Would you let me ride your horse?

Celestica

Celestica

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I'm just curious to everybody's opinions as I regularly see ads about horse exercisers and was wondering how experienced do you have to be to advertise yourself as one.

I'd love to own my own horse but don't have enough money/time as I'm in my final two years of school so I was considering on getting a loan next summer or exercise horses. I'm a sixteen year old girl, I've been riding since I was 10 and feel confident enough on anything from 14.2hh-17.2hh and have ridden a few forward going horses, done a bit of cross country and dressage and jump between 80-90's.

I'm hoping for someone to tell me that there are people out there looking for riders like me to really just exercise their horses and not only for experienced top riders to train there horses. When I was doing my JC (GCSE'S in England) I came across an ad by an eldery man looking for a rider just to exercise his horses for him as he had a back injury and couldn't keep them fit and he would pay 200 a week :eek:

Of course if I were to go ahead and advertise myself I would be 100% honest about my level of riding and would reject any offers from owners that I feel I'm not the best match for their horse.
 
I think as long as you were honest you could totally advertise - there are bound to be people with jobs who want someone to ride there not-too-difficult horses without paying a fortune for full livery.
 
Yep, and I suspect there are many people out there that would be more than happy to have someone help them exercise their horses. You would have to accept that you would need to prove you are responsible and experienced enough of course, but you sound very mature so i'm sure you know that already. Good luck ;)
 
I think the lack of competition experience as well as consistent riding/results/naughty/young horses would go against you as a "rider" aka just turn up and ride. However if you were prepared to make a regular commitment and muck in with jobs/pay a bit of money I'm sure you could find something to share/part loan with someone! :)

The paid job would most likely either involve mucking in with care and/or riding green, potentially not safe/sane horses or hunters and involve a heck of a lot of riding to keep them all fit!
 
Personally your age would put me off- but this is just person preference as i had a young girl loan my boy for a few months and it ended horribly.

Had you been 20Yo and the same experience then yes, without a doubt.
 
Not at the moment hes a baby and not backed yet! If you are honest and reliable then i dont see why you shouldnt find something to ride, if your the sort that lets people down then you wont.
We were chatting to the owner of a tack shop yesterday, my youngest ( 17 ) was telling her how dissapointed she is with her loan horse (long story) and she said shes looking for someone to ride one of hers so youngest is off to try him out this week! We were not even looking.
 
No. But not because I think you are a bad rider or anything but my lad is extremely quirky, is a rearer and has an aversion to being ridden by anyone but my daughter, he will tolerate me if he has to but that is because I am an old hunter and put up with none of his nonsense! He frightened the living daylights out of a AI and he didn't really do anything, she said he was the "stubbornest, most bloody minded horse" she'd ever ridden. So he is not everyone's cup of tea but goes beautifully for E. my daughter.

Fany-possibly but she is a very strong and very stubborn mare.

However, I would recommend you get some experience of non riding school horses. No offence meant just that there is a heck of a difference between a riding school horse and a non riding school horse. Certainly neither of mine are push button. You sound like a sensible girl, write your advert and be absolutely honest, you may have to wait but you will eventually find someone who will allow you to exercise their horse.

Good luck finding a horse and with your exams, if I had a suitable horse I would be happy for you to exercise it,
FDC
 
i was 16 when i started takin horses in for schooling, breaking and teachin lessons but i had been riding all my life and was competing 1.30 tracks, but my family has all done the same, we never had our own place we was always on liver yards. but i started with nothing apart from a 7 year old thoroughbred that would jump the moon, now i run a successful stud yard breeding, teaching, breaking and schooling. maybe it would help if you could get abit more milage of riding etc because young horses need working out and the only way of being able to do this is riding different horses workin out what they are most happy with :) any further questions then please feel free to send me a private message :)
 
As has already been said from your post you sound like you have got your head screwed on :)

I think you should advertise that you are prepared to muck out etc in return for rides, and be completely honest about your ability x
 
Why not do some helping at your local riding school in return for rides? Until I had my own transport and wasn't therefore relying on my parents for lifts I didn't have any shares or ride for anyone, and it wasn't through lack of trying in a very horsey area - I think my arriving on a pushbike and being 15/16 put them off!

