Would it put you off if..

hotair

hotair

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Would it put you off if a potential sharer for your horse was unable to drive so was going to be coming to the yard either on foot or bike? I have nothing against this in theory but as its not long until winter the thought occured to me that if said person had to walk or bike to they yard are they likely to be very reliable? The only reason i am looking into a part loan is that i work full time and wont have a huge amount of time to ride in day light hours over the winter (school isnt flood lit), share would be either 2-3 weekdays or 2 weekdays and one weekend day, weekend days arent a problem as i am off and can get up to the yard pretty short notice but the worry would be that if weather was miserable and part loaner decided they werent able to go up once i was already at work i would be pretty stuck for sorting my horse out, given plenty of notice i could go before work but without plenty of notice, once i am at work id be pretty stuck! What do you think?
 
Not sure why reliability would be dependent on mode of transport?

When I was young I would bike over half an hour to see my horse, or walk if it snowed, and always got there......

I know some sharers are unreliable even with a posh car.......

I would go on my gut feeling for the sharer, and explain that it is important that if they are not coming they let you know the night before. Than, if it does not work bin that one and advertise again!
 
Come the winter sometimes on foot or bike is our only option!! Lol!!

No I don't think its a bad thing. How did people manage before cars? As kids we always had to walk or cycle to the ponies.

Reliability is not hall marked by the mode of transport a person has surely. If a person is reliable then they will prove it no matter how they got to the yard.
 
Im not saying that it makes anyone less of a good person just because they dont have a car or access to lifts im not that horrible and shallow! haha. It was more of a question of being able to get there as in my opinion its alot easier and less awful in a car as its warm and dry than walking or biking is, and with any potential sharer reliability isnt something easy to ask as anyone who wants the loan of my horse is going to say they are reliable regardless of if they actually are..
 
hotair said:
It was more of a question of being able to get there as in my opinion its alot easier and less awful in a car as its warm and dry than walking or biking is, and with any potential sharer reliability isnt something easy to ask as anyone who wants the loan of my horse is going to say they are reliable regardless of if they actually are..
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I am not sure I agree, in winter if it is snowing it is easier to get if you are close enough to walk or cycle. Think of all the snow days people take!
 
How far is it from her home to the yard? My last share had a couple of miles to come and was the same could not drive, she turned up rain and shine but didn't test her in really bad weather as it's only been since the spring.

I do know where your coming from on this and for me it depends how far and what other options they might have to get there.
 
When I was a kid I used to ride my bike on a 16 mile round trip come rain or shine! Complete with bridle and brushes in front basket and saddle strapped on the back, lol!
 
julie111 said:
When I was a kid I used to ride my bike on a 16 mile round trip come rain or shine! Complete with bridle and brushes in front basket and saddle strapped on the back, lol!
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I did too, well not 16 miles, I had my hat on the handle bars, wonder why mother never said to put it on my head, just thought of that!
 
My sharer cycles around 15 minutes after a long train journey and to date hasn't let me down at all as yet even on rainy days. I almost turned her down too but she was so persistent that I decided to give her a chance, I'm glad I did
 
I had a pony on loan when I was 13 and cycled the 4 miles to see him daily. When I was 15 I got my own horse and did the same, rain or shine, had bit further to go then too! In the snow I used to pull the sledge with the water carrier in it. My friend and I took turns, great fun.

I remember going home with a bucket full of manure for the garden hooked on my handlebars. Glad it was empty on the return journey as I fell off my bike. LOL
 
I think that once someone has a car it makes them a little more reliant on the ease of it all

Someone used to getting around by cycle or on foot is generally more practical when the going gets tough

Someone who has a car may baulk at the thought of having to travel any other way if for some reason they cant use it - for example the car i use broke down this morning and all i could worry about was how to get it back on the road - it didnt even occur to me to make my way to work another way!
 
Thanks for the help everyone :) i think ill invite her to meet my boy and see how they get on and take things from there! She seems to be the best suited to him ive had contact me so far :)
 
tallyho! said:
Really hope it works out :).

