What's the point of sharing?

[timefort]

As title really...

I understand buying (obviously) and full loaning (where you treat the horse as yours in all but name) but what is sharing? As far as I can see sharing is someone has bought a horse, discovered its expensive and is trying to offset the cost.

Maybe I'm getting a bit long in the tooth, but I remember when horse owners were grateful to sensible horse riding non-owners who had spare time to help them exercise their charges. As a teenager I rode any number of horses on this premise - I wasn't a fantastic rider (nothings changed there!) but was sensible and everyone I rode for was grateful for being able to have the occasional lay in /night out etc. At most all I did in return was poo-pick, and often people would give me something as a thank you. Now in my elder years I thought about doing something similar to go alongside lessons but I've now discovered that it's now called "sharing" which seems to mean you share the cost, but not much else, and all I pick up from here is people moaning about their sharers. Can someone please tell me what the benefits are?

*disclaimer: this is not meant to pick holes in anyone's sharing arrangements - I just genuinely don't see the benefits (from the adverts and people I've seen about sharing in my neck of the woods).

 

[The Fuzzy Furry]

I often had teenagers to come along & ride - in return for yard/field jobs (mucking out, poo-picking etc). Kept a couple of steady-neddies for them to ride, but 1 or 2 of them came on so well, they ended up riding the producing ponies too on occasions. Still keep in contact with 2 of the girls & am now god parent to a little'n for one of them!

timefort - I don't know where you are, but there are several people or 'old codgers' like myself that sometimes mention on here about the free riding/exercising they can offer - nobody seems to take it up tho

 

[Kellys Heroes]

I started sharing 8 years ago now with a lady who wanted a little financial help towards her daughters pony (she had one of her own too) and a bit of help with riding due to time management (she works 3 jobs during summer). I only paid 10 pounds per week for 2-3 days a week.
I got a share because I wasn't progressing at my current RS and my parents told me we couldnt afford a horse - later they told me we could but they knew I was planning on university and moving away and couldn't cope with my horse whilst I was away!
I carried on sharing Rebel for 4 years until the owner took him back (he was on full loan to my sharer) and by then I was more friends with G (sharer) and started part loaning her horse (who I still have now). G refuses any financial contributions now (unless I get to feed shop/dentist/vets first! ) and I see Kelly every day and have stuck with her through all her Cushings illness etc and can't imagine life without her now.
G won't part loan her to anyone else now and I know she's fine when I'm at uni and I just return to her as normal when I'm home during the holidays etc I help G by giving her lifts to the farm and work etc and doing both horses when she's working, and she helps me by letting me have Kelly with her. I'm allowed to hack, jump, school, compete Kelly and hack, school and jump the other if I fancy it.
There's no way I could afford timewise or moneywise of having my own horse with uni as well and G says I'm stuck with Kelly for life anyway! (not that that's a bad thing!!)

Finding a good sharer is essential and probably fairly rare looking at the stories on here! I'm very lucky in that I got on well with the pony AND the owner and I've progressed onto Kelly and G's other horse, found that one horse in a million 'Free riding' still goes on - my mum wanted to start riding out with myself and G on Kelly and the other horse, so we found someone who was frightened of their young boy and she told my mum she was welcome to ride him once a week with us.
I also hack out Kelly's daughter, just to keep her mind going twice or three times a week and don't pay anything for that.
K x

 

[BSJAlove]

my sharer is fab! i have two horses to ride, im moving house and its a financial struggle at the moment. she pays her way and keeps one of my boys ridden a few times a week. she is brilliant with him and i owe her alot!!!

 

[c2b]

I used to have a sharer.
The lady in question could only afford one horse both in terms of finance and time. She chose a pony for her children so had nothing for herself to ride. For her own riding kick she rode my mare 2/3 times a week.

Suited us both at that time. Nothing whatsoever to do with me not being able to afford my mare.

