WWYD? what age should a sharer be supervised?

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bitlessbill

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I'm advertising for a sharer and my advert states older teenager or adult required but I've been approached by a very keen 13 year old. We are on a small DIY yard and there is no-one on site all day, just when owners turn up.

So at what age is it appropriate for a child to be responsible for themselves and not require an adult present? When I spoke to the dad I said will you be bringing her and he said there's trains and buses, so that implies he's happy for her to be unsupervised and she does seem a sensible sort but I'm just not sure?
 
It's not so much age, as competence would worry me... Personally I wouldn't be happy for anyone to exercise mine without me present, regardless of age. I think 13 is too young to be alone and riding on a yard though - if something did happen, she could be in a lot of trouble with nobody to help her out.
 
I wouldn't. If her parents aren't prepared to supervise her you'll end up being used as a babysitting service. 13 is too young to be on her own. I am a mother of a teenager who is sensible way beyond her 14 years but I would never leave her unsupervised and essentially in sole charge. It might be different on a staffed yard but I'd say it's too risky on your yard. Adults are one thing, other people's children are a whole different kettle of fish.
 
You may also find your yard's insurance doesn't cover minors being left unsupervised so it's worth speaking to your YO/YM to find out where they stand on this.

At 13 my mum was still accompanying me to the yard and would either walk with me on solo hacks or drive to a meet up point and wait for me, though that may have had something to do with my habit for getting "lost" for hours on the downs rather than anything else :)
 
I'd probably not be keen on leaving her unsupervised. My daughter is 15 an yes she goes to yard on own, but under no circumstances does she ride without an adult being on the yard. No they don't have to watch her but she always makes sure they are about and know she is riding and if they leave then she's not to ride.

Her horse is very safe, but accidents do happen and what would happen if she fell off ? It could be hours before she is found.

Yes I probably am being over cautious but I apply the same rules when I ride at the yard .
 
When I was 13 I had my just broken and just gelded 16.3hh ID x to deal with myself and my 14.2hh connie x arab. I was trusted to ride by myself with no one about - I was the only livery and had a field, no school to ride in. I was fine, I always had a mobile with charge and credit. I'd see how she rides a few times and state you want her to ALWAYS carry a mobile with charge and credit when she rides, and if you're really worried say she can't hack out alone. I'd say she'll be fine if she's a sensible sort , I presume you don't know if her and pony "click" yet though?
 
To be fair she would be doing a couple of afternoons after school and that is the time when most people are around so chances are she would never be alone but equally I don't want her parents thinking we run a babysitting service either!
 
When I was 13 I was looking after my neighbours 6 year old chestnut TB Ex racer mare and riding her mad cob cross arab - unsupervised and often hacking out alone. This was in the days before mobile phones but I always told someone where I was going and how long for.

If she is competent and capable I see no harm in the share. As long as the parents sign some sort of disclaimer, making them aware of the risks and removing any blame or responsibility for any accident or injury that may occur from you.

I would give her a good trial period whereby the parents accompany her and you lay down the rules and show her how you expect things to be done, what she should do in an emergency, make sure she has her mobile phone fully charged before going to the yard etc etc and then you can judge for yourself just how capable she is...
 
budley95 said:
When I was 13 I had my just broken and just gelded 16.3hh ID x to deal with myself and my 14.2hh connie x arab. I was trusted to ride by myself with no one about - I was the only livery and had a field, no school to ride in. I was fine, I always had a mobile with charge and credit. I'd see how she rides a few times and state you want her to ALWAYS carry a mobile with charge and credit when she rides, and if you're really worried say she can't hack out alone. I'd say she'll be fine if she's a sensible sort , I presume you don't know if her and pony "click" yet though?
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She might not be able to use her phone if she's injured / unconscious.
 
budley95 said:
When I was 13 I had my just broken and just gelded 16.3hh ID x to deal with myself and my 14.2hh connie x arab. I was trusted to ride by myself with no one about - I was the only livery and had a field, no school to ride in. I was fine, I always had a mobile with charge and credit. I'd see how she rides a few times and state you want her to ALWAYS carry a mobile with charge and credit when she rides, and if you're really worried say she can't hack out alone. I'd say she'll be fine if she's a sensible sort , I presume you don't know if her and pony "click" yet though?
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Agree with what budley said. I've ridden out hacking by myself since the age of 11 on naughty ponies which I exercised for people. I now have my own pony and will stay up yard by myself most of the day exercising both our ponies and general maintainance, etc. I am responsible for my age though, and always have been! My Mum is very relaxed though about leaving me alone to do things, etc but she, rightly, insists that I must always have my phone with me!

