Following on from Who didn't ride when they were Younger?

[WooHoo2]

Now that I have the immense priviledge of owning a horse, and knowing when I was a kid, how much it would've meant if someone were to let me even have a sit on their horse...

Do you ever let anyone "have a go" on your horse?

I must say, I let anyone have a go on BB (only in the school on a lead rope, or lunge!) But she's had from 3 -70 year olds on her.

I just think that they're not going to break her, they're only walking round, and that BB learns alot from it.

But how do you all feel about letting others on your horses?

[newforest]

with my first horse yes i did, she was 23 and she gave some little kid the pleasure of having some fun, i knew i could trust her. i stuck my mum on her and she'd not ridden for 30 years.

my new chap is a different matter all together, i'm doing my exams this year and i'm putting in 101% in the hope i can pass them, so at this time nobody is riding him unless ride bitless.
if they ride natural then yes people can ride and "play" with him, as i do with theirs.

[*Sez*]

I'm careful about who I let on, but more because my horse doesn't cope well with multiple riders and can be prone to hissy fits if he doesn't understand. We'll have no rein-haulers or pony-club kickers, thanks ;) If he were quieter and more forgiving of his rider, I'd be a lot less worried and more inclined to offer people rides.
I'm very happy for several people to get on him, including my best friend and my RI, who both ride him beautifully and I love watching them on him, but I feel it's my responsibility to be careful, for his sake and anyone riding him.
I have let a couple of kids, including my little brother, have a sit and be led around on a lead-rope, but mostly they don't hold the reins at all and just hold on to a neck strap.

Saying that, none of my horse-owning friends let me "have a go" when I was a kid and it never would have occurred to me to ask.

[Trewsers]

If they're not too heavy then I don't mind them sitting on her. Always assuming that they can stay on board - she isn't really a plod! Joe (OH's horse) on the other hand I don't think would object to a different rider - he's carried my dad who is 81 happily around the school......hehehehe. I wouldn't like a "proper" rider to ride Storm tho, she is very sensitive and it would do more harm than good. Its taken me a while to undo some of the bad that was done in her previous home when she was ridden by a selection of over zealous teenagers all pulling and kicking at the same time.

[shandy84]

I used to be really precious about it, but now quite enjoy it :D

[FeatheryFeet]

I always stop and let anyone make a fuss of my mare. I get asked all sorts of questions. A group of "hoodies" out on the fields with a mini motorbike stopped to let us go past, came over. One started saying to his mates.."wow this horse is MASSIVE" among other things lol. She is 14.1 :D. Heaven knows what he would make of my friends shire who stands at a wopping 18.3!!!
As for just letting anyone get on, the only thing that stops me is the insurance issue bearing in mind the claim culture we live in.
My mare regularly takes my grandaugter for a hack, has given rides to quite a few adults and kids all who are known to me. I would happily let strangers' kids get on her if only it wasn't for that insurance thing.

[Denbenj]

I dont mind people riding Kai, and always have allowed it since he was broken in, I think its a good thing for the horse to have different riders.

Kai even used to be used to teach a young girl to ride he was ever so good with her.

Since I dont ride Kai ( gosh its been nearly a year since I rode!) I'm always happy for willing volunteers who fancy a mooch about. (shouting out to peeps in cheshire !:D)

Unfortunately its not brilliant hacking where I am, ( nowhere off road to have a good blast) however I have transport and Delamere forest is just 5 miles away ;)

[colettybetty]

I've always been pretty free and easy in lending mine out to other people, because they give me such pleasure and are usually well behaved. I always assume that people will take care of them and be considerate, but unfortunately, have been proved wrong so many times that I would now rather lend my car to a blind man.

[horsy]

I don't really trust my horse with other people after he bolted with my niece, but I would love to be able to let people ride him. When I was younger I would visit the local yard just to stroke the horses and stay there for hours asking if I could help etc. There was one lovely lady called Cath who let me and my friend ride her bombproof horse, she would run up and down the lane with us trying to teach us rising trot. We didn't have a clue but I did learn rising trot on him and I will never forget him.

[jazzybear]

I used to let everyone ride my first horse. She was an angel and I trusted her implicitly. Only time I got stroppy, was when I went on holiday and someone rode her without me knowing for the two weeks I was away:mad: But I did get over that.

With the three I have now, I let people I trust ride them. I used to let a little girl at the yard ride, but she never used to put anything away after and would leave pony in stable with no hay, no water and tack on the floor:eek:

As long as they are not too heavy I dont mind too much!

