Advertise for a share or carry on with lessons over Winter?

[Wobblydeb]

I'm dithering about again :o Do I advertise for a share now (our BHS course has finished) or leave it until everything has calmed down after Christmas?

There's a bit of me wants to advertise and get on with it - then the other side is saying I need a couple more months of lessons under my belt, and also to get Christmas out the way....

I could alternatively help out at my local RS at the weekend over the winter to get experience - I'm actually enjoying the hectic atmosphere and gossiping with everyone else :)

[KarinUS]

Probably depends on how the next few weeks look for you. Personally I tend to get so busy around the holidays that for me it would make more sense to start after the new year. But if you are ready to go and anticipate having the time and energy now then why not? :)
Even if you advertise you may not find something 100% suitable righta away anyway, right?

[Skib]

You are so like me. Do we keep putting it off?
If you enjoy helping out at the yard and get the social life - plus the experience, why not wait till Spring? The hacking here is already hampered by the hard ground and frost. And like you, I want more lessons - including perhaps to do Western.

But postponing your ad. doesnt mean you can't tell people you are looking and accept if something turned up.
If you are looking to share, you could drop in on the livery yards to see which ones are nice. Have you done this? I called at one livery place and the owner said he would put up a notice as soon as I gave him the word. And recommended hacking out from both the riding schools in the neighbourhood, so I could see how their bridleways are.

[amandal]

Also if you help out at the rs they may know people who are looking - that's how I got my share - recommended to the owner by my instructor.

[Wobblydeb]

You are so like me. Do we keep putting it off?Hmmmm maybe I am... :rolleyes: Okay, yep I am!

I guess I'm a perfectionist - I still think my riding needs to improve a bit :) And it doesn't seem that long since I started group lessons nearby - I don't want to pack them in just yet! (I'd continue with the private ones with my freelance instructor).

I've had a look at a couple of livery yards - neither of them made me think "wow" which is a bit of a shame. BUT..... finding the right horse would be number 1 priority anyway :)

Think I might be leaving it until Spring, and maybe see if my RS would appreciate another helper at the weekends :) That way I get to see my favourite horse even when I'm not riding him :D

[Crazyhorse]

You sound just like me too! It's that scary taking the first step thing. I want to advertise to, but thought about asking if I could help out on a Thursday first. I used to at my old RS but imagine I am pretty damn rusty at the moment:)

[cazrider]

I'd say Go for it! What better time to get to know your new share horse when you can't always ride because of the weather. And also what better time to get to know the person whose horse you will be sharing. If it does work out you'll have a lovely partnership already under way when spring comes, and if it doesn't, well you can have another go somewhere else in spring.

If you're going to help out anyway over the winter, wouldn't you rather do that with a new horsey friend?

I'm saying this from the other side of the fence, as the prospective sharee.

Louise, my sharer and I plan to spend a lot of time over the winter planning what we want to do with Sennie in the spring. She's also planning, (and doing now in the fog) lots of cuddles and grooming, which is lovely for him.

[Wobblydeb]

Good point Cazrider. I did think looking for a share now (when I couldn't ride during the week without indoor or floodlit school) would demonstrate that I'm not just a "fair weather" horse person :)

[Trewsers]

Hmm, well, although Christmas is a lovely time and all that, life doesn't stop - so if it were me, I'd start advertising for a sharer:D I sometimes use Christmas as a kind of "stop" for things - at the moment I'm in the process of finishing my house then it can go up for sale - and I was in danger of using the festive period as an excuse not to get things moving:p However, I've decided to get on with things - our house is chaos anyways, Christmas won't make any difference:D Its up to you - good luck whatever you decide to do! (just think though - you could have your own share in a hoss over the festive season - jingle bells......!!!:D :D )

[Stella2]

The other thing Deb is that finding the right sahre can be very difficult for owners and sharers, so it could take months to find the right arrangement anyway. I think - advertise now and if the right one comes up quickly, call it fate :)

Edited to say: If Flora can be brought back into work in the Spring or Summer, I might consider a share for her if it was the right person. Although I don't know if Durham might be too far South for you. Henri loves her to the point that she has said if I'm ever willing to let her have her on loan she'd love to (she was sound at the time:rolleyes: ) :)

[Wobblydeb]

The other thing Deb is that finding the right sahre can be very difficult for owners and sharers, so it could take months to find the right arrangement anyway. I think - advertise now and if the right one comes up quickly, call it fate :)Very true. Am starting to think about the wording for the advert now! I've just realised I've got more than a week off over Xmas for looking/being around horses :p

Edited to say: If Flora can be brought back into work in the Spring or Summer, I might consider a share for her if it was the right person. Although I don't know if Durham might be too far South for you. Henri loves her to the point that she has said if I'm ever willing to let her have her on loan she'd love to (she was sound at the time:rolleyes: ) :)It's an appealing thought, but you aint seen my appalling transitions and canter :o and yes, Durham is a bit far South for me. Now did Henri say that before or after Claud arrived...? ;)