How can I ride again? Any advice? - sorry long..

[sophie33]

I think this is one of those questions I already know the answer to, but still!
I shared a lovely pony all of last year. However, transport problems and a severe lack of money meant I had to call a halt last Christmas. It was the sensible thing to do - but I miss it terribly.
There is a riding school in walking distance of my new flat... I went for a couple of lessons a couple of months ago. I haven't been back purely because I simply couldn't afford it. However, I am in sight of being marginally less chronically skint and I am desperate to ride again!
Part of me would like to go phone my old owner and see if there is any chance of sharing her lovely ponio again. But I will still be carless so that isn't really practical even in the unlikely event he is available. I know that the most sensible option is to have some lessons at the riding school. However, the ones I had did depress me a bit. For £25 - the cost of a week's share - I got an hour's lesson. I know that is a fair price (I'm not having a go at the school at all, they actually do a great job helping inner city children rider relatively cheaply, which given their costs in London is very impressive). But there was no tacking up, no grooming - no cuddles (well a few but you know what I mean). What I would really like to do is to ask the riding school if I can put a notice up in their livery yard asking if anyone has a suitable share. But (as they know all too well from seeing me ride) I am basically an old, nervous novice with a limited budget. It is unlikely anyone would want me/have a suitable horse - but also isn't it really cheeky to ask the riding school given that I'm not going for lessons at the mo! I think the answer is to start having regular lessons and see if i can worm my way into their bosom (if you know what I mean). However, that prospect doesn't really thrill me!
Sorry that was a grand old ramble and if anyone managed to finish it you deserve a medal!

[orbvalley]

But I am basically an old, nervous novice with a limited budget. It is unlikely anyone would want me/have a suitable horse - but also isn't it really cheeky to ask the riding school given that I'm not going for lessons at the mo!

If you already shared a horse last year you can't be that bad, & you found a suitable share before so there's no reason why you couldn't do so again:) IMHO I don't see it as cheeky to put up a notice in your RS:confused: What's the worst that could happen? They could say "sorry no" or you could get no suitable replies. Either way no harm done surely, and you never know you might just get lucky:D

[sophie33]

Thanks orbvalley - actually writing that post clarified my own thoughts - and as you said - what is the worst that can happen? - that it doesn't work. The best - that I suit someones needs and will be able to hack out before work in the mornings! So I've drafted a noticee and I'm going to pop along Sunday morning and ask if I can put it up!
Thanks again

[lcs]

I'd go for it - what do you have to lose by doing it if you are no longer riding there!
Also have you considered putting up a notice in a large tackshop eg frogpool or ingatestone? I'm not sure whereabouts you are in London, but obviously if you put one up in Squires and Riders you're not going to get much interest but there should be more people seeing it in the larger outer London tack shops. Take yourself over to your nearest one and see if you can put a note up?

[kturner]

there has been a post on this week, with everybodycomplaining that they couldnt get sharers, even without paying, just helping with the work and they want their horses exercised.

there are a lot of people out there wanting to find sharers, as an "older, novice" as you describe yourself, a lot of owners, me included, would know the horse would be treated kindly and not be galloped to death by young teenagers, that can t muck out properly and forget rugs, etc.

If you were in my area and my horse was bigger I would offer you a share.

Put notices up and look in tack shops as well. Have you looked on the classifieds on this site, (on the right)

[kturner]

Read "running out of time" on Cafe area. You two would suit each other, so there are owners out there wanting gentle riders!

[BlackBess]

Ditto everyone else - the worst this RS can do is say no. In addition to the other advice, have you thought about placing an ad in the FreeAds - that was how I found my share horse and I also put wanted adverts on the NR classifieds and Gumtree. Good luck.

[sophie33]

Thank you everyone for your very helpful advice, you have made me feel more hopeful. It is true that I had my plus points as a sharer - the advantages of age - reliable, quick to consult owner, kind and prepared to have regular lessons to improve my riding! I will try the local school's livery yard first - it is a walk away and would be fantastically convenient. But if that doesn't work I will take up all your suggestions and advertise further afield:D

[rubysmum]

bear in mind that lots of people are feeling VERY poor at the moment - i think its a good time to be offering yourself as a sensible & adult sharer - you may be very surprised at the level of interest you get - good luck with it:)

[SO1]

Could you help out at the riding school that would give you the opp to tack up groom, cuddle ect and perhaps get some free or discounted rides?