 

[Geraldine]

I had a sharer for Bob (2 in fact but not at the same time!) when I was pregnant and when Anya was very young.

They both contributed financially (not a vast amount) but I mainly needed help exercising him as I was in no position to do so at the time. That was the point of having sharers for Bob.

 

[Jango]

Having a sharer can work well for both the owner and the sharer. For the sharer they have a fairly cheap (when compared to riding lessons) way to ride and look after a horse regularly without the commitment of owning or full loan. For the owner it's a bit of extra cash, horse gets exercised and cared for when you are too busy with other commitments.

 

[noblesteed]

The definitions of 'loaning' and 'sharing' are a grey area IMO.
I had a 'sharer' for a year or so when I was finding work very busy and stressful. She exercised my horse twice a week and mucked out etc on her days. I never charged her a penny. HOWEVER she wasn't a brilliant rider so I didn't want her trying to school or jump him, so she only hacked out which suited her. She wasn't able to take my horse to competitions or anywhere in her trailer (but partly because I love him too much to let anyone else tow him!) She stopped coming up to the farm when it was discovered she was having an affair with someone who was married and lived next to the farm - very messy! I haven't found anyone else since who I trust enough to ride my lad.
On the other hand I DID pay to 'part-loan' a mare before I bought my own. I paid half her bills and had the assistance and support of the owner. So I didn't mind paying as the owner taught me lots about horse care and I was allowed to take the mare to competitions and lessons. So it was a bit different I suppose.
I guess it depends what you want to do with the horse. There are STILL people out there who appreciate a reliable and competent sharer to help with the workload of horse care without expecting a financial contribution. You just need to find them!!!

 

[PingPongPony]

i'm answering as the sharer not the owner but i'll tell you how i see it.
i started sharing when i was 13. the way i see it is that the owner simply doesn't have enough time for the particular horse for whatever reason, full time work and 3 horses for example, or A level studies. and the horse still needs exercising, as some horses have to be kept in regular work to work nicely and can't be ridden just at the weekends. my first share horse was because the girl was at college and had to work as well to share the cost of the keep so i rode it and contributed to the cost but didn't have to do any chores.
i worked for me as i couldnt afford to keep my own and also had school work so it worked perfectly

 

[LaurenM]

I broke my back in April and have two horses. I was due to start a new job 4 days before I broke my back so am unemployed. A share means my boy's costs are mostly covered and he's exercised. My mare's unrideable.

 

[CeeCee]

As title really...

I understand buying (obviously) and full loaning (where you treat the horse as yours in all but name) but what is sharing? As far as I can see sharing is someone has bought a horse, discovered its expensive and is trying to offset the cost.

Maybe I'm getting a bit long in the tooth, but I remember when horse owners were grateful to sensible horse riding non-owners who had spare time to help them exercise their charges. As a teenager I rode any number of horses on this premise - I wasn't a fantastic rider (nothings changed there!) but was sensible and everyone I rode for was grateful for being able to have the occasional lay in /night out etc. At most all I did in return was poo-pick, and often people would give me something as a thank you. Now in my elder years I thought about doing something similar to go alongside lessons but I've now discovered that it's now called "sharing" which seems to mean you share the cost, but not much else, and all I pick up from here is people moaning about their sharers. Can someone please tell me what the benefits are?

*disclaimer: this is not meant to pick holes in anyone's sharing arrangements - I just genuinely don't see the benefits (from the adverts and people I've seen about sharing in my neck of the woods).

I have a sharer - there's advantages of sharing for both the owner and "sharer".

I ask for a nominal fee per week which nowhere near covers the cost of his keep but of course helps towards. He's a tricky horse which I wanted to compete with but for certain reasons will not compete and I feel I owe it to him to give him a home for life where he is loved and cared for, without the possible risk of being passed from home to home. I bought a new horse and shared him, I still ride him and of course see him everyday but now know I can apply more of my time competing, his sharer has neither the time or money for a horse of her own she also doesn't have the worry of vets bill, insurance etc and the everyday commitment horsing owning involves, but enjoys the pleasure of riding three times a week, the arrangement suits us both....

