Should i say yes or no?

[PingPongPony]

Hello,
Hope everyone had a good christmas
Now i need some opinions and some help. A friend of mine told me about the AIEC World Finals. The riders are short of horses and since its unaffiliated the horses can't be either. I have been asked if i'd be willing to lend them my horse for dressage AND/OR show jumping. They pay £50 per horse per day. I'd have to get the horse clean, clean the tack, take it to the venue, tack it up then hand it over. I'm not allowed to watch them warm up, i'd go staright to the owners seats and would be allowed to watch the competition. After that they would give me the horse back and the money. My question is, should i say yes or no? I'm really stuck! I've put in a lot of work into this horse over the past year, she used to duck out at any jump she didnt like the look off, and if we happen not to duck out then we would always knock one jump. Since then she hasn't ducked out, not even at skinnies, and we have been going clear, finally! She is now jumping better than ever, fast agains the clock, compact enough to do sharp turns and finally got the idea of not knocking the jumps! She wasn't as bad with her flatwork, she never used to go in an outline though, she'd tuck her head right in instead, she had pony stride trot and rushed into trot from canter. Now thats sorted too. So i'm not sure if i should say yes or no?
What do you think? And what would you do?

I can offer cheescake and tea for getting so far!

 

[MinxGTi]

£50 seems nothing for all the work you've done to maybe all be ruined! £50 doesn't even seem worth the agro of cleaning the horse and tack etc to me, I'd say no.

 

[ridefast]

Even though I'm always short of money, I would say no, because I am quite selfish when it comes to my horse. I have done all the work so far and will continue to do all the work in the future, if she does well at shows I want it to be with me and because of me. That's what I would do

 

[Echo Bravo]

Please say NO, as you have gotten the mare going to your way and if she is a little iffy, someone else sitting on her back and not riding the way you do, could set her back months and for £50?

 

[Capriole]

Personally?

No.
I wouldnt want to hand my horse, that Id spent a lot of time on, over to someone Ive never met or seen how sympathetically or otherwise they ride, then not be allowed to watch them ride it in the warm up.

Plus, how much would it cost you to transport to and from the venue?
Just even financially for me, £50 hardly seems worth it when you take into consideration the time youd spend bathing and grooming and tack cleaning, plus petrol money to get there and back. Not to mention your time spent on doing all this and hanging around waiting.

 

[Piglet]

Big Fat NO!!!!

 

[Lolo]

I'd say you'd be handing her over to some of the best student riders in the UK, and that could only be a good test of her schooling so far? If she goes well, you know you've enabled her to go like that, and if she doesn't you'll have some objective and experienced eyes telling you where they think she needs more work...

 

[mik]

NO. I wouldn't . Sorry, I don't think the money is an issue as it is nominal, but I could take the chance that someone could undo my year of schooling and confidence building, maybe in a few years when she is really solid in her training and confident in herself. After only a year with you it (for me personally) would be too soon. Sorry.

 

[Jesstickle]

I personally would. I don't think one day undoes months of work unless it is truly horrific (hit by a car or whatever) and I reckon it sounds like a hoot.

That's just me though

 

[LaurenM]

No chance.

 

[BombayMix]

I personally wouldn't because £50 is not very much money for the work you will put into the day to receive nothing out of it.

 

[LaurenM]

Jesstinsel - if an accident happens, who foots the vets bills..?

 

[ridefast]

Although actually, as I work full time as a groom, getting paid £50 per day just to clean tack and one horse and transport (providing it's not too far away) is a really good wage! But I'd still say no cos my horse is MINE

 

[Jesstickle]

Jesstinsel - if an accident happens, who foots the vets bills..?

The insurance company I imagine. The organisers probably have their own and I would double check with my own insurers to make sure I was covered on my side as well. No biggy

 

[Honey08]

I'd say you'd be handing her over to some of the best student riders in the UK, and that could only be a good test of her schooling so far? If she goes well, you know you've enabled her to go like that, and if she doesn't you'll have some objective and experienced eyes telling you where they think she needs more work...

