Those that have sharers/riders - help!

[Miss Moneypenny]

I'd like to pick your brains - how did you know if they were right for your horse and you etc?

I've put a short ad on our local website and I hope I'll find someone to fit to help hack Penny out as my time is so short. Do you think it just clicks, or is it over time?

I've asked a few pals, to see if they can recommend anyone, but as yet they have not put anyone forward - so unless I know the people who approach me, I'm in the dark really.

I hope you all know what I am getting at.....

[harleydales]

I have people come to help me with the horses, but they only ride Apollo. Monica rides Harley, but I spent a couple of months assessing her with Apollo before I let her loose with H! For her sake, not his!! I also saw her having a riding lesson and liked what I saw.

The other two are novice riders and like to come out for a quiet hack and blethers with me, so their riding skills aren't so important. I did take one through a big field and Apollo galloped off with her!! Luckily she stayed on but I have never risked it since.

I just knew from the way they behaved with the horses that it would work out, that they came out to be with the horses on any level rather than for a blast and mad gallops.

The major problem I have found with anyone coming out, is tacking up!! Watching people putting saddles and bridles on differently to my style is very odd. I always put the saddle on up the neck, then draw it back to its natural place, but it seems this isn't common any more!!! And not being sure what hole to buckle up to etc.

I know it's not the same as the level you are thinking about, but I think when the right person comes along, you will just know from how they act. If you could see them riding another horse it might help you a bit too?

Good luck.

[olivia]

LOL _ Tilly was VERY good at choosing people for me!

I had a few people before we found someone who worked. We had very experienced riders/horse people who Tilly just HATED. On one occassion she walked nearly the whole way in on her two back legs. She just reared and reared and reared.

In the end the girl who worked best was a teenager who didn't ride particularly well, everyone on the yard said don't use her, she'll be unreliable, she can't ride, she'll ruin Tilly. But it was great. Tilly thought she was the bees knees and they did all sort of fun things together that I just wasn't brave enough for. No she wasn't the worlds best rider, and no she didn't put knee boots on whenever she went out, but when push came to shove and Tilly colicked when I was stuck away with work she did everything right, dealt with the vet, and stayed with T until I could get there.

So go with your gut reaction - and penny's!!! But also be VERY clear about what the rules are - I was clear with Hannah from the start, so she knew what was OK and what wasn't.

Good luck with your search.

Olivia

[emmadales]

I have had a few different sharer's in the past. Some have been brilliant and some awful.. The good ones have lasted a good couple of years and only left to get there own horse, but i had one last 3 weeks. Most people think it sounds a good idea in the summer, but when winter comes its a different matter. You need to be happy with them, so it doesn't really matter what other people say about them, or if there not exactly what you intended to look for. Personally i would go with someone 16 + as i find teenagers dont understand the damage of lots of jumping, hard ground etc but again, im sure there are some really good teenagers out there. Do it on a trial basis so you can make sure both parties are happy, and try and get down the first few weeks to watch them ride and see how they get on handling etc.
Good luck in finding someone.

amanda

[carolinec]

I'm fortunate that Sam's sharer (Liz) works at a local riding centre in the Summer so she's a competant rider. I still went out walking with her riding Sam the first few times though before I let her out on her own. We do have an offical sharer agreement too which I would highly recommend anyone having,It states exactly what I expect from her.
I'd agree that it's better to have someone a little older (Liz is twenty) as they don't necessarily want something just to charge around on.

[nars]

It's a worry isn't it. I'm advertsiing for someone to share or loan Louistic at present so this is a useful thread.

I do have someone interested, but she is about an hr away so it will mean him going to stay with her.

[Miss Moneypenny]

I've ha dtwo interested, and they are both nearly 20.

I was wondering about an agreement - where did you get that from or where can I get a copy?

[harleydales]

Helen I could send you an agreement if you want? I have one from the charity.
Pm me your address and I'll stick one in the post to you if you want? I've used them for private loans.

[carolinec]

The BHS website has a loan agreement that you can down load and it can easily be converted to a share agreement.