Somebody else competing your horse on a part time basis?

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opinionuk

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Due to my 6 year old horse and myself having a bit of a confidence meltdown XC I am thinking about getting somebody local to compete him over the winter and do a bit of JAS with him with a view to doing a bit of BE with him at the beginning of the year, I think he's super talented and could be a fantastic event horse which is what I bought him for.

I intend to keep him with me and do all the fitness work and still take him out to dressage competitions, but get somebody to school him a couple of times a week and compete him a couple of weekends a month.
I have had him on competition livery before but it just didn't work as I want him based with me to still hack out on and fuss about with so I don't want to go down that route again.

Has anybody tried this sort of set up before and does it work? It also seems to be difficult to get local event riders to sign up to this sort of agreement and to find them in the first place!
Any other ideas? Is it going to confuse him having 2 different type of riders on him?

Heres a few videos of him!
http://youtu.be/rLr1fHM54Ws - Louise Harwood schooling him, loved him
http://youtu.be/0__C4lbcl24 - William Blane XC clinic a few months ago
http://youtu.be/vlsKfEb8s7Y
http://youtu.be/0k9XhmhPqic - SJ at west wilts
 
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It really depends on the rider, I livery with one who does exactly this for people and I know another couple too. If you're going to for top notch riders they they are less keen as they want more of a hand in the management.

The key is finding someone that rides like you want you horse to be ridden and having enough commitment to let them have lessons (that you pay for).

If you are looking in North Yorkshire PM me as I know a few.
 
I think so long as the rider and yourself have similar riding (aids/methods etc) the horse won't get confused. However, they may also want input in what the horse does on the days they are not riding it (as this can make all the difference) - I have ridden horses for people in the past and would always want input in the type of fitness work the horse did and when (so as not to risk injuries during competition).
I would guess that how easy it was to find a rider would depend on which area you were in, and how much you were willing to pay, but maybe if you put some adverts up at events themselves?
 
Where abouts in the country are you OP? I know a couple of riders in the South East that do this, and other people may know of a local rider?
 
I have exactly this arrangement. I'm lucky enough to have found a rider who has competed to 3* and rides a lot of young horses for people. My mare was competing at Novice, and I do all the fitness and schooling at home, and Caroline gets on at the event. I do make sure that they have some lessons together at the start of the season, and I pay for those, and all competition riding and travelling expenses. It works out cheaper than competition livery, and, like you, I like to produce to my standards. So far its worked out very well, with two qualifiers for Novice Regional Finals under our belts, plus a first clear XC at Intermediate.
I think any rider who wants to add to their competition record, will want the horse fit enough and schooled enough so that they have a chance of finishing in the top 10. Event riders seem to be a very competitive lot! I'm sure that there are a lot of wannabees out there. As your horse is a nice type, I'd check out carefully any rider's record. You may be told all sorts of tales of what's been acheived, but BE website will be your friend in checking out a rider. I had a girl years ago say she'd compete my mare whilst charging me a lot for doing it. She had produced and competed her own horse and had stayed at 70cm level for 5 years!! Not what I was looking for......
 
I did this and it worked beautifully . . . but only because:

a) I was really clear about what I wanted/needed;
b) I already knew his potential jockey - had known her for years, had seen how she rode her own and liked her immensely;
c) We had clearly defined roles and expectations were set up front;
d) We both understood and communicated very well about what was expected of Kali and both had his best interests at heart from the very beginning.

She competed him for two years . . . we had SUCH fun, I'd do all it again, and she loves him (and me) so much that when the time comes to despatch him, she will be there with me and will hold him for the vet if I can't.

It can work beautifully . . . but you do need to be very clear in your own mind about what you want, and you do need to find the right person. I am supremely lucky that I did . . . Z and I are now dear friends (beyond our association with "our" boy - and, yes, that is how I see it despite the fact that she hasn't competed him for nearly two years now) and I would give anything to go back and do it all again.

P
 
I do this :)
Owner rides Ernie most week days as I have a busy job, he does all the hacking and basic flat work. I do all the jumping and schooling. Owners pay all competition fees and transport us to events and pay for my lessons and clinics. I do all the bathing/plaiting and competition prep. It works really well for us as I can't afford my own, the horse loves to go eventing and the owner gets more pleasure from watching his horse than riding it himself. Owners just approached me and asked if I was interested and I had about 5 lessons before I made a final decision
 
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