That said, I did far more riding of all sorts of horses and ponies (as well as having a cob on loan in return for working at RS) and I thoroughly enjoyed it. I'm now in my 20s and have had a few shares and now a full loan but it's been through word of mouth more than anything. An RS/livery yard would be a good place to start I'd say and build up a good rep for yourself. Good luck! The most honest and reliable tend to do pretty well :)
 
Snowysadude said:
I think the lack of competition experience as well as consistent riding/results/naughty/young horses would go against you as a "rider" aka just turn up and ride. However if you were prepared to make a regular commitment and muck in with jobs/pay a bit of money I'm sure you could find something to share/part loan with someone! :)

The paid job would most likely either involve mucking in with care and/or riding green, potentially not safe/sane horses or hunters and involve a heck of a lot of riding to keep them all fit!
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I've never competed in local shows although my own yard does hold a lot of the local shows so I compete in those. I regularly ride young or naughty and do often ride my YO's ex eventer horse so I am able to ride differently when needed between a livery horse and a classic schoolie but then again what on my yard are 'more advanced horses' may not be regarded the same level as your yard do so it is hard to judge.

I know how to care for a horse with the mucking out included and know some basic first aids but wouldn't be able to treat/ know what is wrong with more complicated injuries but I would notice them and contact a more experienced person (or the horses owner in this case) asap.
 
You might find someone who has a couple of horses who would love a hand keeping them fit, hacking out etc a couple of times a week - It's a pity you weren't closer!! Good luck
 
Transport is a pain! My yard is about 40 mins away by motorway and would gladly cycle but the roads are so dangerous I'm not allowed but hopefully by February I'll have my own car as I'll be 17.

However there are 2 local enough livery yards to me on a bus route and would gladly work there just for experience/sake of being around horses but I'm not sure if I'm experienced enough for a livery yard worker. Would you say I am?
 
You don't want to work there (you've got school to focus on missy ;) ) but you could advertise yourself there, mentioning you can get a reference from current place - I assume that'll be somewhere they know as reputable - and one of the liveries might want a hand ie mucking out/poo picking in return for a couple of rides.

Worth a shot, but from my experiences when I was younger (and I had a bit more experience than you too) its likely to be a struggle until youre a bit older. Frustrating I know, but it's amazing the difference being a non-teenager makes to potential share-ees!

Let us know how you get on!
 
AprilBlossom said:
You don't want to work there (you've got school to focus on missy ;) ) but you could advertise yourself there, mentioning you can get a reference from current place - I assume that'll be somewhere they know as reputable - and one of the liveries might want a hand ie mucking out/poo picking in return for a couple of rides.

Worth a shot, but from my experiences when I was younger (and I had a bit more experience than you too) its likely to be a struggle until youre a bit older. Frustrating I know, but it's amazing the difference being a non-teenager makes to potential share-ees!

Let us know how you get on!
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When I'm in school all I can concentrate on is horses yet I need to concentrate so I can go to college and get an amazing job to pay for all my future horses :D


My mothers friends daughter owns a livery yard I think so I may ask if I can volunteer in my free time there for experience and joy of being around horses :)


Also thank you to anyone who has posted a reply to me I really appreciate all of your feedback!
 
yes I was a very similar situation as you and used to be paid(if only a small amount by local owner who kept buying ponies her kids couldnt ride!) wish you were in england im desperate to find someone to ride my boy and tbh I think that not having competed and not having had a pony is actually sometimes a good thing as you tend to be more contentious(now im generalizing but some people get very lazy!) I used to ask around but you HAVE to be very honest if a little conservative that way you make a good impression when if you start exercising.
 
from all your mature honest posts on here tonight i would definatly take you on. as i think if u could get up their with people who compete the big tracks and someone with a name thats known in your area for whateva reason like myself. the sayin is true "its not what you kno its who you know" especialy in the horsey world. if you wasnt so far away i would definatly let u come and work for me :)
 
We have a young girl (15) ride my husband's horse now and again. He is 17h and 90% well behaved! She also rides my own quirkier horse in the school etc. She is very responsible and takes advice/instruction from me, which is usually given to make sure that she is safe. She will skip out etc without being asked, and help where she can. She is pleasure to have around, and gets to ride one of our horses at pc rallies and shows.

