Why do people think they shouldn't have to pay to share?

I've have tried to find a sharer for my horse simply because I can't find the enthusiasm to compete much these days or further his schooling due to financial and other family commitments. He is already schooled to advanced medium dressage, jumps easily around 90cm courses (probably higher but I'm a wuss), has done a few ODE's and is a fabulous hack. I'm not about to offer this horse for a free share as he's perfectly happy to be a happy hacker. I just thought that for a fraction of the cost someone might want a ready trained ready to go competition horse but I have had either no response or unsuitable response each time I advertise so it looks like his competition days are mostly over!
 
I struggled to find someone to share for free for my mare that had winnings at BE90 and BSJA and had won everything at local level. I decided that if I ever advertise to share her again I wouldn't mention her competiton experience, as I got a lot of "would I be able to take her to X show this weekend?" replies - before they'd even met me or the horse.
 
This thread has really made me think that if anything happened to my boy, that i wouldnt bother buying another, id just get a free share!

Ive had friends ride my horses regularly for various reasons, but never asked for money or jobs. Im far to much of a control freak and id only end-up doing the jobs again (my way)
 
The people that usually need to share tend to have much experience and therefore you end up babysitting them and essentially teaching them horse care even if its just for a month or so they do not end up killing themselves or injuring your horse. Some of the college students come out with no idea of self preservation, or routine in the real world. I was shocked when the local equine colleges yard does not open till 9, so what chance is there for the average person who has only had riding lessons and probably never caught a horse that would rather stay where it was thank you. They need to pay but is it worth it.
If I could find a share that was totally reliable, rode with a brain and was nice to the horse in a sensible 'not isn't he lovely ', whilst feeding them polo's way, my pay off would be , time off which is actually more valuable than money. Very few people know the difference between exercise as opposed to work, and no idea what on the bit means but only know they want it. I tended to loan out my schoolmaster to people who couldn't ride as they had less chance of 'schooling' him and he just went the way he always went and could virtually do Prelim 7 without the rider,
 
honetpot said:
If I could find a share that was totally reliable, rode with a brain and was nice to the horse in a sensible 'not isn't he lovely ', whilst feeding them polo's way, ............. Very few people know the difference between exercise as opposed to work, and no idea what on the bit means but only know they want it.
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I think some of us sharers might surprise you :p
 
My sharer pays half the shoes (he only has fronts anyway) and that's it. I do all maintenance, all feeding and mucking out etc. all chores. She just turns up and rides.

She could never do that herself at a riding school for that amount of money (works out about 30 euros a month) and she rides 3 days a week, she can choose her days.

It's not because I don't have time or need money, I just like my horse having fun and ridden by someone else (who adores him).

I will admit it is good to have someone to ask 'have they still got water' ? every now and again rather than have to get in the car and go and check, so it is convenient.

But my sharer gets more use out of my horse than I do and she treats him as her own for minimal price and very little effort.

I wouldn't get a sharer if I needed the horse exercised and mucked out etc. I would pay someone to do that.
 
In my horseless years I have never had to pay for riding, and neither did my mum/sister for most of it so am not sure the you couldn't get that in a RS comparison is completely right to use. If you are reliable/sensible enough and a good enough rider - I'm no great shakes! then there are plenty of people who are happy to have a couple of evenings off a week and have their horse ridden ;)/chores done and I've had some lovely rides.

Currently if I were to share Frank I'd want some money as I'm quite happy to ride him all the time and the money would be more important to me than time.

I think mostly it works well when you can sort a situation where everyone is happy though.
 
Honey08 said:
That's the only thing I ask my sharers to pay, their own personal riding insurance. It's about £7 a month, I believe.

Edited to say, before going down the sharer route I tried to find a freelance groom to ride her (had had a good one for three years while eventing but she got a full time job somewhere). The two I tried were useless, both didn't turn up to meet the horses and have a chat when arranged, and I had no confidence that they would turn up while I was abroad! There is nobody in our area freelance that is any good.
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You where unlucky there are really great freelancers round here .
 
some people are happy to see their pride and joy ridden to the best of it's ability by an experienced rider, in that situation i would expect the rider to be paid. in most share situations i would expect the sharer to make a small contribution to the up keep of the horse, it's not a cheap hobby and it certainly does no one any harm to realise the full cost and commitment it takes to own one by making a contribution in both money terms and work.
We complain about the younger generation wanting everything handed to them on a plate, they have no idea of commitment etc etc, so i see no harm in giving them a taste of real life and the expense of horse owning if they want to ride someone elses horse.
 
HaffiesRock said:
I have not read all the replies but can see the 2 sides clearly.

