Would you share your horse with a 'competant novice' rider?

holzrokz

holzrokz

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Just general thinking outloud really :rolleyes:

I've been thinking so quite a while now about trying to find a horse share when up at university (although this year am on a paid placement year in a hospital lab so working full time). I finally have a car and so can travel and really do miss out on the general horse care side of things as well as well as hacking (usually just have lessons each week now), and lessons alone are pricey and think it would be much easier to progress riding 2-3 times per week.

BUT...i have never owned/loaned or shared a horse before and (obviously fair enough) most people seem to want an experienced rider/previous owned etc. I have been riding since the age of 9 and know the basics of horse care but have not been able to put much of it into practice recently (most yards now you seem to have to pay for the privilage of 'helping out with stable duties and learing how to do things').

SO my question is, would you (if you wanted to share your horse out, and say you had a reliable safe horse) allow someone like me to share your horse, knowing you will perhaps have to babysit them at first, make sure they can do everything confidently and ride etc before they could be trusted to be left alone? Also would like to hear some experiences from people, as i have heard from here of sharing going wrong, and also being brilliant for both parties.

Thanks all! Affraid i only have a loud and slightly annoying oriental cat (hence the loudness!) to give away who insitsts on sitting on my laptop for warmth :D ooh and some celebrations if you're hungry :p
 
I would definitely consider someone like you (if I were looking for a sharer that is). A "competent novice" could quite easily be better than many "experienced" people out there. It's all down to how the individual (and others) sees him/herself.

And also IF I were going to share one of my horses, I would be there to babysit absolutely anyone, no matter how experienced or not they claimed to be, for the first few sessions. Even if it was William Fox-Pitt! (And no, that's not a slur on WFP at all, I happen to admire him immensely, but his way of doing things might not be my way of doing things, so I'd want to babysit to make sure I was happy with the way he responded to my horses - not just riding, but generally)
 
Faro said:
I would definitely consider someone like you (if I were looking for a sharer that is). A "competent novice" could quite easily be better than many "experienced" people out there. It's all down to how the individual (and others) sees him/herself.

And also IF I were going to share one of my horses, I would be there to babysit absolutely anyone, no matter how experienced or not they claimed to be, for the first few sessions. Even if it was William Fox-Pitt! (And no, that's not a slur on WFP at all, I happen to admire him immensely, but his way of doing things might not be my way of doing things, so I'd want to babysit to make sure I was happy with the way he responded to my horses - not just riding, but generally)
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Agree 100%:D
 
No. Not cos I wouldn't want to but I doubt that you would be insured if the rider had an accident. (Most policies specifically exclude others riding your horse.) It's not worth it... and it's a shame cos I think it's a great way to learn but by saying you are a novice you are kind of putting a duty of care on the owner.... not one that I could accept in this day and age (which is really sad as I would love to share my boy.)

BnBx
 
blitznbobs said:
No. Not cos I wouldn't want to but I doubt that you would be insured if the rider had an accident. (Most policies specifically exclude others riding your horse.) It's not worth it... and it's a shame cos I think it's a great way to learn but by saying you are a novice you are kind of putting a duty of care on the owner.... not one that I could accept in this day and age (which is really sad as I would love to share my boy.)

BnBx
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Couldn't you then just insist on the sharer having rider insurance?
 
I wouldn't mind if you were just hacking out with me, but I wouldn't be very comfortable with you going it alone. A) Don't know what the horses might do B) I wouldn't want to get lost! C) I'd want to make sure you were okay and confident with them. I work full time, so as long as I could find a sharer with similar hours to me, I'd be pleased for a bit of help before or after work. I have two, but barely enough time to ride one at each end of the day and do the yard, so would be a great have some help. I'd also be happier with some who is novicey and knows it, than someone 'experienced' or who thinks they are :p simply so I could teach them my way of doing things. Often, a competent novice will do less harm as they won't do anything drastic, rather than think they can when they can't and make a c*ck up! :) I think as long as you are honest with yourself and owners about your capabilities you would find someone. And by honest, I mean if you are good at something speak up about that, as well as the things you aren't so good at! :)
 
Yes, I would.

It's how I started and I now have my own.

As for insurance. I would want rider only insurance or BHS Gold membership which at least covers public liability.
 
It wouldn't put me off if a competent novice wanted to share my horse. I would rather have someone who is willing to learn than the possibility of someone who feels they know better than I do how to look after and ride my horse! I would want to keep a close eye on them for the first few weeks, and probably get my instructor to give them a lesson to assess their level of riding. And would also draw up a written agreement stating they must have insurance as a rider.
 
I'm a far less competent novice than you, and I am allowed to ride a lovely SuperCob. I was even allowed to compete him this summer! If you advertise and poke round a bit at local competitions you soon find people willing to help you with the care side of things- you are far from novice with your actual riding from what you've posted!