From your post she sounds very much like you describe yourself, so I'd let you ride too. I think that as long as you are honest about your experience/capabilities you should be fine.

Hope that you find something.x
 
personally no. But then I don't let anyone ride him regularly. I would let you have a sit on him but he is youngish and I don't want to confuse him

BUT there are people I know that would, as their horses are older

Like others have said you seem honest and mature so someone will have what you need and you will both win. you may well have to contribute either jobs, cash or both but that is normal. The advert you saw was probably a fake or misprint

Good luck
 
no, but it isnt anything personal, i would be worried your age would mean you wouldnt have the expereince to deal with a horse like delicia.

Best of luck in your search x
 
Just be honest about your ability and be mature enough to say no if you are offered something that is too much or too tricky for you.

You won't know what market is out there until you have a go !!

Just one thing make sure you have the correct insurance to cover you, the horse and public liabilty. Make sure that your safety gear, hat, boots, gloves, HiViz all meet the correct standards, as this is a business not pleasure, as you are hoping to ride in exchange for cash.
Good luck - nothing ventured nothing gained
 
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Like most, it would be a no. Ive had an incident with someone around your age a couple of years ago. She seemed trustworthy and was/is my friend so obviously I didn't mind her riding my girl. A week later, pony is lame. She just got a bit carry away with a retired jumping pony and pushed her til lame as she jumped her basically every day . Also now with cushings she is has a strict routine. The problem I find round here is that people are very protective over their horses. But who knows, you might find someone! Good luck.
 
I wouldn't be put off by your age, in some cases the bravery of youth is very usefull with horses, especially with naughty ponies as was mentioned earlier in the thread.I had a teenage sharer once, she was great and much braver than me! Anybody interested in having someone else ride their horse,for schooling /issues or through lack of time would want to watch you ride and handle the horse anyway,so you would both have an idea of what you would be dealing with.As long as you dont take on more than you can handle it could work out great.I hope it does
 
Maiden - no, she was a broken old hack and I'd have been worried anyone too young would have tried to hammer her round everywhere.

Pottie - yes, she needs someone like you to share her next year! Shame you're so far away!

I'm sure there will be people out there with horses suitable - it's always worth finding out, I think. Put an ad up and see what happens? Like someone else said, you are perfectly capable of writing in a mature style - an ad written in "txt spk" would put me right off a teenager, but someone who is obviously as caring and concerned about being right for the horse and not just the other way round would tick my boxes.

Good luck :)
 
This time last year I was looking for riding as I was pretty horse-starved initially at boarding school (weekly). Through an ad on the facebook page of a group set up for the south-west equine community, I found someone who allowed me to come up at the weekend and ride one of their horses, in exchange for helping out a little. It turned out to be a brilliant experience and opportunity for me. And that's how I ended up with my little TB (we bought her in the end, after a couple of months) :p

But I digress- yes, there will be people out there, if you just remain completely honest about your ability (as it sounds you are), always ask the owner of any horse you ride what they're looking for, what they want in return, what's appropriate, etc. It's always better to ask questions than run the risk of making a mistake, and the majority of people will, I imagine, be more than happy to answer.
Good luck, hope you find something ;)
 
Im sure someone will let you! I started schooling horses and ponies when i was 15 for about 6 months or so but now i just advertise to school naughty ponies for people im 16 too, get quite a lot of intrest and its great seeing the end result after youve been working with ponies like that :) Good luck
 
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