 

[timefort]

Thanks for replying - its nice to hear both sides of the story, and especially from people who have become good friends with their sharers. Its also good to hear those free-rides are out there. I guess its as much a case of getting known... as an overconfident horse-mad teenager I'd think nothing of going up and telling someone they needed a lay in so I could do their horse, not so sure I could get away with it now!

It does seem that sharing is a grey area. While I was at university I part-loaned a pony which was causing his owner too much grief. I was supposed to "do" him 3days a week and pay his grass livery (£11 month!). I ended up doing odd-jobs around the yard to offset the livery cost (it may only have been £11 but I was a student ) and riding him every day. On the other hand shares I've looked at recently have been very precise about the day and times I could spend with the horse and this privilege would cost more than it would cost me to have 2-3 lessons a week (which would probably do me more good).

Bahh cost of living....

Mind you, today I received an email from a colleague asking for anyone who would like to pay to stay in their house as a holiday home for a couple of weeks as they were going away. And while the new residents were holidaying could they also please feed the pets and water the plants. Once upon a time I'm sure this used to be called housesitting, and you had to pay to get someone to come in, not expect to charge for a holiday home!

Ok, off to grumble back under my rock again...

 

[mystiandsunny]

I have a sharer for one of mine who does extra chores and helps out in return for rides. I have had others who have paid. I haven't yet been lucky enough in many years of having sharers to find anyone who can just get on and go, and will school the pony as they go, with no supervision provided, with regular, reliable commitment. So I need to get something out of the arrangement or it would be easier for me to exercise the pony myself. Money helps towards keep, jobs done help towards time issues. In return they get to ride, and I'm happy to teach stable skills/help with riding skills as required.

Most sharers now are between riding schools and their own pony/horse. They need a lot of help learning about ownership and how to transfer their skills to a non riding-school horse. A share is less money and commitment than owning, comes with support and a horse who is regularly schooled by someone else so more likely to keep its schooling/manners as they learn. In return, the owner gets help towards keep.

If I wanted a horse of mine schooling, I'd do it myself, or pay someone reputable. Same if I go on holiday, or need a horse exercising without me there. If I pay, I get someone I can trust to do a good job, and who I know will turn up.

 

[Oberon]

When I got my horse back from the riding school he was on loan to (not proud, but I found myself pregnant and homeless at that time) I inherited my sharer along with him. She has worshipped him for the last 11 years! She potters around on him and helps out around my work schedule and pays for his trimming costs. I have all the responsibility and costs (other than trimming) and she gets to ride whenever she wants. It suits us all fine and I could never find a more ideal person for him.

 

[Snowysadude]

My old sharer paid as she got a much better quality of horse than she could find on any riding school and she was a decent rider so didnt need a lesson every time she rode (was a south african young rider etc) and it was also one heck of a lot cheaper than a riding school! I didnt need help did her jobs etc and she didnt have time to do jobs so it worked well she just rode and left him for me and paid in return.

Current sharer does jobs as my situation changed and I need time not financial help anymore! Its just what suits certain people. I say sharer by the way I wouldnt let just anyone ride for free shes also a friend and although young and never had a horse of her own I trust her with my horse implicitly as shes been on our yard sharing plenty of horses for years and works on a yard so knows what shes doing

 

[el_Snowflakes]

I expect some people circumstances change and some people may not be able to meet the costs/expenses of owning a horse.

 

[MerrySherryRider]

I've asked for a financial contribution for sharers who are fairly novice, have never owned a horse and need help to learn about horse care and supervision when riding. By the time they are of any real use, they go off and buy a horse of their own.

I have experienced riders/owners who ride for free because they can get on and do the job without being spoonfed.

I've also paid for riders to school/exercise my horses when I was injured.