My view is this:
If you want a professional to come and school your horse for you, you pay them.
If you want someone to come and help you out with some jobs and ride your horse for the horses sake, you get a sharer. Sharers pay for the privileged of getting a part time horse without the expense of ownership or responsibility of full time care. I have 2 ponies. One is mine and no one but I rides him. The other is his companion who is too good to be wasted in a field but I don't have time to ride them both. So my sharer pays me £80 a month for as much riding as she likes. She treats my pony like her own, helps with jobs, has lessons and enjoys her. She doesn't have to worry about vet, farrier, dentist, saddle fitter or back lady bills, she doesn't have to buy hay or feed, replace or buy things she needs or fix fencing. She purely gets to enjoy a nice pony when it is convenient for her for a snip of the cost it would be if she owned her. For me, I get some financial help which I use to buy hay and feed, I get a hacking buddy, have help with poo picking and a lovely lady I trust if I couldn't get up to the ponies in an emergency. It is a win win all round.

I don't agree with people who advertise for sharers for problem horses or with the intention of trying to get someone to pay them to school their horse, but anyone just wanting some help or even company, whats the harm and why shouldn't they pay?
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Agree with this absolutely. I have a sharer for my boy who is a perfect gentleman and lives out 24/7. I don't need a sharer but the help towards his shoeing costs is fab and I like someone else enjoying him.

I agree these ads that need someone to school a horse that has clearly scared the ***** out of them or to come and groom a youngster and pay for the privilege are laughable!
 
I think if someone is doing the mucking out, field clearing, waters, grooming. cleaning tack, then they have earnt the ride without paying any contribution for keep, as they are saving the person who owns the horse the time or money they would have had to pay someone else to do it. For example if I went on holiday for 2 weeks, it would cost me X amount per day for someone to care for and exercise my horses. That's just my thoughts on it though not judging.
 
I believe that there has to be some benefit both ways. IMO if you need your horse exercising then that is of benefit to you and you should be paying. If you are asking for a sharer you need help with your horse. People are willing to help with that and if they are competent and happy to do it for free great! I pay £25 a time to have my horse exercised by my YO/their staff.

At the end of the day they are doing you a favour, you need your horse exercising, they don't need to ride.

However I am not averse to someone who regularly sharing putting a small bit towards the arrangement in work or in money but people should be realistic. You chose to buy and keep a horse, they didn't, that's why they often don't want to pay.

I realise that the opinion would change if their was a teaching/developing experience element to it as the swing of benefit has changed.

No black and white for me.
 
BSL said:
I think if someone is doing the mucking out, field clearing, waters, grooming. cleaning tack, then they have earnt the ride without paying any contribution for keep, as they are saving the person who owns the horse the time or money they would have had to pay someone else to do it. For example if I went on holiday for 2 weeks, it would cost me X amount per day for someone to care for and exercise my horses. That's just my thoughts on it though not judging.
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I am really pleased that so many people agree with me ....
 
I guess everyone seems to be in some sort of agreement.

If you are looking for a pro to train your horse, you pay.

If you are looking for an experienced rider to school your horse, and the experienced rider is also looking for something to ride, then as it is mutually beneficial it could be something which is arrange without payment.


I placed an ad a few years ago, saying something along the lines of " experienced rider looking to help with bring on or help school horses, cannot contribute financially" I was inundated with replies. Ended up schooling/hacking 2 beautiful horses. The owners never paid me, and I never paid them. Both them and I got something out of the arrangement.

If your looking for a rider to do just the same things you are doing / can do with your horse, then it makes sense to ask for contribution towards its upkeep or help with tasks.
 
Many people use shares as a precursor to buying their own horse. In this situation the owner generally has to teach them horse management as well as helping them make the step from riding school horses to a non-school horse. This type of share doesn't give the owner days to lie in bed not bothering with the horse (unless the share goes on for a reasonably long length of time) and the horse certainly isn't being schooled by the sharer.

If an owner is time rich but cash poor, this arrangement can work really well for both parties. The sharer gets the preparation they need for owning their own horse and the owner gets some help with the expense.
 
I got completely taken for a ride (see what I did there? ;) ) when I took on a share. £90 per month (9 years ago), plus 50% shoeing for 3 days a week with a mare kept at grass. Companion pony couldn't be left alone (no stable) so would I mind taking her green 8yo daughter out at the same time, oh and btw, if you could just run her home (8 miles in the wrong direction) afterwards. And you have to poo pick-for the two of them, a 1/2 acre paddock they've been on 24/7 for 3months that hasn't been poo picked at all. Mare was a nappy baggage to ride and the final straw was the third month where I couldn't ride all month because mare lost a shoe and she couldn't get her farrier up there for 4 weeks..(I know the farrier, he was fed up with her not paying). But yes, still expected to child sit and poo pick 'because thats what having your own horse is all about'. lmao-oh, and she was paying ag rates-so £5 per head for grazing. I did think it would be worth it for a horse I liked and an owner who was fair as I was coming back into riding and having three lessons/hacks a week at an RS before that.

