Can someone explain 'share' horses to me?
- Thread starter samsaria
- Start date
Hiya,
A share of a horse means that you get to ride and look after the horse x number of days during the week. It varies from share to share, but most are 2 or 3 days. The owner still owns the horse, and you never have control over what the horse does. You usually need to ask the owner before making any changes.
Me and my mum had a share of a pony, 3 days a week and he was on DIY livery so all the chores had to be done. We paid £60 per month for this. We could also ride any other nights we wanted to. It is usually more expensive if the horse is on full livery. Hope this helps
Danielle
xxx
A share of a horse means that you get to ride and look after the horse x number of days during the week. It varies from share to share, but most are 2 or 3 days. The owner still owns the horse, and you never have control over what the horse does. You usually need to ask the owner before making any changes.
Me and my mum had a share of a pony, 3 days a week and he was on DIY livery so all the chores had to be done. We paid £60 per month for this. We could also ride any other nights we wanted to. It is usually more expensive if the horse is on full livery. Hope this helps
Danielle
xxx
samsaria said:sorry to sound stupid, but what exactly does it mean? And how much is the cost usually, hows it worked out? I'm in Ireland (in case that makes any difference!)
Thanks
Sam
It means you share the horse with someone else (usually, but not always, the owner) You share riding and care and expenses (stable rent, cost of food, farriery, etc.,) with the other person. Also referred to as part loan. An owner usually enters into such an arrangement because s/he cannot afford either the time or the money or both to keep the horse him/herself - In my case I wanted someone to hunt the WH because it is his favourite thing in all the world and I have more sense
It is just as important that you choose a share as carefully as you would choose a horse you were buying. And it is essential that you like and get on with the other sharer! Sharing is a good way to introduce yourself to horse ownership as you have someone to ask if you are worried about anything or you plain don't know what to do. It's also a good and relatively painless way to discover if the responsibility and hard work involved in horse-keeping is for you.
I had a share in a horse for 5 years and it was brilliant. The horse was lovely and the owner really nice and it worked out really well. The horse was on full livery so I didn't have any stable duties apart from grooming of course. I started off paying £175 a month for twice a week (she was stabled in London so the livery was expensive) but she moved to Surrey and I paid £100 a month for two rides a week.
That was a flat amount and I didn't have to contribute anything towards shoeing or vets fees or anything.
Although I'd ridden for most of my life I'd only ridden with riding schools and had never hacked out alone before my share. She was a real confidence giver and when I was with her it really felt like she was mine, without of course the financial and emotional responsibility that goes with having your own.
I think it's great if you find a horse that you are compatible with, are honest about your riding abilities and look after the horse/pony as carefully as you would your own!!
I'm now lucky enough to have my own horse and she's much more of a challenge!!
That was a flat amount and I didn't have to contribute anything towards shoeing or vets fees or anything.
Although I'd ridden for most of my life I'd only ridden with riding schools and had never hacked out alone before my share. She was a real confidence giver and when I was with her it really felt like she was mine, without of course the financial and emotional responsibility that goes with having your own.
I think it's great if you find a horse that you are compatible with, are honest about your riding abilities and look after the horse/pony as carefully as you would your own!!
I'm now lucky enough to have my own horse and she's much more of a challenge!!
Call me barking mad here but I'd be quite happy to let someone ride my horse just for helping out with the chores if I went away or something!
I think I'd rather do this than charge someone for the use of my horse, seems a bit cheeky to me!
I am sure I will get shouted down but if someone is kind enough to help me out and if they were willing to look after the horse if I went away or whatever (with my family just keeping an eye) I'd find it quite cheeky to charge them!
It has always baffled me that people enter in to this type of agreement and still end up paying quite a lot of money and still having little say in what is what!
In return if someone wanted me to look after their horse and was happy for me to ride it I wouldn't charge them either!
Maybe as an owner I have a strange view on these things, people always ask me what I charge for my little pony to be out on loan and seem amazed when i say nothing as long as they look after him like I would. They are kindly looking after my pony, treating him like their own (and in the current case, he has more than my own horses ie Big posh barns and stables and 3 people running round after him 24/7!) so how can I charge them!
Maybe its just me
A
I think I'd rather do this than charge someone for the use of my horse, seems a bit cheeky to me!
I am sure I will get shouted down but if someone is kind enough to help me out and if they were willing to look after the horse if I went away or whatever (with my family just keeping an eye) I'd find it quite cheeky to charge them!
It has always baffled me that people enter in to this type of agreement and still end up paying quite a lot of money and still having little say in what is what!
In return if someone wanted me to look after their horse and was happy for me to ride it I wouldn't charge them either!
Maybe as an owner I have a strange view on these things, people always ask me what I charge for my little pony to be out on loan and seem amazed when i say nothing as long as they look after him like I would. They are kindly looking after my pony, treating him like their own (and in the current case, he has more than my own horses ie Big posh barns and stables and 3 people running round after him 24/7!) so how can I charge them!