For me it all depends on how experienced the sharer/rider is, but paying to share can be a good deal, as the cost is usually less than the real cost of ownership or 3 lessons a week. Its possibly the first time some riders have ridden a non RS horse and that can be quite a useful learning curve,

 

[FleabittenT]

- Sharer does not want commitment/cost of full horse ownership, but still gets to ride outside of riding school environment

- Sharer gets to enjoy other elements of horse care - grooming, bathing etc, again without full day to day commitment

- Owner gets horse exercised a couple of times a week - ideal for good-doers in summer etc

- Owner gets 1/2/3 days a week when they don't have to visit yard, saving petrol money & allowing more time for work/family etc

- Owner may get assistance with 'chores', again freeing up time and invaluable if sick/injured etc

- Owner may also get financial contribution.

So it can go well beyond the financial side & can benefit both parties well

 

[hannahmurphy]

I've owned my current horse for six years and I've had a sharer, well a few different ones in fact, over the past couple of years.

I think a lot of people have very busy lives now, those who only want to share often don't have the full time to commit to owning. Likewise sometimes I am very busy with other things and having a share means I know that he will still be kept ticking over and looked after and actually takes the pressure off of myself when I do need to have my head down on career stuff!

I love my boy and would never not have him, so a sharer makes it possible to get the most out of both lives! I always say to sharers to treat him like your own and horses do cost money so I see it only fair that a contribution is made. Not only would it cost a heck of a lot more to say have a lesson/ride/hack at a riding school, also it means that it gets taken more seriously IMO.

 

[Ali2]

Hubby and I have a horse of our own and I share a little Irish cob. 50 % split of time, jobs and cost. This works for us because it means hubby and I can go out and do stuff together but we don't have the commitment of a second horse full time, which, given our work schedules would push us beyond enjoyable horse ownership. It works for his owner because she knows she can trust his best interests to us and it helps her out with costs, time and exercise. She's pregnant at the moment and isn't riding so we've amended the split of exercise so that I do all riding and she does all ground work. This works well because he sticks to his exercise programme (he's arthritic and a back rehab so has to keep working to stay right) which, if she wasn't sharing would have likely gone out the window and she'd be back to square one with his issues.

 

[abbieandfiona]

I let someone share my horse not because i cant afford her or anything like that, she has a home for life with me but i want more of a challenge so got a youngster and another horse to bring on so i got a share person so my mare could have fun and also she is a confidence giver and it is ideal for person to learn before they get their own horse.

 

[Tapir]

I'm with the OP on this one.

As far as I see it, the owner benefits in that they get how ever many days off from the yard and the sharer benefits in that they get to ride. If the owner had to find someone to look after their horses on certain days, they would have to pay, if the sharer wanted to ride at a riding school they would have to pay so they cancel each other out.

I've had several shares and never paid a penny, all of the owners were just happy to have their horse exercised and have a day to do other stuff.

I'm really unconvinced by the arguments that a paid share is cheaper than a riding school - at a riding school the payment would get them instruction/school hire/poss. use of a school master horse/horse tacked up and groomed for them etc. They certainly wouldn't be expected to do any chorse.

Why would I pay someone to exercise their horse for them and do their stable duties? I would expect to have to pay someone to do that for me if I went on holiday/full livery.

 

[LaurenBay]

I have shared 3 Horses before I got my own.

The first I shared because the owner was a policewoman, her hours were all over the place and her Horse was young so needed regular excerise. I went up twice a week and schooled/hacked/jumped whatever I wanted to do. I paid £20 a week. Share ended as owner was moved to another station so she took her Horse with her (understandable) Unfourtantly at the time I couldn't drive and was too far to travel

The second I shared to give the owner a day off. I was allowed to school,hack, jump, take to shows etc. However me and owner didn't really see eye to eye so I left to find another Horse.