[BlueWicked]

i sympathise. How much is livery at this yard? Could you afford to get something on loan and keep it there?

[Soozy]

Can you not just help out at the yard for a while to get your horsey fix, once there and you become known to the people there it may be easier to find a share horse. Age is no barrier, I should know, I was in my early 50's when I advertised to help out in a yard and it was the best thing I'd every done, loved every muddy/smelly minute of it LOL

Soozy
x

[sophie33]

thank you all for your ideas. Bluewicked - sadly paying to keep a horse on livery is beyond me at the moment - although that doesn't stop me looking at Horsemart and dreaming... maybe one day!
In the meantime I asked the riding school and they said they'd stick my advert up on the livery noticeboard. No comeback yet but it only went up on Sunday so you never know. I've also advertised on a couple of e-classified sites (including this one).
I was wondering about offering to help at the riding school though. As far as I can see I'd be the only person over 14, but to be honest I don't really care about that. Do riding schools accept adult helpers? Well I suppose it can't help to ask...

[shandy84]

Mine used to. Would also say my pony is up for share at the moment and is suitable for the most basic of riders, she's very forgiving.

[sophie33]

I haven't had any comeback from my share ads yet, but last night I plucked up my courage and went to the riding stables to ask to help. The place was deserted - had a lovely ten minutes wondering around saying hi to the horses :o - and left a note.
And they just phoned back! They would be very happy to have a helper early in the morning a couple of days a week - which suits me perfectly. So I've to go and meet the woman who does the early mornings on Monday, and I'm away. :D Thanks everyone - I guess I'm going to be doing mucking out at 6.30 in the morning - but ridiculously - that makes me happy!

[SO1]

That is great news and I am sure you will enjoy it and have the chance to bond with the horses and it will be good experience so which will certainly make you more attractive to potential sharers esp those allready liveried at the riding school.

[Shannon_Clover]

Thats brilliant news. Im delighted for you.
Keep us posted on your first day as helper there.

No harm to ask, I dont know if you already did, you could ask for 1hr riding lesson in exchange for helping them in the early morning 6:30am.
How many days are you helping?
Im sure they wouldnt mind at all.
Best of luck. :D

[sophie33]

I haven't asked about a lesson, they said they couldn't pay me, but I wasn't expecting that! I mentioned I was going to start booking a regular lesson but didn't broach whether I could have one in return for the help. I am going to offer them 6.30 to 9 am two mornings a week - was thinking it might be fair to ask for half an hour lesson in return for that - what do you think?
Maybe I should prove that I'm useful before asking for anything?!

[kturner]

That is £25 for 5 hours at £5 per hour lower than minimum wage. Most riding lessons are between £12 and £25 depending where you are in the country and private or group.

To me that works out at least one lesson in exchange would be fair. Maybe two if you are lucky.

[luvmelol]

How about getting a moped or even a push bike, to get you to the share or the school. I think if you are reliable that you will find that many horse owners would welcome the help of a mature person. I looked at your profile as I thought you must be in your 60's at least from the way you describe yourself, but you're just a whipper snapper. Go on Get out there, you'll be fine!!!

[sophie33]

Hit a bit of a hitch in my masterplan. Went and met the woman who works early mornings in the riding school this eve, except, she doesn't! There was a misunderstanding she gets there at 6.30 am some mornings - but to do her own horses. They don't start working at the school til 8 am weekdays. I might be able to squeeze an hour before I have to be in work one day a week but even that's tight. I am going to lend a hand Monday, as I'm off work, but a regular slot that helps them and I can make doesn't seem workable...
Still I'll enjoy Monday and book a lesson while I ponder my next move.:o

[sophie33]

Well I had the day of work yesterday so spent a couple of hours doing the water buckets at the riding school. Hard work for the back - but lovely to meet all the horses. I've decided I can get away with going into work slightly late on a Monday morning - so I'll go back again on Monday next week. Haven't asked about getting a lesson in return - don't think an hour and a halfs work is enough to justify it. But it was nice anyway - a little horsey fix. And I've got a lesson booked on Thursday...