Trying to find someone to ride my horse is impossible.

dozzie said:
Ok. Personally I think "no charge" should be enough which is why I am asking for no contribution. But now thinking about insurance...Perhaps I m not covered.
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I'm hoping I've found someone to help me keep the horses fit, all I've asked is they have rider insurance and I get a copy, done it before. The lady in question has had it before and is quite happy, as she'll be getting a horse to ride for free. They can get it for less than £5 a month. :)
 
dozzie said:
Ok. Personally I think "no charge" should be enough which is why I am asking for no contribution. But now thinking about insurance...Perhaps I m not covered.
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Not on your insurance but if you do find someone, make sure they have BHS Gold membership at the very least. It's a yearly subscription and not much money. They will then be covered. Or rider insurance as mentioned above.
 
dozzie said:
Ahh! ok times have changed! I would have bitten someone's hand off to ride a horse for free. Even riding on a boring road hack. I guess I need to ride and lead. I would still like someone to come and enjoy riding my mare for free though! She is a babe!
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I became very friendly with someone many years ago doing just this. As a 'competent' novice rider it was a fantastic way to learn more (despite having my own horse). She would ride the breakers and I would ride the nanny.

I really hope you find someone.
 
Regarding the insurance issue:

I looked in to this with my insurance/BhS and the idea that you are not covered if you are being paid isn't true. It would be true if you were making a profit from the cost of keeping the horse compared to what you are being paid for the ride but anything else is classed as a 'contribution'. This means that your own insurance will cover them as a third party or BhS gold will. Obviously you will need to check with your own insurance but this is the case for most.
 
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I think you would want a competent and experienced rider, one who can predict what your youngster is doing and prepare to go in front if necessary, to stop if needed and so on. I have always paid for early walk outs, it is such an important part of his education, if he is about to have a moment you don't want to be talking someone through what they need to do, you want them just to know.
 
GirlFriday said:
Only walk/trot and only road hacking and only with owner would suit (only) a nervous novice. But horse can't be trusted with nervous novice.

Can you ask a horsey friend who will enjoy your company? Insurance wise you can ask them to get rider insurance.
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Ermm I'd do it and have done it and am certainly not a nervous novice! In fact I was asked to do it because the older horse had a bit of a tendency to whip round and hubby kept falling off and wasn't helping youngster. In fact an old Hhoer has recently asked if I might do similar with her as she is bringing her youngster back from injury. Perfectly happy to if it get me some horse time and a chat with a horsey person! Perhaps those with full access to their own don't realise what a hole it leaves when you don't.
 
Read through the thread and alternated my thinking as I went.

Initially I was a bit bleugh at the thought of the restrictions, i.e. only riding when you were going out with your youngster, no cantering (I'm not talking blasting up hills), always being with you (nothing against you, just it's sometimes lovely to mooch on one's own).

Then I realised that for some folks, having that set time, etc. etc. etc., may well be the right way for them - just because it wouldn't be right for me doesn't make it intrinsically wrong :)

So, that was a very woffly way of saying I think there'll be people out there and it's worth a notice in the local tack shops, as well as word of mouth via farrier, saddler, etc.
 
For me, if I was able to ride at the moment, this would be perfect.
I lost my horse of a lifetime in September, two days after having surgery on my ankle.
I can't even think about a new horse yet, but am starting to want to ride again. A chance for some nice gentle hacks sounds wonderful to me.
Sadly my ankle is nowhere near healed enough to get on a horse yet, otherwise I'd be clamouring at OP's door
 
There will be someone out there, so keep advertising locally.

But I can't imagine you will be inundated with willing applicants, as others have stated it pretty prescriptive and boring riding - I'd only do it to help a good friend out, a stranger would have to pay for my time!
 
If only you were closer to me! I've had my own horse for 20 years but she is now retired. I cant afford another so the chance to ride, even if only at walk and trot, would be wonderful. Keep trying, I'm sure you will find someone.
 
Hi, I must be very lucky as I have a friend who is 72 and comes out with me every Monday just for the pleasure of a unchallenging ride, she rides my horse who is not a novice ride but perfectly safe, and I usually ride another that I have for the summer which is usually more challenging we just walk and trot just for the beauty of being on a horse out in the countryside no other reason, I don't pay her but I make sure both horses are tacked up and ready when she comes. Just glad for some company to ride out with as I feel anxious sometimes when out alone as I'm getting older.
Check your local pony club for teenage rider needing time in saddle or put advert in local feed merchants . Hope that helps.
 
