Why's finding a sharer so hard?!

T

tew38

Member
Joined
31 May 2006
Messages
18
Visit site
Hi there,

I've had some brilliant experiences with sharers but the last two I've taken on have been disastrous. It's not like my boy's a bucking bronco that freaks out at a leaf blowing past him, in fact he's the opposite, he's so safe that even my 21 month old daughter treats him like he's another one of her toys - leading him about the yard, brushing him, etc.

Recently I've found sharers by word of mouth as I was put off by horsestoloan.com as they've never responded to my emails to remove a listing I placed on there 4 years ago, so my question is this: Where do you advertise for a sharer?
 
Well that's two votes for Preloved, I'll have a look on there, thanks.

Disaster is the word I'd use for one of my recent sharers, you couldn't get a safer hack than my boy and this girl's been 'advised' that he's not suitable?!

I'm usually a very placid person but to say that my horse isn't safe is just ridiculous.

Sorry, rant over *now breathe*
 
When we were based in Brighton it was a nightmare trying to find someone to share. I thought it would be ideal as there must be so many people who would be suitable to share ....... Advertised on Friday Ad/Horsemart/Notice Boards, had a two people come and try him over the space of about 2 years :confused: Both of which just wanted a free ride and didn't want to contribute ...

Moved back to Wilts and have practically had a sharer the entire time we have been back, three years now. A few diff girls, most of which were word of mouth so well worth keep mentioning on Facebook/at your yard. Other time I actually found someone who had posted an ad looking for a horse to share on a horse share website, forget which one.

It's tough finding someone who fits the bill, committed etc. Keep putting out the word.
 
I should add that despite me clearly stating I needed an experienced adult, and sharing during the week, I did have several contacts from young girls and their mothers wanting to share at the weekend! Or who had not read the ad carefully full stop!
As I say, my current sharer is working brilliantly and my boy is getting the attention and riding he needs (well, he takes the mickey out of her riding, but she is improving and having regular lessons with my own trainer) and I am a lot happier too.
The first just didn't have time, she never rode and spent about 15 mins mucking out, meaning I had to go back and do it later.
 
I now have a fantastic sharer and she found my ad on Friday ad :-)
My disaster sharer (first one) found me on Preloved I think.
I knew what to ask for/look for with second sharer though so I didn't make the same mistake!
I have nothing against having a 18 year old as a sharer but check they have common sense and are mature enough to ride your beloved horse before you accept the share! I wasn't careful enough with the first one!
(new sharer in her 30's)

:-)
 
Last edited:
we put an add in the tack shops. Its worth taking your time finding the right person, we had a disaster the kid who rode the pony was ok but the mother was a nightmare! She thought she knew everything and didnt. She still has some of our tack and stole our three yard cats so please take care. Hubby wants someone to ride his mare now but i refuse to have anyone near the horses. Its a shame, because that woman wasso selfish someone else is missing out on a great horse!
 
Last edited:
I've only tried a sharer once a few years ago to ride my 18hh shire x tb. He's a bomb proof hack and a total dope on a rope to groom etc. When I met her and she described her ability, experience etc she sounded just the job and seemed fine when she rode him while I watched.

Much to my great annoyance however, I discovered her on the HH forum a couple of weeks later dissing my poor horse and telling extremely tall tales of bolting incidents - ROFLMAO! - and various other hilarious anecdotes of how my horse misbehaved and it was only because she was such a fantastic rider that she managed to survive!

Utter b*llocks! The folk at the stables told me that she'd not even been to the yard on the days the incidents allegedly took place, and the tales were all total rubbish. Needless to say, I ended the arrangement forthwith.

I'm afraid for me it's like putting a horse out on loan - never, ever again.

Having said all that, good luck and I hope you find someone suitable! :)
 
we tried for ages to find sharers for our boys (15.2, cob, IDX ) but no joy (they are not plods) but we either had kids/teens or total beginners, we advertised and gave as much info as we could about their ability and what sort of riders we were looking for but it was either people dont want to pay anything (we were asking £30 all in for 2/3 times per week) or they want to compete/hunt (we have no transport)its such a shame as we have small friendly yard, a floodlit school and are near good hacking, in the past we have had sharers that have worked out really well and so we have just given up.
 
i had one brilliant sharer for my old mare, we got on so well me and hubs fixed her up with our single neighbour and they're still together 7 yrs later with 2 kids lol only problem was she got pregnant so had to stop sharing!!
I did try to find a sharer for my big girl but on the 3rd failure i gave up, big girl is too good at taking the pee out of people who claim to be better than they are;)
 
ive decided not to bother sharing my other pony now-fed up of time wasters.ive just got another job so i can afford to keep him.ive got a lovelly friend on the yard who is riding him for me now.
 
I'm currently sharing a horse and found him through our local tack shop forum, same as with my previous share. I often look at the noticeboard outside said tack shop too to see if there's anything available. I check preloved and also NFED, for the south, often. Seem to be some lovely horses on there, just never in the right area!
 
I've been a sharer twice - found the first on trade-it (they've got a section linked to horsemart) and we're now great friends so think she'd say I was a good sharer. The other I found through word of mouth. Both of them made sure I had my own rider insurance and think i'd do the same if I was looking for someone to share my mare.
 
Thank you to everyone that responded to this post, for some weird computer reason I've never received notifications to tell me people have responded. I found a wonderful sharer in the end and it only ended because I moved my horse to another yard. So now I'm back to square one looking for a sharer again, arghhhh.

Any Surrry/London peeps looking for a share??
 
Its tough to find people that are going to live up to expectations - I think thats half the battle. mths ago thankfully I found a girl ( now one of my closest friends ) whom I knew could ride etc & she helped exercise my Mare one day a week, now things have changed and am riding 5 days a week so dont need her as much but when I do she jumps at the chance to ride...

Ok so am now looking @ taking on horse number 2 but want to get heeps more bum time in the saddle before committing... Put up an ad on a local equine forum & it was an eye opener to say the least - I want hrs in the saddle in exchange for schooling etc.... ( am no pro rider but have 3 lessons a week & work bloody hard on my mare the other 2 days )
Ive had a mixed bag of replys -
One wanted me to school her horse as she is " too unfit" to ride 5 days a week - know yard horse is kept at and turns out she is totally overhorsed & horse is in more that out & taking the piss - Which is no prob at all but it was the fact that this wasn't disclosed which annoys me so kicked that one on the head.
Second reply was from someone who basically said I would be privilaged to ride her 2 horses & I needed to financially contribute ( Clearly stated in my add I cant afford to do that )
Third reply sounded very very promising till I asked around & turns out horse is a well known rearer & very nappy ( again would have considered but lack of honesty is annoying )
Forth reply - SANE Horse owner, horse has been there , done that, owner looking for a kind rider that will sit quiet & not chuck horse in the mouth... All potential vices disclosed - Hense Im going to try horse next week.

Whole point of my ramble is to say that maybe if BUNDLES of info in ad for a sharer the less time wasters it would attract.
 
I've had a couple of sharers and they both worked out brilliantly. One I met on your horse and the other through a friend (she now has the horse in full loan!)
The horse in question though was a bit of a saint! The sort you could get on after four weeks of snow and ice and know you would be safe.

I have tried to find a sharer for my other girl. She is more difficult though as she is not a novice. Not malicious in any way, she just knows how to get the upper hand with a less experienced rider.
 
We are having trouble to find one for my mums 14.1 we have out ads in local tack shops and have had a couple of enquiries but no good. no financial contribution on private yard and transport to shows someone half decent must want a share! We are going to try online now, preloved, riding club etc
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top