Does your yard have a school/field to ride in or can she only hack?
 
As at 13 she's still a child isn't against the law to leave her on her own?

I could be totally wrong but I thought kids had to be 15 before you could leave them on their own?

I suspect her parents wouldn't leave her in their house for 2/3 hours on her own so they are assuming she will be supervised by you/ someone else on the yard.
 
She has come with Dad and met us but hasn't ridden yet as pony came in a bit lame after shoeing. She is coming from a large riding school where she helps out and has lessons so might not realise that not all yards are like that. Thanks for all you advice, they may not click anyway and I'm hoping that someone older will tun up before I have to make a decision!
 
teamsarazara said:
Definitely a case of competence.
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Disagree that this is the only consideration. I think insurance should be checked - it might invalidate the policy. Also, parents that might seem happy to leave their child could soon turn nasty if there is an accident and their child is injured. I think it is a judgment call but I would err on the side of caution.

Alos, would it be viewed as putting them at risk? https://www.gov.uk/law-on-leaving-your-child-home-alone
 
So it's not against the law but 12 is too young to leave at home (a relatively safe environment) so I'd suggest you'd struggle to prove to the police that 13 was mature enough to leave on a public livery yard alone - a much less safe environment than her home.
 
bitlessbill said:
She has come with Dad and met us but hasn't ridden yet as pony came in a bit lame after shoeing. She is coming from a large riding school where she helps out and has lessons so might not realise that not all yards are like that. Thanks for all you advice, they may not click anyway and I'm hoping that someone older will tun up before I have to make a decision!
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Ok... have you seen her muck out, groom and tack up / handle the pony etc? understand that pony was lame but these are all things I'd be checking in terms of competence...

As for responsibility, that falls directly with the parent IMO and THEY need to make sure she is insured (most rider policies cover the horse she is riding too).
 
I started sharing just after i was 12, I'm pretty sure I was supervised until 13 but I never hacked out alone and the YOs or other liveries were usually onsite,
 
She's not just going to be responsible for herself, though, is she? She would also be responsible for your horse. Are you happy for an unsupervised 13 yr old to be left in charge of your horse in all circumstances - in case of accident/injury/illness/escape? Not to mention if she falls off and is injured. I certainly wouldn't be and I would be very unhappy about parents who were not inclined to take responsibility for their offspring. You could easily find yourself having to look after an ill or injured (not necessarily horse-related) young teenager.
 
I normally would have said 14 minimum, but both she and dad seemed sensible.
See how she gets on with Bill before making a decision and make sure she has her own rider insurance.
 
My daughter is 13 and has ridden for as long as I can remember... she is very competent around horses, and if I was honest I often think she is better than me... but I would not allow her to be at our yard alone. It only takes a spook, kick to the head... and she would be unconscious and alone.
I think the parents willing to leave the child are obviously not aware of how unpredictable a horse can be, neither have they taken in to consideration the responsibility they are expecting you to take on...
So no, I wouldnt be happy with this, she may be a fantastic rider, an an extremely competent horse woman but still whichever way you look at it she is a minor and would be technically put at risk.
Btw, I know that a yard I was on many moons ago have now stopped children riding without an adult present due to insurance reasons...
 
As a 14 year old I was asked if I would like to exercise the pony that the riding school I went to had just broken. No problems with the pony as he was sweet. I only had the very quiet road to hack on or when friends were home, the farm just up the road.
But one day when taking the pony out of the tricky gate on the field his very lovely very valuable colt companion slipped past me and got loose. Cue panic mode. There was no adult around and this colt was going daft as he could see four lovely young inviting fillies in the field opposite. I was much too young and inexperienced to be dealing with the situation (it was about 42 years ago) and how I ever caught it without a disaster was more luck than judgement. So I wouldn't let a youngster be alone on my yard, based on my own experiences!
 
At a very busy yard, it might be ok. I always advertise for adults, no way do I want to be responsible for a child and I wouldn't be comfortable leaving her to get on with it.
 
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