Anyone dedicated enough to walk or bike has my vote.
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Thank you im having a struggle with a lot of unsuitable people at the moment unfortunatly so hopefully this on is a good one!! Yeah i agree if someone is willing to get there that way in all weathers hats off to them i just seem to worry myself about anything possible (especially when it comes to my horse) so was kind of unsure incase they decided not to turn up and i was left in the lurch while at work but i suppose anyone could do that just have to meet and see how it goes and go with my gut feeling :). thanks for the help and advice guys! Loved reading the stories of transporting all your tack etc as a kid on bikes :D
 
A least a person who doesn't own a car can't claim that their no-show is due to a flat battery, ran out petrol, two flat tyres, couldn't get through the flood/snowdrift/hailstorm - delete as appropriate. A walker/cyclist is quite likely fitter and stronger than a car driver too, which might make them a more effective rider.
 
What difference does it make how they get to the yard. If they are genuine they will probably be dedicated and turn up when expected. No reason to think otherwise until they don't, which may never happen
 
I used to cycle in rain, hailstone and snow blizzards just to feed my old horse. I drive now which is better but no I wouldn't be put off by this :)
 
How far would her journey be? That's probably a more desiding factor for your sharer, 5 minutes in what ever weather no real problem, 15 - 30 might make a difference. Mine gets the train then bus or walks. She's pretty reliable and gives me at least 24hrs notice if not coming.
 
I would say it would depend entirely on the dedication of the person involved. Ex-livery on our DIY yard lived 2 miles away and didn't drive - but regularly wouldn't come up for days on end because bike had broken, or she just claimed she was too tired to pedal. You can but give her the benefit of the doubt, really. Some people are dedicated enough to make their way to their horse regardless of transport, distance or weather. Others are not. xx
 
hotair said:
Im not saying that it makes anyone less of a good person just because they dont have a car or access to lifts im not that horrible and shallow! haha. It was more of a question of being able to get there as in my opinion its alot easier and less awful in a car as its warm and dry than walking or biking is, and with any potential sharer reliability isnt something easy to ask as anyone who wants the loan of my horse is going to say they are reliable regardless of if they actually are..
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Hmm, do you have a selection of sharers to choose from? I doubt it, go for this one on a months trial and see how it pans out
 
Exactly as queenbee says.

Trial and then set out your expectations in writing. Both sign and make sure you both know what each persons responsibility is e.g. Who pays for insurance excess if something happens, vets call-outs etc.

I think as long as the minutiae details are clear, it makes everything much smoother. Leave no grey areas so both parties know where they stand. Doesn't matter if sharer drives or cycles, all the above will be non-negotiable terms and have to be for insurance purposes or else it's a no-go.

The is a standard form on the BHS website you can amend and use in accordance with your requirements. You can download a word version.
 
Queenbee said:
Hmm, do you have a selection of sharers to choose from? I doubt it, go for this one on a months trial and see how it pans out
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I've got it down to 3 to choose from but haven't had a chance to meet up with any of them yet to see how they get on with my horse as I've been at work all week. I just wanted some opinions before inviting people to come and meet and try my horse :)
 
As some people have asked the journey is only about 5 mins just over in a car but probably about a 20-30 min walk and maybe a bit less on a bike. There are busses that come close and it would only be a few minutes walk from the bus but that would depend on wether that particular person wanted to use that service. I've got it down to 3 people now who all seem as though they would be suitable so I think I will now meet them in person and see who both me and my boy get on with best and who manages him best. He is the most important thing so who ever try's him has to be just right for him otherwise I will just keep looking for the right person as I know how good shares can be when you do find them my cousin has been part loaning her horse from a local lady for about 12 years now!!
 
That is pretty short. My husband used to cycle the equivalent of a 40 minute drive to go horse riding, then when he had finished cycle the same again in another direction to ride another horse, then about the same again to get home. It wasn't a big deal for him, he used to cycle fifty odd miles each way to have sunday dinner with his parents!
 
Kat said:
That is pretty short. My husband used to cycle the equivalent of a 40 minute drive to go horse riding, then when he had finished cycle the same again in another direction to ride another horse, then about the same again to get home. It wasn't a big deal for him, he used to cycle fifty odd miles each way to have sunday dinner with his parents!
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It isn't short at all it was a simple question of would people do this I don't know what other people do for transport it was simply to see if other people do this and if it works for them I'm only asking as I have my horses welfare needs at the front of my mind not for people to have a go over a question. I said in my original post I have nothing against it just was after some experienced and opinions on how this works for people which people have given.
 
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