And on a different note, it was something I was very proud of that my old horse would let anyone at all hack and jump him safely- he was a total bugger for those who were competent or thought they were, but he was an angel for nervous or novicey people. My mum's friends often took him out hacking, and if we'd needed to horse-share a competent novice would have been totally perfect for him and I'd have been very happy to let them benefit from his years and years of experience as I was doing.
 
As a "competent novice" who now loans a horse I started off sharing, in the future, YES!

I started sharing as a "not so competent but thought I was ace" novice at the age of 14, it was exactly what the owner had wanted because I was willing to learn and although not a refined dressage rider, was able to walk trot and canter and was blissfully unaware of my shortcomings so incredibly confident.

This suited the owner and the horse, and she "sculpted" me into exactly what she was looking for in terms of horse ownership and at least at first was entirely happy to look out for me. I learned a hell of a lot and appreciated the time and effort she put into helping me.

I must say though, maybe it was my young age, but she always looked down on me and treated me as totally useless (even though I did what she asked to the letter and more!) however don't be alarmed...

She sold her horse eventually and so I was on the lookout for another share and actually found that I had earned a positive reputation in the village as a hardworking and willing to learn teenager who was good and gentle with horses and very dedicated (much to my surprise as thought I was regarded as a lost cause) and was actually offered a couple of horses on a "come muck out and have a ride after" type deal as well as another share!!

I took the share which gradually evolved to a full loan and this owner and I are really close friends!

Hope this long rambling post helps you.

But if not and you want a succinct answer: of course it wouldn't put me off!
 
:p lol thanks but i really would still describe myself as more on the novicy side than experienced! Although i competed for the uni team, it was only as they had no one else, and i was originally a reserve. They wouldn't let me ride at the first comp as they thought the horses may be too much for me (they had heard they were quirky) and the instructor during training was often quite nervous about which horse they put me on (not exactly at the stage where i can easily ride anything), and a fair few times have had horses i cannot stop (not because they have 'bolted' with me but simply because i have a habit of gripping with knees/legs.) And i was definatly the worst rider of all teams :rolleyes:

And there sin't really anything to describe someone inbetween novice and experience, so i guess would rather air on the side of caution and be totally honest with anyone.

And yes that is a good point about an owner being able to 'mould' someone to how they like things to be done, especially as people have very specific way of doing things, and with their horse you have to do things their way :)
 
Yes and I have done. I had a horse who wanted a quieter life and as she was polite and easy to ride I asked around for a sharer/loaner with horse to stay at the same yard so I could always keep an eye on her. The person I chose described herself as a novice but with several years experience. It was a great match and while she had said she was a novice I thought she rode better than a lot of peple who described themselves as experienced.
Horse was happy, sharer was happy and so was her daughter because she could ride and handle the mare as well and I was happy because the horse was happy.

With the right horse I would do it again so no reason why you should not find a horse.
 
Yes I would because we all have to learn somewhere. I would rather have a "competent novice" who is willing to listen and learn, than an " experienced rider" who thinks they know it all but don't! Where are you OP?
 
As a "competent novice" who now loans a horse I started off sharing, in the future, YES!

I started sharing as a "not so competent but thought I was ace" novice at the age of 14, it was exactly what the owner had wanted because I was willing to learn and although not a refined dressage rider, was able to walk trot and canter and was blissfully unaware of my shortcomings so incredibly confident.

This suited the owner and the horse, and she "sculpted" me into exactly what she was looking for in terms of horse ownership and at least at first was entirely happy to look out for me. I learned a hell of a lot and appreciated the time and effort she put into helping me.

I must say though, maybe it was my young age, but she always looked down on me and treated me as totally useless (even though I did what she asked to the letter and more!) however don't be alarmed...

She sold her horse eventually and so I was on the lookout for another share and actually found that I had earned a positive reputation in the village as a hardworking and willing to learn teenager who was good and gentle with horses and very dedicated (much to my surprise as thought I was regarded as a lost cause) and was actually offered a couple of horses on a "come muck out and have a ride after" type deal as well as another share!!

I took the share which gradually evolved to a full loan and this owner and I are really close friends!

Hope this long rambling post helps you.

But if not and you want a succinct answer: of course it wouldn't put me off!
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thanks it definatly does help :)
 
Nope deffinately not, i currently have a person like you loaning my horse shes not the most brilliant but she is quiet and has a lovely position and loves my horse to bits! All i want really

Also she is having lessons and always calls or texts me if something is not quite right with him so i am happy
 
Definately if I had a horse suitable. I'd much rather have someone who puts themselves down rather than oversells theirself. Someone who is open to learn and is sensible.

My main horse wouldn't be suitable for novice, but my husband's horse adapts to whoever is on him - he loves a novice who doesn't ask him to work too hard much more than me or our groom who make him stride out and work!
 
Yes, more so than someone who professed to be experienced actually. Can't be doing with know-it-alls. Fair enough if it's their own horse, but not when loaning or sharing someone else's.
 