I have mine at home now-so I wouldn't charge but would expect horse to be looked after and finished like one of their own.
 
Well I put one of mine up for loan back in Feb as Id injured my hand and was struggling to do two .Had a couple of complete numpties who got thanks but no thanks then a lovely lady who was just what i was looking for, that bit older she is reliable and thorough, earns her own wage so no quibbling over money, £100 a month 3 days a week and if she wants to come and ride extra on an evening just drops me a text in case I'm already out with them. We have a written contract we both went over together and agreed. We did a months trial during which time I made it clear Im a pedantic nut job and if she didn't like it off she went.

In a way the money weeds out undesirables, even when the add stated no under 21's, smokers and must have own transport i got the ones who were trying it on anyway.

I disagree with the time/paying thing - if I was paying someone they'd be mucking out and nothing more. I want someone capable of taking my horse out safely and for them both to enjoy it - she wants a horse but has two kids and can't have one due to time constraints. She understands the financial implications of owning and insurance etc so no issues.
 
If I needed to find a share I would expect them to share EVERYTHING!

Just because I may be going through a busy spell at work why should I have to fund someone else to have fun on my horse.

A SHARER - the word says it all - shares the care and maintenance of the horse with the owner who paid for the horse. Someone looking to share with a horse owner probably doesn't have the funds to buy their own horse or sufficient money to pay ALL the associated bills.

The bills are halved, the riding time is shared, maybe sharer gets the weekdays and me the weekend.

However if I particularly wish for my horse to be schooled which may be for a period of a week to many months then yes I would be paying someone who is most likely a professional rider, not the lady up the road who can't afford to buy a horse.

Stand your ground - expect your sharer to pay.
 
I've been an owner sharer and a sharer and both can be difficult but overall being a sharer was much worse than being an owner sharer. As an owner you have ultimately all the power. I've owned several horses and thankfully don't have to share anymore.

Most of the owners I shared with were numpties themselves and expected the earth for nothing and I'm the kind of sap that takes my responsibilities seriously. 1) Horse was injured out hunting (not with me) a week after I started sharing a flint went up inside his tendon sheath. So no riding for me and I helped with his care on box rest for several weeks and owner still wanted payment. He was still not right afterwards and it took me months to get the owner to do something - it had navicular. 2) Started sharing another horse - it got kicked badly in the field whilst the owner was on holiday for two weeks. I had the vet up, daily antibiotic injections, box rest so tonnes of mucking out, cold hosing etc. - no thanks for any of that. After about a week of back into work after about 6 weeks box rest they rode it in horseball practice. I went up the yard and found it caked in sweat that they hadn't even washed off. That was another goodbye. 3) Lovely mare owned by very rich people with incredibly fat daughter too big to ride her ID. Had to walk across field in pitch black to get to stables as couldn't go via the house and an enormous amount of poo picking mainly from the lazy toads who shared the yard and didn't bother. Horse stood on a flint which went up inside the frog whilst I was trotting along a bridleway and there were loads of accusations that I was galloping or doing something I shouldn't (I wasn't) bearing in mind this was an ex hunt horse that I'm sure had galloped over many a flinty track in the past. Still I persevered and kept paying to hot tub and wrap its foot daily for several weeks.

Now I would say get stuffed.
 
Tnavas said:
A SHARER - the word says it all - shares the care and maintenance of the horse with the owner who paid for the horse. Someone looking to share with a horse owner probably doesn't have the funds to buy their own horse or sufficient money to pay ALL the associated bills.

Stand your ground - expect your sharer to pay.
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Thats a very black and white view that may fit your situation but not everyone's.
With my current ride I was supposed to be jumping him once a week and that was it. Owner wanted to do dressage on him eventually.
Whilst working on his flat work owner suggested I take him to dressage comp. I joined BD and off we toddled.
Long story short horse qualified for BD regionals in 3 outings and I have continued to train and compete him.
I ride him 6 days a week (he has 1 day off) but do not contribute a penny to his costs. We go out regularly and owner loves watching her horse compete and enjoys the whole prep for comp and the day out etc.
Owner rides her other horse which I teach her on (perhaps 4 times a week). That must save £100 a week in instructor costs.
I also have regular weekly training from two very high list BD judges. This I pay for costing me around £160 per month.
So from my point of view I get an utterly fantastic horse to school and compete without any costs apart from training.
Owner gets to see her horse compete (and often win) at a level it otherwise wouldn't. Horse is also constantly improving.
Ultimately owner will take over the ride but for now we both get what we need from the situation and really enjoy the horse to the full. When I do pass over the ride the owner will have a horse that is significantly further on in his training and has aslready gone through the OMG scary comp stage. We discuss all aspects of the horses keep and training but ultimately the owner has the final say. We both thing he is the bees knees and spoil him rotten. The whole situation is brilliant fun for both of us.
With past shares I have done similar things. In all the previous situations the horse has been sold as his / her value increased significantly. Wont happen with this horse as he isn't going anywhere. :)
As I've said, It's often not about money but more what each wants from the arrangement. If the wants, needs, desires of both parties align then all is great and that is the important thing.
 
