What Is It With Sharers Part 2: Sorry Another Rant

[Mithras]

I posed a couple of weeks ago about how I took on two sharers as you never know at the beginning of the year, one might give up. And sure enough one did give up after 2 months. I think she was looking for a horse she could jump at shows, not just ride on the flat, in the school and hacking out.

Anyway, it looks like I am going to have to tell the remaining sharer I can do without her "help". Thats 2 Wednesdays in a row she hasn't turned up. Both times without telling me. OK, my horse is on full livery, but that doesnt include preperation of her morning feed, so she did without those days. Plus I didnt ride the day before or afterwards, as I assumed she had been ridden. Add that to the time she got the day wrong and my horse got ridden twice in one day, once by me in the morning and once by her later on, and the fact that she has never cleaned my tack once, despite me asking her to, and going out in the rain and returning with it like cardboard...

I mean, for goodness sake, what is wrong with people? My horse is the most easy going, problem free horse you could imagine. She is well schooled, responsive and affectionate with no bad habits. All the sharers have to do is turn up twice a week, ride and prepare the morning feed. And clean tack twice a month. I dont ask for any money at all. Theres an indoor school and fantastic hacking. They dont have any stable duties to do! Both sharers were experienced riders who had owned horses and done BSJA in the past, so its not as if they didnt know what they were taking on.

Is 2 times a week really too much for people? Is it too much to ask if they can't make it they let me know, or just feed that night? Are they all like this in Aberdeen? Because when I lived in Edinburgh I had 2 fantastic sharers over 6 years, who never let me down ONCE? Are there no people round here who are reasonably competent riders who enjoy spending time with a horse and can commit only twice a week? Aaargh!

 

[TiaPony]

i wish i was yoor sharer

how rude of them to behave like that when they have such a fair deal and lovely horse to ride! im sure someone will take heed of yoor generosity, jus hang on in there

x

 

[teapot]

Can I be your sharer please?

Makes me mad as there are people out there who are despately trying to find something to share but can't and then you get people who give sharers & potential sharers a bad name

 

[Niffer]

I know this sounds strange, but you might get better people if you charge them for sharing. Once they've made a financial commitment, they'll be more likely to ride when they're supposed to.

Also, if you're on full livery, surely the manager would check that your horse has been fed and do it? Even if she gets cross with you, most managers put the horse's welfare first?

 

[Moggy in Manolos]

i tried a sharer and it didnt out work after 4weeks so i took on a second job instead!

 

[custard]

Sack the pair of these ungrateful people. When I was a horseless young adult I'd have given my eyeteeth for an opportunity like this!

 

[vieshot]

There are so many people out there that would kill for the opportunity to ride a nice horse for free twice a week. I no while i was paying x-amount of money a week just for a riding lesson, i would have loved to have had someone so kind as to let me ride their horse. Find someone else, there are people out there! People should be more grateful, theres people out there (me for one) that would never consider having someone else riding my horses, so they should really worship you for it!

 

[TheresaW]

My sharers are fantastic. Have the odd issue with one of them, bit that is purely an age thing as she is still a kid. Can't fault the way she cares for my horse though. All of them always let me know in advance when they are unable to come in and do horses.

 

[Mithras]

I think you are right Niffer, if I charge them e.g. for shoeing, it might put off the joyriders in the first place. Although its not much money, and much less than a weekly riding school hack, it does signify some committment. My previous sharers back home all paid a good amount per month but apparantly there are so many spoilt brats up here with horses going unridden I wouldnt get one to pay much in Aberdeen.

My full livery for some reason doesnt include a morning feed, just a small evening feed. Its a good livery in all other respects, it just seems to be again an Aberdeen thing. Not up for discussion with them either. Its pretty hard to get into a decent yard close to the city here and otherwise I'm happy with it.

The more I think about the pair of them, the more annoyed I am. Its unsettling for my horse and a waste of my time for someone to come for 7 weeks and then announce work committments are too great - yeah right, she was just looking for a horse she could treat like her own, and I specifically said no jumping. But at least she was honest, not turning up 2 weeks in a row and not bothering to tell me or let me know in advance is really damned annoying. I would never behave like that. Its so untrustworthy.

I'm pretty gobsmacked at the pair of them actually.

 

[Fairynuff]

The problem could also be the twice weekly thing.Riding twice a week doesnt really give you much time to get involved with the horse nor to create a feeling with him. I personally, wouldnt like to share a horse with these terms as there doesnt seem to be much satisfaction to be had. Maybe thats why the two have drifted away. Mairi.

 

[filly190]

I think the problem lies in lack of full involvement and feeling of responsiblity for the horse. To my mind if you have a sharer for it to work well, they should consider the horse to be their's as well. This way a bond grows and no matter what the horse is cared for and looked after.

My friend shares my three horses and I could not wish for a better arrangement, one of the horses is totally for her and we ensure that she gets out and about as much as possible so that she has objectivity and an interest to pursue her goals and make the whole exercise as much for her as it is for me.

Having someone two rides a week, is not really involving them and so a distance of responsiblity and commitment is there right from the start. I realise you need to fit in the sharing to suit yourself as its your horse, but I dont really see what is on offer to them, to keep them coming back.