Very fussy owner finding a sharer - please help with wording!

[zoon]

I am thinking of finding a sharer for my horse as I'm having a baby in march (long time away but think it may take me forever to find someone!) The thing is I know I'm going to be extra extra fussy.

He's a talented but quirky 14 yo TBxWB ex event horse that I bought to showjump. Used to be evented by a well known rider. Very honest and genuine in school - complete schoolmaster. Can be a b*gger to hack but not dangerous, just sharp. Has been known to rear and spin but not big dangerous ones, just little nappy ones. Hence describing him as quirky. I ride him out with no problem , but he'll test a new rider at the gate. Once out he's generally fine, is always easy to pull up after a bit of fast work and doesn't get all excited in company. (in company he never naps and will go first or last)

I'd want someone for a few day a week, completely negotiable. Chance to compete is there. Maybe more days once baby is born. Contribution will be required.

Problem is I'd want adults only, very good references, they'd be supervised only with him for however long it'd take for me to trust them (this is going to put most people off), he'd have to stay at his current full livery yard (£120 per week), and I'd want a contribution to his keep depending on the number of days they had.

My reasoning? He's my dream horse, is worth lots of money and is a complete schoolmaster (apart from hacking) so is a chance for someone to learn from a very talented horse and compete at a decent level. And I am a control freak who doesn't trust anyone! Reckon I've got an ounce of a chance to find anyone?

And anyone fancy writing out the sort of thing I should put in the advert as I am hopeless at this! Any extra info ou need can be provided!

 

[Cedars]

I'd try and make it honest but funny, and I'd not make it too long but emphasise that they should ring you, cos you can explain everything you've just explained to us on the phone xxxx

 

[lexiedhb]

IMO (I am a sharer) you have a problem....... you want someone who knows what they are doing so as not to bugger up your baby boy, but then you kinda "selling" him as a horse someone without alot of experience would learn a lot on... catch 22.


I would personally advertise for an experienced adult (maybe one who has had a break from riding or something)...... But if you do want him taken out to competitions you may find a sensible teenager more keen, and without a horse of their own....

The supervision would/should not put any decent sharer off..... unless you plan on being there everytime for 3 months!! You also may have to let go of the apron strings just fractionately...... if a sharer does something in a different way to you, but still does it in a safe and effective manner, then telling them to do it another way IMO is just pointless!

Also bear in mind that as you are on a full livery yard there would usually be someone there to "see" what the sharer was up to.

Asking for a contribution is also fine.... but I wouldnt expect half as you have chosen to keep him at an expensive full livery yard........... I pay a pitance for my share, but do her other horse for her and yard chores which in my mind makes up for it but I would never pay more than £15 a ride.... that however could just be me.

I have shared my horse for over 2 years now and wouldnt be without the big pink beasty, I treat him as if he were my own, and his owners trust me to do whatever my heart desires with him, there are good sharers out there, but you are right it might take you a while to find one.
Good luck

 

[ihatework]

You are in a catch 22 here - you need a capable rider and they are most definitely out there. However capable riders actually know their worth and tend not to be willing to contribute that much financially, so I suppose it would depend on how much you wanted from them. I think if you were realistic and asked for £100 a month you would find someone.

 

[niaismyname]

I think you are perfectly entitled to watch over people until you trust them, i share a horse & for the first couple of weeks the owner was there with me when I tacked up etc, and I didn't have a problem with it. After all, he is your horse!

I think you've got a good chance of finding someone. There are plently of adults looking for share horses out there, and your horse sounds fantastic

Just I think don't make it too expensive. I pay £20 a month for my share pony (who isnt on livery so thats why hes so cheap), and then I pay half the shoes every time as well. Although this isn't much to pay, i'm not sure i'd want to pay that much more. My friend pays £100 a month for a horse on livery, she rides about 2/3 times a week and can compete etc too, and I think thats a fair amount to pay. So take care not to charge too much money cos' that will definately put people off at the first hurdle.

Good luck, i'm sure you'll find someone

 

[Twizzel]

I think you will find someone, but it may take a little longer as we're now going into winter (didn't put me off though, I shared my last horse from September and gave it up in May just before summer started!!).

Don't charge too much, with my last share horse I paid £110 per month, this included everything. I had the horse for 3 days, owner had her for 3 days, we shared the 7th day of the week (normally I rode on that day). I think it was quite steep and the reason I gave the share up was because I was struggling to live on the £80/month I had left over once share had been paid. I would charge between £15 for 2 days up to £25 for 4 days per week. Add everything up and include it in the share money, don't ask for £X per week then £X every 6wks for shoes, it's too confusing

Wanting to make sure the sharer is 100% comfortable with your horse before allowing them to be unsupervised shouldn't put a decent sharer off!! I get on extremely well with the owners of the horses I ride now, we always ride together but on the days they can't get up, I will do the horses on my own. I wanted them there with me for at least the first 2 months!

Make sure you get a proper contract sorted out, the BHS loan one is good and tailor it to your situation. Also make sure sharer has insurance, Petplan have a good policy.

Don't make your advert too long, try to include a photo if you can, concentrate on your horse's positive points but don't be misleading r.e. the hacking, say financial contribution required but negotiable to the right person, include an email address as some people (me!!) much prefer to email first off then ring the owner after a couple of emails have been exchanged.

Good luck

 

[emma69]

I'm with B&J here - if someone is that good, they are often offered rides / horses without needing to make a financial contribution, so it may come down to what is more important, the financial side, or the skill side. You might find someone who is e.g. at University, but unless they live fairly close, you might be stuck over the summer months.

 

[cmarychapman]

I think it is possible you can find the right sharer for your horse but I think you will need to weigh up how much you value the right rider v's how much financial contribution you need.

I estimate your livery fees alone at £500-£600 per month, thats alot i.e the same as what I pay for my rent in London!!. It is likely if someone had that kind of disposable income they would have their own horse already.

If you want really a competition rider with a good reputation behind them, great, but its likely they can pick and choose their rides, especially given the recession and more people putting their horses up for share. Also knowing dont have time to ride/cant ride gives them more room to negotiate. I cut my share costs of Hobbit Pony down as the owner didnt have time and he needed me as much as I needed him.

Being supervised wouldnt bother me one jot, I'm perfectly happy to be "minded" by owners and friends but so long as its a helping hand and any criticism is constructive, no-one wants to feel like they are in boot camp. At the end of the day you have to trust them its fundamental to the whole thing working - if you really are the sort of person who cant trust anyone then I'd think long and hard whether sharing is the right solution for you.