Having said that a girl who told me she was experienced and looking for a share came to try my girl out. I said due to her age she would be better as a second pony - girl and her mum said that was fine. They turned up to try and the girl was very nervous. It turned out she had had 8 lessons :confused: My pony was as good as gold though so I was very proud, but in hindsight I said I didnt think they were right for each other.

Hmm Ive strayed OT slightly there, but yes Id let other people ride my ponies as long as im about x

[Jen_e_Jen]

Jack has only had me sit on him so far, not really riding. When he is finished, I don't know if I will let people on him or not. He is very accepting of things when I am the one doing it, but not so much from other people. I was able to clean his sheathe by myself a few weeks ago(twisted little boy likes it, stretches out and wears a horsey smile), but last year my RI helped and he kept cow-kicking her. I think there will be very few people I let get on him, they'd have to have light hands and be a very good rider. He is going to be a very strong boy, and unless they know how to properly control him w/out hurting him it's a big NO!

[Alle]

While Sevi has often been a child's first close up encounter with a horse, I don't let many others actually ride her. Part of it is timing...most youngsters 'meet' Sevi on a weekend, and she works hard with me then and part of it is because while very gentle around kids, she can be very fiesty under saddle. You never know if the sweet horse or the wild thing is going to show up. :)

Oh, I also wanted to add that if I were to let anyone ride, it would depend on the child...there have been some raging brats that I won't let near my horse let alone on! Most of the kids that visit are well mannered though.

[ameliet1971]

For the first two years I didn't allow anyone else to ride my horse.

There are three people now who I trust to ride him because I know they use the same style as me. :)

[STEFF79]

Jack yeh ive often given lunge lesson's on him let my little nephew trot around the school on him.. I gave 2 kids (sisters) I teach at the RS a lesson on him but he's quiet in the school so I can trust him not to do anything daft.. Harry deff not I let a friend from work who's also an instructor ride him she had a little jump on him in the school and ive let my sister's ride him who are all experianced but it just wouldn't be safe to let anyone ride Harry unless they where very experianced..

[horse__obsessed]

i would have let most people ride my old share pony (his owner was fine with it and i always checked anyway :) ) but not the horse i have now

[-Charly-]

I don't mind people riding Charly. Just not many people want to with her reputation. Although she is great lead rein beastie and often does kiddies rides at riding school. :)

[Rarah]

I was one of those who didn't ride as a child although I would have liked to.

I let anyone and everyone ride my girl! I want to share the joy!

[Trundlecat]

My old horse Ted was happy to have kids on his back, he seemed to instinctively know that he had to be good with children. My son rode him from being 18 months old & my friends kids have had a ride on him (their 1st ever ride). I don't know my new one well enough yet to let anyone have a go & TBH he's that highly strung I don't know if I would. 1 girl at the yard has ridden him but she's an excellent rider & I wanted to watch him being jumped.

[mi_reflejo]

i didnt ride as a child, however i bought amber when i was seventeen and clueles...well im still pretty clueless to be honest!

i let pretty much anyone on her, shes amazing with little kids and people who are scared, a 3 yr old had a plod on her bareback clinging to her mane and she didnt put a foot wrong, even stood still when they were sliding off.

when im on board its a different matter :rolleyes:

xxxx

[Gurnosstud]

There have been 5 people on my stallion, me, my sister, my father, my friend Katie and my son. I would never let anyone ride him regularly as I have worked so hard getting him to were he is and do not want other people messing it up. Not saying that any of these people are bad riders, but they ride differently and find different things acceptable and unaccpetable.

[Clava]

If I had a safe, novice proof horse I would be delighted to let people sit on them - for me it's all about what is safe and comfortable for rider and horse. Any child is welcome to sit on my pony (with my supervision) as he is very calm, but my horses are not for novices.

[sancho]

My neice and nephew have a ride and a friend rides out once in a blue moon with us but these are all lead. I dont mind if people want to ride on the lead rein/accompanied and its just a walk and maybe a trot.

I wouldnt let anyone ride on their own who doesnt ride reguarly etc.

[elaine@dow-evan]

If someone hadn't let me sit on his horse last year I would not be riding now...so a big thank you to all of you who are brave enough and generous enough to let people sit on them, and a big thank you to all the big-hearted horses out there who let us do it!!!

(Having said that, if I ever had my own I would be careful about who I let sit on!!!)