If I was looking for a sharer and had a suitable horse then yes. Many people who have never owned a horse are decent riders as they have had lots of lessons and they tend to be keen and appreciative.

I'm grateful to the people who let me ride their horses before I had my own.

As my horse is only 4 and I already share with my not novice OH I don't have a need for a sharer.
 
Can't quote on my phone but my insurance covers my horse for anyone riding with my permission. I checked very carefully as my sister occasionally rides my mare if we are away and had it not I would have paid for rider insurance for her.
 
Short answer? No

Long answer - because there is competent and there is competant. They might know the basics, but they havent got the experience of years with different horses to back up how you would deal with an emergency per se, or a niggling doubt.

Delicia isnt a novice horse, but a novice groom almost killed her...she she didnt realise a huge odema on her belly (read under her chest) wasnt a 'horse fly bite' but a severe blood infection that was attacking her immune system. the horse was staggering, a raging temperature and shallow breathing. 2 months on isolation and Delicia was better, 13 months after this her skin infection finally completly cleared...

I dont blame the groom really, i blame the employer for leaving an ill qualified groom in the sole charge of horses.
 
Yes I would, it's how I started and I now have sharers for mine. It's not the level of experience that's important tbh it's the sharer's attitude.
 
I started on the road to horse ownership as a competent novice adult - I had ridden at riding schools for 20 years or so but never actually looked after a horse. I had always wanted a horse but knew I was too inexperienced to own one.
I was lucky enough to be offered a share of a lovely schoolmistress, and her owner taught me the bits I didn't know. Yes I made mistakes, it used to take me an hour to muck out etc. But after 5 years I felt I had learned enough and I bought my own horse.

I am now in a position where I need a sharer, and I am considering sharing MY horse with a competent novice teenager who rides well enough but knows very little about horse care - I suppose I feel it is my duty to pass on the opportunity I was given and show her the ropes!

I guess I would rather have her splodging along on my very responsive horse, rather than an experienced adult who might ride him 'differently' to me or want to alter his management routine... Hadn't thought about that....
 
I would probably be in the competent novice category as although I've ridden since I was 9 and went to equine college, I rarely put anything I learnt on horse care, other than mucking out, into practise.

So when I left college I found a horse to share, to start with his owner did babysit me a bit. Her and her husband both gave me lessons on the horse until they were comfortable leaving him with me and she told me exactly what she wanted me to do with the horse stable wise. If I had any doubts I could text or phone her and she was always willing to help me out. Now I've moved onto my second share horse and have much more freedom [mainly due to the owner being happy with how I am with the horse] and feel relatively confident in doing general stable duties and a few other bits. But I wouldn't say I was a confident horse owner.

Either way, if I wanted a sharer for my horse and the person looking to share was confident in handling the horse, willing to learn and didn't mind doing things my way for my peace of mind then I would definitely be willing to take them, as I know what it's like wanting to find a horse to ride and learn about stable management.
 
I would not worry too much about the riding if I had an easy horse but what might worry me would be the horse care side such as would you be able to tell if the horse was ill or be competent at tacking up, grooming and rugging.

I do appreciate though people have to start somewhere and if I had loads of time to teach someone and supervise and make sure they were ok then that would be fine but then if I was looking for a sharer it would probably be because I did not have time.

There is a lady at our yard with two horses very quiet and well behaved and she has two sharers who are novices but she does ride with them and show them what to do with the care side. She has time to supervise but not money so the financial help works well for her.

I am sure there must be horse charities, RDA groups etc that would like volunteers and could perhaps teach you some of the horse care stuff for free.

The other issue you might have is if you are not in the same place all year eg you go home for the holidays then it might be an issue as lots of people want sharers who can make a regular commitment and not be away half of the year.
 
Yes! That's how I started - had a share a few days a week on a lovely boy and I am now great mates with his owner and she helped me buy my mare. She wanted to be there the first time I did 'new' things - fast work in the top field, jumping etc., and I would always give her a bell if I had a question - rugging etc. She told me that she took me on as I could 'ride' and had enough stable experience to be able to muck out/ tack up etc., but as others have said - she could mould me to her way of doing things and she'd rather that than have someone who thought they knew it all.

Whereabouts are you/ where are you looking?
 
i would far prefer a novice as experience has taught me that they listen & tend to take on board what the owner says - my mare has had a couple of sharers over the years - the nicest was a lovely girl who had VERY basic riding skills but was happy to follow the horses' routine to the letter - the worst were a] an ex jockey who bunged his non riding wife on my horse , borrowed abother one & then galloped in a field as he "wanted his wife to get over her fear of falling" - cue my mare coming home minus her rider & b] an experienced hunt rider who refused to clean tack on her days as "she was paying to ride the horse" & regulalrly [ well, until i found out:rolleyes:] cantered my older & arthritic mare on very hard gound & then left her covered in sweat in her stable:rolleyes:
 
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