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I have a sharer (mother with two daughters) and I get no benefit save the financial contribution. It doesn't go far towards covering costs and to be honest I have come to the conclusion that I am far too nice!
I end up clearing up after her and she has annoyed me too many times. And I am usually very easy going.
Pony is on DIY, I do all the work. All she has to do is tack up and ride. I only ask for 50 a month and her daughters can basically ride as much as a they want. We are in a yard with fab facilities.

My friend has a sharer for her horse who contributes 100 a month, rides 2/3 times a week and does stable chores in those days.

I am going to give my sharer notice and probably won't get another. The only way I would is to charge a bit more and make sure they aren't messy!
 
SBTS I wish you'd been around when I was looking for a sharer, and PaddyMonty I wish you lived round here instead :D

I got a sharer last year, I wasn't riding at the time as I had a bad back (was eventually diagnosed with a prolapsed disc), so she had him all to herself, that situation ended up going on for 9 months as I eventually had to have surgery. I asked her for minimum financial contribution, and when she started, the only chore I asked her to do was all of the poo-picking as I wasn't physically capable of doing that. My yo had to speak to her more than once as even that she wasn't doing properly.

When I then had surgery, I had to put the horse on full services, she didn't offer to help out at all, in fact utilised the "services" as if she were on full livery which really irritated me.

When I got back to riding after my rehab, I said we needed to split the chores, so on her days she would turn out/bring in, muck out and poo-pick. She immediately made a fuss about having to get up early! I put up with it for about 2 months, but she was basically lazy and untidy with everything, every time I spoke to her I felt like I was nagging her about something which I hated doing, it got quite tedious.

Eventually I ended the share, and she started yelling at me. So I found out afterwards, she had reacted exactly the same way when her last share had ended, so I feel relieved that it's all over, and I'm now enjoying my lovely horse to myself again.

I don't think a sharer should be paying half costs; after all it's your horse and your responsibility, and you can end the share at any time. You as the owner are getting your horse financed and exercised! However I do think in most cases, a financial contribution is necessary. (Except if you've got someone like PaddyMonty who is going to be improving your horse; he's normally someone you would be paying to ride your horse for you!).
 
Over here it is quite common to have a "demi pension" where for three days a week riding you would pay half the livery. So if I was to share my pony the "share fee" would be 175€ a month. The days would be agreed before hand, but would normally include one weekend day.

That is for riding only, no chores or shoes.
 
OldNag said:
I have a sharer (mother with two daughters) and I get no benefit save the financial contribution. It doesn't go far towards covering costs and to be honest I have come to the conclusion that I am far too nice!
I end up clearing up after her and she has annoyed me too many times. And I am usually very easy going.
Pony is on DIY, I do all the work. All she has to do is tack up and ride. I only ask for 50 a month and her daughters can basically ride as much as a they want. We are in a yard with fab facilities.

My friend has a sharer for her horse who contributes 100 a month, rides 2/3 times a week and does stable chores in those days.

I am going to give my sharer notice and probably won't get another. The only way I would is to charge a bit more and make sure they aren't messy!
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How funny, we cross posted, same situation. I couldn't bear the mess my sharer left behind her every time, hence me ending it. Same with me, I didn't charge her much money, but I did expect the bed to be laid, sweat marks washed off and my tack to be put away tidily and clean.
 
JennBags said:
How funny, we cross posted, same situation. I couldn't bear the mess my sharer left behind her every time, hence me ending it. Same with me, I didn't charge her much money, but I did expect the bed to be laid, sweat marks washed off and my tack to be put away tidily and clean.
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It's not much to ask is it! I suspect mine leaves her daughters to outvthe tack away ... I can't believe an adult leaves it the way I find it!
I have made my mind up. Sharer is Out! :-)
 
Having PAID someone who I knew quite well in a casual way, iyswim, who had to be stopped because she didn't do as asked, I think any-one who offers a share of their horse to any-one on any basis is extremely brave.

This woman was only putting the horses out and mucking out daily. I found out from the builders who were on our yard at the time, along with all their equipment, that instead of leading the extremely well-mannered horses the few yards to the gate on the very easily accessible halters, she was letting them wander round the yard and find their own way eventually to the field.
 
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