Agree with this. I let someone else do competitions on my younger horse now and again. He will stop and run out with her occasionally, but it doesn't mean that he does it with me. He knows me well and respects me.(doesn't mean he is perfect for me either!!)

I think that it depends on you and if you feel relaxed with it. If you have any doubts, say no.

 

[ArabianGold]

Big fat no. Not a chance!

I couldn't sit there watching someone else riding my horse for £50, thinking I wouldn't have ridden her like that or Ooh no don't pull like that, hands over eye thinking what have I done...

I would see if you can go along and watch first just to see what standard the riders are before handing over your little gem..

I have let someone ride my horses in the past and I swore then I would never do it again for love nor money. No one knows your horse better than you but then I am sure people on here will say variety is better but hey that's not for me...

Let us know what you decide.

Adios

 

[SaharaS]

In my eyes, the second I read the bit that you are not allowed to watch her warm up...big alarm bells. She's your horse and not a commodity to be used. Yes it could be very good experience and yes it could be fun, but £50 is nothing. What happens if your horse gets miss handled/ruined/injured/vet bill -I had someone one who was so called very experienced once turn up to ride out & left my horse terrified of anything but hackamores after only 20 mins I made an excuse to turn back yes i lost a sale but it took me months to get her right..not worth the energy & risk to your horse after all your hard work xx

 

[LaurenM]

If only life was that easy jesstinsel

 

[The Amber Gambler]

Sorry but I wouldn't

 

[Daytona]

I would say yes

 

[PingPongPony]

Majority seems to be saying 'NO!'. Just to clarify, £50 is actualy quite a bit to me, i'm 16, in my second GCSE year, parents pay the DIY livery and i'm responisble for paying the rest, that was the deal of having my own. I have 2 jobs to be able to keep her, work my a*** off every day, and still somehow manage to look after her (thanks to great help form my amazing friend!) and fit studing in. So yes the offer of £50 will buy me shoes and feed in janurary. BUT, i think despite being in a tight financial situation, i feel like i have way too many doubts so i think i'm going to say no. I'm working hard to keep her and be able to work with her and enjoy her so i don't feel very comfortable if someone else enjoys what i'm working for. Yes they are very good riders, if they're so good then how come they're asking to borrow peoples horses? Surely if they're that amazing then people would be dying to let their horses be ridden by them.
Decision is made, it a big NO. I will go and watch my friends pony being competed by them, i might consider it next year if they're good and nice to her ponio. I guess i am very much 'MINE!' with her

 

[Prince33Sp4rkle]

not for £5k let alone a paltry fifty quid!

absolutely not a chance.

 

[ABC]

Surely the riders will be really good riders? Not just random novices? Or am I missing something

I'd go for it personally

 

[Jesstickle]

. Yes they are very good riders, if they're so good then how come they're asking to borrow peoples horses? Surely if they're that amazing then people would be dying to let their horses be ridden by them.

They probably do ride for other people but this is a competition which is not organised by them and they have to ride a horse they don't know I believe. I'm sure they all have their own, very nice, horses but rules is rules.

 

[Marydoll]

Nobodys ass hits my horses saddle unless ive seen them ride and are happy with their riding. So my answer would be no

 

[SusieT]

No chance. No guarantee what type of riders they will be. £50 is not a lot.You can't watch them warm up. etc. etc. What happens if your horse gets injured?

 

[Lolo]

It's part of the comp- they watch someone warm up the horses, then have I think 10 minutes on said horse (or 5?) before doing the round/ dressage test. It tests their ability on a variety of unknown horses, rather than their partnership with one horse- far fairer for uni riders, who tend not to own a horse.

I'd let them ride my horse. Sister would most likely let them use Reg if he was in work- they're really decent riders... If you want any reassurance, look up Thistle's posts about her daughter doing it. That team is full of very good riders, and I think they only just qualified?

 

[Lolo]

I wonder if you'd get a different response posting in Comp Riders?

 

[galaxy]

no as I expect it would invalidate my insurance. You are not allowed to hire your horse out for reward.... so if he was injured, what would happen?

 

[monkeybum13]

If my horse was much more well schooled then I would.

I make a conscious effort to get different people riding my horse and the riders must be jolly good to make the finals.