Your experience with shareres

[vicm2509]

I currently part loan my horse to my best friend. We are at simalar stages in riding and both want the same from my horse. We both have lessons on him, me one week, her the next. Also we share horsebox and both take it in turns at shows, read each others dressage tests, help each other tack up. I also have access to borrow other horses and we hack out together and work together with any problems and have days where we both go down. I works really well and im glad to have her sharing my horse. I feel at ease telling her about any silly little things she does that annoy me and she does everything exactly how I would do it.

Now the problem is she is trying for a baby, and when she gets pregnant she will no longer want to share Baron, mainly due to the cost side of it.

This is not a major problem but I could financially do with someone sharing my horse. But I dont think I could stand someone I dont know having responsibilty of my horse. I like him to be worked properly as he is the type of horse that will pick up on bad habbits quickly and needs consistency.

I am quite a shy person and would find it hard to tell someone if they were doing something I wasnt happy with incase the took offence.

Do you think I should struggle to keep him on my own or is it worth looking for a sharer? I know if I look after someone elses horse I do as best I can, but I know of people who think that because its not their horse, and they wont reep the long term benefits of schooling it they just dont seem to have the same attitude. Also if I keep him to myself I will have to sell my horsebox as I wont be able to afford it.

I would want the person preferably to have at least one lesson a month on him from my instructor, unless of course the person was a VERY experienced rider. They would be able to compete him equally as much as I do.

So for those of you who have shared your horse, or been a sharer do you think its a good idea or should keep him to myself for a while and see how things go? I just cant decide, we have put in so much work and hes come such a long way I dont want someone to come and wreck him.

 

[Jellicle]

I am currently a sharer, and like you I try to do my best on the horse. I am still a novice though. I do have lessons most weeks but I would still be worried about your horse picking up bad habits with me.

I think if I were you I would play it by ear. Put an advert in a local tack shop and ask your instructor if they know anyone. Have a months trial with anyone who seems suitable, and if you have concerns at the end of the month, stop the arrangement.

BTW, how is the napping going with him? Is he over it?

 

[lexiedhb]

I have just recently started sharing and treat my share horse as if he were my own. Wouldnt have it any other way... I mean they are kind enough to let me share their beautiful horse so why wouldnt I give him the best possible care to him.
There are good sharers around, you just have to look for them. I would say definately worth having if you can find a good oen!

 

[vicm2509]

Both those replies are how I would see myself if I were sharing someone elses horse, and the type of person I would be looking for, its just I know of people on my yard who do silly things when they know the owners are not around.

I dont mind having a novice, as im far from an expert myself. I just dont want someone getting on, charging him round the paddock with no patircular aim in mind and then putting him back in the stable. I have a lot of respect for my horse, and although I dont want a complete novice I dont expect someone to know everything. I got him so we could both progress together, which we are doing.

Hes nothing amazing, I work him at Novice dressage, works higher at home, jumps around 3ft courses but can be nervy so I need a confident rider who will not push him and knock his confidence which I have tried to hard to build. He is easy with the right rider, but like I said he is the type who if you let him get away with something once he WILL remember

 

[Porkie]

If you need a sharer for financial reasons I would definitely say advertise and see what happens. There are some really great people out there who are more than capable, reliable and honest who just can't afford to own a horse for themselves, and would love the opportunity to share your horse.

Obviously there are the ones who take the pee so yes you have to be careful, but if you are clear on your rules from the beginning and set out a trial period so if they are not working out you can call a halt to it at the end of that then you are the one that stays in control because afterall he is your horse and you have to be happy with the situation.

I myself am a sharer. (we are not all bad, honest!!

) I am not in a position to own my own horse and finding someone who needed a sharer/loaner has been the best thing that has ever happened to me, it has opened up a whole new world! She wanted someone for her old chap (he's 26) as he had no rider but had been hesitant to advertise for the same reasons as you, but we met by chance and she just asked if I would like to try him and there begins the tale!

I have had him 18 months and I now do him full time as she has another horse and works long hours and I treat him, love and adore him like he was my very own (and worry about him if he is poorly!) and in return she treats him like he is mine. I always appreciate he is still her horse and she makes any big decision (ie, we were talking about changing yards and although we went to look together at the end of the day it is her choice) It took a long time for her to trust me completely with him beacuse she has had him now for 20 years and its not an easy thing to trust someone else with the care of something that is so special to you, and I in return try and do things just the way she wants them.

One of the most important things I have found from my point of view is that she is very honest with me, in the beginning when the relationship was new if I did anything she didn't like she would mention it straight away so I changed it or did it differently so nothing ever became a big issue. Now we are good friends and she never has the need to say anything and I appreciate her trusting me completely and she is happy for me to take him off in my friends trailer hacking for the day etc without her worrying at all. And even though she says not to keep asking I always ask and check before I take him out for the day, just out of politeness so she doesn't get to the yard and wonder where he is!! Now I even look after her other horse when she goes away!

So I would say give it a go, there are just as many good stories of sharers out there as there are bad ones and hopefully you will find the right person who will become just as good a friend as the one you have now.

Good luck!