Would I get any interest? Rider for old mare

[kerrieberry2]

So I'm feeling really guilty that I haven't ridden my mare for ages. She loves getting out and about. But she's 28. She's still fit as despite not being ridden. She doesn't look her age but she's only 15'2 and I've put on just over a stone and feel I'm too heavy to ride her until I've lost the stone.

So was thinking this morning about offering her out for some to hack her once or twice a week. However she's never been an easy horse to ride. She used to bolt, jog and wind herself up. She can only go out on her own because of this. However she does seem to have mellowed in the last few months. My little cousins had a plod on her a month ago and she was soooo good. She's never been the type of horse I could put kids on.

I won't ask for Any money but want some light, experienced and not fazed if she was to bolt, as she will stop she just likes to get the excitement out if her system

Do you think there would be people interested?

 

[ridefast]

How about bringing her back into work in hand, that way you're building her up slowly and getting fitter yourself. You might get interest but not a lot of people will appreciate how much longer it takes to get an older horse fit, especially one that can feel keen and up for anything, the temptation to do more than she's physically capable of might be too much

 

[Pasture Mix]

I agree with ridefast, you don't want someone coming along & doing too much with her because she feels up to it & causing her an injury at her age. So if you are going to look for a sharer, I suggest plenty of caution & honesty about what you want doing with her.
What's your livery set-up like? Is there anyone on your yard/where you keep her that could help out until you feel ready to get back in the saddle? Someone who's seen what you used to do with her might have a bit better understanding of what she needs

 

[kerrieberry2]

No see that's my problem. I'm on a private yard on my own, so no real help.

But like you say I don't want someone who will run her into the ground. So I'd be very picky about who I'd let ride her. Maybe I'll just carry on with just lunging and walking her out whilst trying to lose weight. My big problem is I'm already pretty fit so to lose weight I have to really up my exercise and I'm struggling for extra time at the moment but come October it shod get easier as ill have finished college

 

[Pasture Mix]

No see that's my problem. I'm on a private yard on my own, so no real help.

Ah, I did wonder if that was the case.

Well maybe you could advertise for a sharer, but make it very clear in your advert that you're looking for someone very specific to stick to a strict schedule with her? Put that it's for her own good. It might be a long shot, but you may get lucky & find someone who's not up to more than that amount of riding themselves & would suit her perfectly

I'm bringing my little one back into work after a bad case of lami with lunging however & getting some good results so don't be too put off by lunging

 

[kerrieberry2]

Yeh not worried about lunging at all. Just want her to go out and about so she's not too bored. I've never been someone who has had a sharer so the thought of it scares me. So maybe I won't bother and will just let my little cousins plod about on her and give long lining ago? Haha completely changed my mind now

 

[Pasture Mix]

Hehe.. Tbh, I don't blame you - the thought of having a sharer for one or both of mine terrifies me too!

I'm sure your cousins would love more rides anyway

 

[Tickles]

Agree about the getting her (at least slightly) fit yourself first thing.

BUT my OH shares an older mare (younger than yours but with some on/off long term issues) who can be strong.

He is VERY careful with her and will stay in walk only/get off and get her checked by YM etc if he has any doubts about how she is feeling that day... even though they BOTH love to jump and gallop in fields.

So, it is possible

 

[pip6]

I started off by loaning a 19 year old mare (who'd been at grass for several years as no-one would ride her, brought her back into work myself, great way to get to know new horse) that I bought 2 years later (when her owner knew I'd never part with her, passed on aged 29). When I got too heavy for her in her last couple of years (I only weighed 8 1/2 stone, but felt it was too much to ask of her even though she was 15.1hh), I took on a child who had been riding a friends horse who'd just died from grass sickness. Nice kid, couldn't afford to ride at a school. She was ideal, 14 years old, tiny, quiet, could be trusted to do as I asked. She could ride alone in the school or round the farm (not being funny but plenty of other liveries who about who would have told me if she was doing wrong as they loved my old girl as well). In the summer she'd come out on hacks when I took my youngster out. I never let her hack out alone because of her age (childs). If she was with someone I trusted, that was fine. I knew she'd never 'thrash' my horse, as she'd always had a reputation of bucking people off who tried to treat her disrespectfully. She was a Lady & expected to be treated as such. Treat her properly & she was the ultimate fun (arab) school mistress.

Go by personal recommendation.

 

[Spring Feather]

I have a 36 year old horse who I initially bought with the intention of him being suitable for anyone visiting the farm who might want to hop on a horse and go for a nice quiet trail ride rather than me having them riding my expensive sales/private horses Didn't work out like that as he has proved to be the zippyist, crazy dude horse ever who just wants to go the whole time. He's the only horse of mine that I don't actually make walk and I basically allow him to do whatever he likes (he's a very well behaved horse, great manners, beautifully trained and exceptionally obedient ... but he loves to fly!). If I found someone who could ride him and would allow him his whims at his age then I'm still not sure I'd like them riding him I'm awfully protective of him and I know I would worry like heck every time they went out of him, so I don't. I'm the only one who rides him and I absolutely love riding him.

I think with your horse, if you aren't riding her, then it might be nice for you to find a sharer for her but I'd be very picky about who you choose. Old horses are great, but they know every trick in the book so it would have to be someone experienced but also someone who won't overdo anything with her. Good luck!