who doesn't actually know that much about care and has only ever hacked out so she has lots to learn. I don't mind this as she is very keen to learn, tries her hardest with everything, and doesn't think she knows it all, and is more than willing to help with poo picking :)
 
I must say I’ve never been exposed to that sort of prejudice, but I am mistaken for being a lot older than I really am. I’m 15 (well 16 in three weeks), and people are shocked at my age and think I’m a lot older than I am. I have two young horses on loan, I’ve had one since the age of 3 (he’s now just turned 5) and the other I’ve had a few weeks, who is just about 4 now. Both their owners have chosen me over adults of all levels of abilities and I’m not blowing my own trumpet here but trust me to do whatever with them and leave me to my own devices and one of my owners now has me riding and training her other young horse and two older horses, all for free. She’s been v. Good to me and comes down every now and then to see how we’re getting on, but I get a free rein in how things are done, especially with my boy, I chose who rides him, things like his tack- what bit he has in, whether or not he is having this in his tea or how he is trained. It’s worked really well for us both actually! My current mare, I’ve had a few weeks, on day 3 her owner and I were looking at yards near my house (which are a little out of her range), because she trusted me to have her near me, the only thing I need to check with her is obviously the usual such as shows etc, but I’ve been given a free rein with her also, and her owner has asked me to show her some of my techniques (I clicker train), and keen to learn more. So I’ve had two really positive experiences with mine, they trust me a lot, so I think earning their trust is important and showing you are very responsible, especially with two young horses, I really have to prove myself, and show them I’m not immature and wouldn’t do anything silly, I like to take things slowly and patiently with mine, I’m not fussed if I don’t get to ride, I like to take each day as it comes and work on both of our problems.

However; I can see where many owners come from, a lot of my peers and even friends, are very irresponsible and erratic, only interested in riding and bombing around (not all of course), and a bit showy offy to their friends. I think though, that if you as an owner can spend a lot of time with your loaner, you could teach them so much and help them to learn lots of things; I suppose it is a great opportunity to prevent them from buying a horse with little knowledge and experience, and then nobody to help them.

So I think it depends on how one looks at it and it should be judged on the person, as opposed to their age, something I hate is that I do get judged on my age an awful lot, it is actually quite hurtful sometimes when people do it, but it just means I have to disprove them. There is no harm in allowing younger people to come and visit and see what they are like, how quiet are they and whether it is going to be for them.
 
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