Tips or ideas when looking for a sharer please?

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My friend is currently looking for a sharer (no yard duties to do, just a contribution of £25 a week for 3 to 4 days schooling/hacking/jumping). She has a lovely horse so I thought there'd be lots of people interested.

So far she's just had one very novice person contact her.

She's in the Telford/Ironbridge area of Shropshire so has put an advert on preloved and an advert on one of the facebook pages for over that way.

Any suggestions on how to go about finding a sharer?
 
Gosh, absolute minefield in my view. I would always go with word of mouth if she can or put up an advert in the local tack shops and be prepared to fend off those with less than accurate ideas about their abilities..... ;)
 
Thank you, advertising in tack shops is a good idea, I'll mention that to her.

I must admit, I thought most horses that come up for share are either nuts or on their last legs!! He's neither of those, in fact he's really nice! He will hack, can jump, can be competed, is responsive but not strong or silly, is fully sound, on full livery, up to date with teeth/back/jabs/wormer, has a nice saddle and is on a really good yard with great facilities!

I thought people would be snapping her hand off!!
 
It's not really a good time of year to look for a sharer coming up to winter although it does show dedication if they are still with you by the spring. As your friend is already using preloved I would also suggest local horsey forums and putting notices up in local tack shops.
 
How has she worded the ad? I only ask cos when I was looking on Preloved it took me ages to realise that the reason hardly any were coming up was because I was merrily typing in "share" when it turns out they were all listed under "part loan" instead :D
 
You're right about the time of year, I hadn't thought of that.

He is on full livery so if the weather was bad the sharer wouldn't have to go up to the stables if they didn't want to and there is an indoor school and all weather menage with floodlights.

It does take more dedication though you're right.
 
It seems fine to me and a great deal for the lucky sharer! As a slight negative, the formatting makes it a bit messy to read and it's possibly a wee bit on the wordy side. The latter wouldn't bother me personally - better to explain things on the ad than have to put off loads of unsuitable people afterwards - but some might not bother reading it all.

Perhaps she could detail some of the facilities at the yard? Yes, it's winter and that may put some people off but if they realise there's an indoor school or floodlights that may tempt them back again. It just says "excellent facilities" and that's a bit vague.
 
hhmmm, I'm trying to read the advert as if I don't know the horse and really it doesn't descibe or convey how nice he is!!

Would more pictures help do you think?
 
Some of the paragraphs seem very negative. For example:-

However, as he is only 6 (and my baby!) the arrangement is only on offer to 100% the right person for both of us. I am looking for someone to help me continue his education therefore absolutely no novices or children.
I would ideally like someone to ride 2/3 times a week and he is able to do a bit of everything.
He is good to hack in company (but remembering that he is only 6 therefore cannot expected to be bombproof), hasn't shown any idiotic tendencies in open spaces and is laid back in the school. He hasn't done a lot of jumping yet, we are taking it slowly!
There is possibly the opportunity to compete at a local unaffiliated show through summer if you wish (i unfortunately don't have transport to go further afield :-( )​

Take these paragraphs out - all of that can be explained in a phone call.

Good luck - he sounds lovely
 
EllenJay, I think you've probably hit the nail on the head, it does sound a bit negative when it doesn't need to be.

He's got all the advantages of being 6 with not really any of the disadvantages.

I've got a 6 year old too and she's very different (quite sharp and nerve-y, very green and takes a while to learn new things etc.!)

My friend's horse (who the advert is for) has a lovely temperament and is level-headed and that makes all the difference. He's lovely looking and moves nicely but isn't a flightly nutcase like some young warmbloods/thoroughbreds can be.
 
Hope your friend doesnt mind but this is how I'd re-word it (and re-format it, its hard to read at the moment I'm afraid, sentences very jumpy):

I am offering my lovely 6 year old, 16.1hh, bay sports horse gelding on share/part loan. He is stabled in Broseley where there are excellent facilities, including an indoor school and floodlit arena, and always friendly people on hand to help out or ride with. He is on full livery therefore all stable duties would be taken care of, it would be a case of turning up, tacking up and off you go!

However, as he is only 6 I am looking for someone to help me continue his education therefore absolutely no novices or under 16's. I would ideally like someone to ride 2/3 times a week and he is able to do a bit of everything. He is good to hack in company and in general is well behaved however due to his age cannot be classed as bombproof and I would prefer for him not be hacked out alone or jumped too often as he is still green when it comes to jumping. Opportunity to compete for the right person.

He is a very friendly chap and doesn't have a nasty bone in his body, letting you do anything you want around him in the stable and is good as gold to handle on the ground (has been brought in from the field by a 12 year old!). I would be looking for a financial contribution to help cover the cost of full livery - approx £25 per week but this could be negotiable depending on number of days you want to ride. I would also want you to have rider insurance.

Please get in touch if you are interested, providing a little more information about yourself (age, experience, what you're looking for etc). I'll be happy to answer any questions/provide any further information. Please note he is not for sale neither is he for full loan therefore he will not be able to move from where he is stabled.
 
I've just shortened it a bit, mentioned the facilities and kept it brief in some areas where she had gone into too much detail (for example with competing - if the sharer had their own transport or could arrange their own it wouldnt be a problem, so she can discuss this in further detail when a sharer gets in touch.

I'm a sharer, currently sharing a nutty 6 year old mare and in all honesty if your friend's horse was a few miles closer (I'm south of Birmingham) I'd be viewing him tomorrow :) He sounds great, he really does and that is very cheap for a contribution too (I'm paying £150 per month for 4 days per week) so I'm sure you will find someone.

Get her to advertise on Equine Adverts and Horsemart as well, they both have loan sections so definitely worth a try. And most of all be patient - not sure how long the advert has been on Preloved however their adverts are only able to be viewed by users who have paid for membership for the first 7-10 days, so really she wont get many replies for the first week/2 weeks because of this. She needs to keep renewing the advert to keep it current and high up the listings pages.

As others have said, winter is a bad time for sharers however with an indoor (I'd be biting her hand off - we only have an outdoor!) it shouldnt be so hard. Stick with it, he sounds great so I'm sure someone will come along.
 
I recently lost my horse of 21 years and had intended to give up horses when she died - but, of course, I couldn't. Through a spookie timing of looking of pre-loved and advert going on, I am now a sharer, which works out beautifully for me as I dont want the commitment of owning again at the moment.

From my point of view, I was out of touch with young horses and wouldn't have answered an advert for a 6 year old, as I wouldn't have trusted my ability. Also 16.1 is quite big for some people - even taller friends of mine like under 16h.

I think it reads that the owner is looking for a very specific person, which is probably true as sharers/owners really have to get on for it to work. However, some people might feel that they dont have the confidence or will not be good enough. As others have said, maybe some of the detail could be discussed when people phone up and you can learn a lot about people's ability when you start talking horses. The owner of the girl I share and I really hit it off when we spoke for the first time.

Does she know any instructors who might have a student interested - they will know their ability then.

Good luck - hope she finds someone.
 
I would keep all of the detail in, if it puts off people who don't have the confidence etc, they are probably not right for the horse.
It is a minefield finding the right sharer (and a minefield for the rider trying to find the right horse to share).
Better to be very specific.
I had to kiss a lot of frogs before I found my prince charming horse. In the end, it was through someone I knew - despite lots of attempts through adverts.
 
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