I wouldn't rule out riding school people - if you can find a good person then they might be the ideal solution. I know when I started my share, having only ever ridden in RS before, I found the thought of solo hacking quite scary and it was lovely having someone else to ride out with. If you haven't got your own horse, any extra riding is a treat and hacking is exciting, not dull!
 
Well said lexi, totally agree anytime on a horse is good if your a true horseperson it is the Valium of life, no matter how slow you go. Just being on a horse is theraputic in my book as long as safe. Time in the saddle is a valuable experience whatever you are doing.
 
I know lots of people in Bucks that would love this chance. They are using riding schools at the moment (that hacking is not really an option) not ready to take the next step to share but would like love the chance to hack out even in walk and trot just for the love of riding a horse.

As for the cost thing. When both of mine were in work I never charged someone to ride I was grateful for their help just the same as I have two dogs if I couldn't walk them I pay someone to walk them, not them paying me for the love of walking my dogs!

I never really 'got' the share thing where someone pays you to look after your own horse.
 
I'm having similar problems and I think have resolved to pay someone. Loads of lovely hacking near me, cantering def included and I'd even pay for the right person to take horse to clinics etc but not a bite.

I've probably not advertised as extensively as I could have as the horses are kept at home and I don't want a stream of people in and out of my garden which is also as this is a factor in deciding to pay :(
 
When my now retired horse was still in work and I had two to keep fit I had several people over the years who came to hack out with me. Both horses were good to hack and pretty straightforward but not plods. I advertised in my local tack shop or by word of mouth and it worked really well. I was also happy to let them have lessons and also took one of them off to do show jumping etc. I never charged anything and I made several friends. They stopped coming for good reasons, two went to uni, one bought her own horse and one moved away and another had a baby. Being an oldie I really loved them being a lot younger than me and we frequently nearly fell off because we were laughing so much! I really miss those days! good luck in your search, there will be someone out there who is suitable.
 
how old where you hoping them to be as I know plenty of teen riders who are definitely not novices who would fight for this one. Maybe try advertising on preloved as that is where they look.
 
I've had a similar problem, but I've been messaging pros who I am prepared to pay! I think because it's short-term while I'm not allowed to ride after an op they're not bothered... very disappointing that not one has acknowledged my message even though they have seen them.

I'm sure the right person will turn up for you soon!
 
when i had my old mare and she couldnt be ridden for the last 6 months of her life i would have been glad to ride even if it was only walk and trot, i didnt ride because everyone wanted to charge me and as i still had my mare i couldnt afford to pay out any more..keep looking as there will be someone similar to me out there,,,,
 
No I mean north of Cambridge ;) I'll pm you where aware that quite a lot of places are north of Cambridge! Although for a Somerset/wilts lass this feels quite high up to me!
 
I know how you feel. I'm looking for someone to ride mine still since starting looking in September.

Green but sensible. Lovely manners and they can hack, school and compete if they wish.

No one is interested! Had one girl interested but she kept jumping him every day when I was away so that stopped and kept handing him back all sweaty to the YM saying she was on a rush so that had to stop but not had a peep from anyone since!
 
I think you could have a point about the area you are in. I too am in Hampshire possibly a similar part but moved here from Kent. I haven't made a big effort to find he!p with my lot but I have tried word of mouth with limited success. Where I used to live I'd of had a que of people to chose from but here I am surrounded by people who buy their own horses and put them on full livery if they want to ride. Alternatively they have no trouble affording to go regularly to local riding schools. There are less affluent areas further out but that would mean a longish travel time that people aren't keen on just for a ride on my scruffy native ponies!
 
Fwiw someone is also hacking my oldie out once a week with my mum. She's someone we knew years ago, not ridden for a few years to have kids and mum bumped into her in the supermarket and got chatting and quite happy to mostly go for a pottle round the block, people exist and they should be easier to find in this day and age but maybe that means more to filter through too.
 
rhylis said:
I think you could have a point about the area you are in. I too am in Hampshire possibly a similar part but moved here from Kent. I haven't made a big effort to find he!p with my lot but I have tried word of mouth with limited success. Where I used to live I'd of had a que of people to chose from but here I am surrounded by people who buy their own horses and put them on full livery if they want to ride. Alternatively they have no trouble affording to go regularly to local riding schools. There are less affluent areas further out but that would mean a longish travel time that people aren't keen on just for a ride on my scruffy native ponies!
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Where are you? I was on the border and when I moved my sharer lost her native ;) she is in hamps
 
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