The third was because the owner had 3 Horses and was doing exams. At the time my hours were all over the place so I shared once a week. Although I had the money to have my own, I didn't have the time so this was a way too get my Horsey fix. Me and owner got on fab (still are very close) I shared this Horse for 2 years, then when I was ready I got my own (Jobs have changed so more time on my hands ) Owner has her own yard and I am now her livery. However we do like our "swapsies" days so I do still get to ride my old share Horse. She has another sharer for her now though and is going to advertise for another for her other Horse.

 

[BobbyMondeo]

- Sharer does not want commitment/cost of full horse ownership, but still gets to ride outside of riding school environment

- Sharer gets to enjoy other elements of horse care - grooming, bathing etc, again without full day to day commitment

- Owner gets horse exercised a couple of times a week - ideal for good-doers in summer etc

- Owner gets 1/2/3 days a week when they don't have to visit yard, saving petrol money & allowing more time for work/family etc

- Owner may get assistance with 'chores', again freeing up time and invaluable if sick/injured etc

- Owner may also get financial contribution.

So it can go well beyond the financial side & can benefit both parties well

Exactly this!! I shared for a long time before i full loaned and then eventually got my own horse and now i have a lovely sharer for my own so he gets ridden enough when i am working too much to ride. She also pays a nominal amount to go towards his upkeep (as she is practically allowed free rein on weather she hacks jumps schools and can compete if she wants) I think it is a fair deal

 

[BobbyMondeo]

I'm really unconvinced by the arguments that a paid share is cheaper than a riding school - at a riding school the payment would get them instruction/school hire/poss. use of a school master horse/horse tacked up and groomed for them etc. They certainly wouldn't be expected to do any chorse.

I wouldnt say it was cheaper than a riding school either but i think a lot of sharers enjoying being able to actually form a bond with said horse and it be almost like there own on those days rather than 30 mins of just riding. There is a lot of benefits to sharing, i certainly wouldnt know all i do today if i hadnt shared and had just stayed at a riding school till i got my fist horse

 

[MerrySherryRider]

I'm with the OP on this one.

As far as I see it, the owner benefits in that they get how ever many days off from the yard and the sharer benefits in that they get to ride. If the owner had to find someone to look after their horses on certain days, they would have to pay, if the sharer wanted to ride at a riding school they would have to pay so they cancel each other out.

I've had several shares and never paid a penny, all of the owners were just happy to have their horse exercised and have a day to do other stuff.

I'm really unconvinced by the arguments that a paid share is cheaper than a riding school - at a riding school the payment would get them instruction/school hire/poss. use of a school master horse/horse tacked up and groomed for them etc. They certainly wouldn't be expected to do any chorse.

Why would I pay someone to exercise their horse for them and do their stable duties? I would expect to have to pay someone to do that for me if I went on holiday/full livery.

Suppose it depends why you want to share a horse. If its just for the riding and horse care/yard duties are seen as a chore, then I guess you'd see it like that.
If you love everything about being around horses and having the experience of a one to one relationship with the cold dark morning starts/ heatwave energy sapping days, being responsible for the horse without an instructor telling you how to ride each pace, enjoying yard banter and friendships, then that is something an RS rider misses out on.
For some people, holding 'your' horse for farrier, vet, EDT visits are enjoyable and informative. Looking after it when injured or deciding if its fit to ride on a particular day is not something that an RS can offer.

If all that is seen as a favour to the owner in order to ride, then I wouldn't want that kind of sharer.

That said, currently, the sharers I have ride for free because they have their own horses back home but are away at uni. They offered payment but I refused as they treat my horses like their own and have the knowledge and experience to back it up.
But anyone turning up expecting a free share because they are doing me a favour would be told to 'free off'.

 

[lilaclomax]

I have a teenager share my boy... she ride twice a week during term time and anytime she wants during the holidays, I am also happy to take her to one show a month in my box.

She gets to treat him as if he is her own pony whilst down and has no time constraints, yes she pays for the priviledge but this works out at a small percentage of his overall costs.

