Trying to find someone to ride my horse is impossible.

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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This is exactly it. Where i used to live there was a local riding school and local people who wanted to ride. The hacking was rubbish but they didn't mind. I have a friend who can sometimes come over, she had horses on loan from me for a long time and is great but she has a demanding job and can't commit to regular riding. I can also trust her completely not to be dangerous if she wanted to ride alone.
 
I would have jumped at the chance too as a teenager, but I was nuts, well still am. But what might be putting off the more nervous people who this would more likely appeal to is the fact that you've said a few times now that she has her moments of silliness. They may not be liking that as that could mean anything really, and will they be able to stop her if she has her moment of silliness?
 
dozzie said:
I am on the Hants/Berks border. Is that the right side? I can provide a mounting block!
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ha sorry dozzie she is lockerley way :), I was wilts/hamps border, literally, other side of the road hampshire :D

I feel there is some call for a matchmaking service but so far I am not being too successful!
 
I think possibly someone who is competent/confident enough to ride a big horse that can sometimes be "a bit silly" is probably going to want to do more than a road hack in walk and trot.
 
I can't pay someone to ride mine lol It is way harder than I thought it would be to find someone reliable and able to do it. Maybe the best people aren't interested in small/not so exciting jobs?
 
I used to pay £10 to go and hack out with a family on their spare horse and I loved it. Got to know the family and the horse was good fun and compared to the price of a lesson or hack at the riding school it was a bargain.
 
I did exactly this for someone riding their older horse whilst they were on foot besides their youngster so there is people out there....sadly the agreement broke down as although I was keen to go out as soon as the weather was bad she decided to leave the youngster until spring and there were frankly better opportunities around the area for me to share a horse I could do more with
 
dozzie put a thread up on your local section on here I got a few people reply even about a year after it went up someone messaged me, as I said before one of my riders is fresh from a riding school and although she is competent she won't cope with hyper Arab antics so we do very sedate rides and then go in the school so it gets them ridden and she is safe.
 
I'm trying to find something like this!
I have two of my own but both retired and I'm desperate to ride, haven't really now for years due to very early retirement of both my horses due to injury. I can't afford a loan horse or a share as still paying for my two and I can only really do weekends as still have to do mine in the mornings and evenings. I'm in Berkshire so possibly not a million miles from you.
 
seaofdreams said:
I'm trying to find something like this!
I have two of my own but both retired and I'm desperate to ride, haven't really now for years due to very early retirement of both my horses due to injury. I can't afford a loan horse or a share as still paying for my two and I can only really do weekends as still have to do mine in the mornings and evenings. I'm in Berkshire so possibly not a million miles from you.
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I am between Newbury and Basingstoke. If you are interested, let me know.
 
I am not against having someone from a riding school and have had people in the past like this. Generally she is really laid back and easy but she has her moments as they all do. My issue is she is a big sport horse so a lot for a complete novice to handle if she decided to have a silly five minutes. Don't get me wrong, all she does is "passage" and the odd ridiculous spook, but it can be disconcerting for a novice! On the whole she is pretty straightforward when hacking.

It is just frustrating as I have a good nanny horse but no-one to ride her!
 
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I'm not far from you .......other side of Winchester. Why not advertise on Nfed? Also what about Hampshire hooves on facebook. I also echo what others have said about not discounting RS people as not all by any means will be novice or have no other experience. Some will be between horses/have oldies or injured ones and be happy for a little potter around. Try notice boards at some of the riding schools if they have them... Quob maybe? I also would not overdo the "has her moments" part as it sounds like what you are describing is just average "horse" to me and as for 16.2 being big..............that's not big if you are tall like me, that's a min size/small horse!!!
 
I know what you mean! There are no riding schools near me. There used to be a really good one just up the road, not posh but they produced really good riders. I am probably worrying too much as she is pretty good when she is with her mates. I have ridden out with a really novice (competentish but never ridden outside the riding school) rider on her and she was fine although she took the micky with laziness! Maybe I should chase up the novice rider again!
 
Really? I think there are probably people out there who would love to just be back on a horse without the responsibility/commitment of full time care (I don't think it is about finances round here) . It is just finding them. If the rider is capable then no worries with going on longer hacks and doing faster work. But I have to be sure they don't trash my horse. If she is galloped up hill she will go permanently lame. If she is ridden with respect she will stay sound and will plod out for a few more years at her pace. And will be field sound. That is all I want tbh. So long as she is comfortable doing what she does I am happy and she can do that for someone else if they are happy to just enjoy plodding in the sunshine.
 
Definitely don't write off all riding school riders - I wouldn't mind having something like what you're offering :smile3:
 
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