Another lady is now going to come up and ride him for me once/twice a week, she lost her mare a few weeks ago and doesn't want to get another but at the same time doesn't want to give up riding, she is an experienced rider who is a happy hacker. For her help in keeping him exercised I am not after money as it benefits us both, she has said she will put in for shoes next time he is due (done today and every 6-7 weeks ongoing at £35 a time).

I would love to ride 3-4 hours a day every day but as I work fulltime and have young children and other commitments this senario works perfectly for my boy

I should also add that I still go up twice a day and do all the stable duties myself so my sharer has nothing to do except groom and ride

 

[Luci07]

We have sharers up at our yard and it works well. I don't agree that someone should not contribute towards the upkeep of the horse - there are bills associated with horses and just in principle, I would object to someone just having a free ride on my horse leaving me with bills and the responsibility! There is one horse up at the yard who has 3 sharers who cover his costs, but he is a pretty decent horse, the sharers are all good riders who can't afford a decent horse atm for various reasons, and they get to compete him, hacking and have lessons on him too. The owner has sharers as her preference is dressage and this boy has thrown the toys out of the pram as far as thats concerned. This way, she doesn't have to sell him on, is prepared for the day he will need to be retired and can focus on her other horse. I am sort of looking for someone to share my older mare but want someone who wants to hack and will fuss her. Not looking to cover all my costs with her but certainly would want a contribution! Previously I had a sharer for my dressage horse - sharer was a really good rider and wanted a horse she could progress on so that worked really well. Eventually she went off and bought her own..

Maybe I am just being a little optimistic - we seem to have only had really nice sharers at our yard who have been very geniune and really bonded with their horses so never seen it as an issue!

 

[Spotsrock]

I had a sharer when I left university and found that I had less time and money than I had as a student. Rather than sell a horse (which was the other option) I had a sharer for her. I had funds to bail us out if sharer left while I went to plan B and sold.

Horse was sold anyway when I moved house and sharer started riding both my other horses and continued to contribute financially as she had. I did not so much need the help or the money but her company was good and keeping the contribution to costs meant that she did not have to feel she 'owed' me ie if I asked her to do something and she didn't have time, she didn't need to, her costs and duties were defined. There was also no, 'well I never hack out so you should pay for shoes if you want to hack' everything was covered in the 'share' costs.

Sharer is too tall for my horses now and loans my sister's mare through me on a similar arrangement financially, we continue on same footing, as she is under 18 I have ultimate responsibility for them all but don't ride hers unless she asks me to. We each do our own but share duties for the 'herd' as and when required. I cover any overflow costs of hers and in exchange I get to keep my sister's mare who I adore, in the herd, plus I do get to ride her if I ask, As it's sharer's 1st proper all to herself horse though, I try not to ask!! I tend to muck out hers as I am there in a morning and she can concentrate on school work, the idea is then when I am all pregnant and heavy in a couple of years, she will be past her exams and do more for mine.

A rubbish sharer however, there is no point to! I had one who decided the horse should not be fed as it was forward going. Horse looked like a hat rack and she never exercised it or chipped in her share fianancially, benefit to me and horse nil. Benefit to her? ???

 

[FleabittenT]

I'm really unconvinced by the arguments that a paid share is cheaper than a riding school - at a riding school the payment would get them instruction/school hire/poss. use of a school master horse/horse tacked up and groomed for them etc. They certainly wouldn't be expected to do any chorse.

Why would I pay someone to exercise their horse for them and do their stable duties? I would expect to have to pay someone to do that for me if I went on holiday/full livery.

Because it's not about that.

Go to riding school -> get handed reins -> get directed round a school for an hour -> pay £20 & off you go.

A sharer has a similar relationship to owning - building a bond, grooming, enjoying hacking, jumping, competing, whatever it may be.

Yes, sharing may also include mucking out etc, but this is not necessarily a 'chore' when you don't *have* to do it every day!