Maybe its just me
A
I have just recently given up my share mare, who I have had for 3 years, as I have bought my own horse. I found her and her owner through the yellow paper - her owner was too busy and her mare too fat! (seriously obese despite starvation paddock, like really life limitingly so!). I went and tried her and thought, oh what a plod, i'll give her a go for a couple of weeks. The owner had had a bad experience with the previous reply to the add who had problems getting on her horse and said that the saddle didnt fit and the horse bad mannered! now OK she didnt stand to get mounted well, but the saddle fitted fine - the girl must have been hauling herself up!!! I hadnt ridden since selling my pony some 15 years before so she was a good confidence giver and refresher course before buying.
Anyway, a few months later new fit slim share mare discovered she could jump, X-country and hunt very enthusiastically (if a bit uncontrolled!), and had a new lease of life! Owner was delighted that her darling horse was having fun, and winning at shows! She is nervous rider and only hacked quietly. However I boosted her confidence and she started showing in veteran classes with some success! Share mare was so good that I put off buying to have my daughter, and so quiet (when not jumping) I rode up to 30 weeks pregnant! When I was having my daughter my friend took over my share, and when I was back in the saddle 5 weeks after having my daughter we did a 3 way share quite successfully until I bought Oscar. I will still always keep in touch with share mare and her owner, and will still jump for them at shows.
What made our arangement work was:-
We all knew when others turn to ride was - owner only occasionally, my friend duing the week in morning, me during the week in the evening and weekends. This suited all of us, as we had different schedules and commitments.
We meet up at weekends and sometimes all go out together, playing about in the school or just pampering the horse!
At shows, its useful that we do completely differnt classes - owner does showing, friend does teeny jumps, I do bigger jumps. If it is just a jumping show they still all come to help, which is great as it is difficult with baby otherwise.
Only I hunt, horse loves it. so they are always keen for me to go.
We shared all costs equally but if someone had done all the road riding, for example, over 1 month, they would usually offer to pay for the next shoes. Tack, vets, horse insurance and any equqipment is bought and retained by owner (though we buy horse presents occasinally for being a good girl!). All decisions are shared but owner has ultimate say-so.
I think it is a great way of riding and being with horses if you dont have the money or time for a whole horse. I now keep my horse at home so it isnt too time consuming or expensive, but still get my freind to ride him during the week if I can't.
Anyway, a few months later new fit slim share mare discovered she could jump, X-country and hunt very enthusiastically (if a bit uncontrolled!), and had a new lease of life! Owner was delighted that her darling horse was having fun, and winning at shows! She is nervous rider and only hacked quietly. However I boosted her confidence and she started showing in veteran classes with some success! Share mare was so good that I put off buying to have my daughter, and so quiet (when not jumping) I rode up to 30 weeks pregnant! When I was having my daughter my friend took over my share, and when I was back in the saddle 5 weeks after having my daughter we did a 3 way share quite successfully until I bought Oscar. I will still always keep in touch with share mare and her owner, and will still jump for them at shows.
What made our arangement work was:-
We all knew when others turn to ride was - owner only occasionally, my friend duing the week in morning, me during the week in the evening and weekends. This suited all of us, as we had different schedules and commitments.
We meet up at weekends and sometimes all go out together, playing about in the school or just pampering the horse!
At shows, its useful that we do completely differnt classes - owner does showing, friend does teeny jumps, I do bigger jumps. If it is just a jumping show they still all come to help, which is great as it is difficult with baby otherwise.
Only I hunt, horse loves it. so they are always keen for me to go.
We shared all costs equally but if someone had done all the road riding, for example, over 1 month, they would usually offer to pay for the next shoes. Tack, vets, horse insurance and any equqipment is bought and retained by owner (though we buy horse presents occasinally for being a good girl!). All decisions are shared but owner has ultimate say-so.
I think it is a great way of riding and being with horses if you dont have the money or time for a whole horse. I now keep my horse at home so it isnt too time consuming or expensive, but still get my freind to ride him during the week if I can't.
Sharing is a definitely a two way thing - the owner is doing the sharer a favour my entrusting them with their (hopefully) beloved horse, and the sharer doing the owner a favour by giving the horse exercise that it wouldn't otherwise get and helping out financially because, as we all know, keeping a horse/horses is a huge drain on most people's finances.
I don't think it's at all unreasonable to expect a sharer to pay, if they wanted to hire a horse from their local riding school it would cost a lot more, and they would only get an hour's riding, not a minute more usually!!!
I don't think it's at all unreasonable to expect a sharer to pay, if they wanted to hire a horse from their local riding school it would cost a lot more, and they would only get an hour's riding, not a minute more usually!!!
I'd rather pay my way in a share -- it makes it clear where the boundaries lie.
I love my share arrangement, it works out great for me. I don't have the time at the moment to have a horse of my own, but RS riding isn't really for me. I don't feel like my share ponies are mine, but they definitely recognise me as one of "their" people, which is lovely. The owners are also really helpful and have taught me loads. If I had my own horse on a yard, I'm sure there are lots of things I'd be too embarrassed to ask about, but because the owners have an interest in the horse's welfare, it seems natural to ask how they'd like things done.
It's important to find owners on the same wavelength as you, because it would rankle if you were expected to treat the horse in a way you weren't comfortable with.
I love my share arrangement, it works out great for me. I don't have the time at the moment to have a horse of my own, but RS riding isn't really for me. I don't feel like my share ponies are mine, but they definitely recognise me as one of "their" people, which is lovely. The owners are also really helpful and have taught me loads. If I had my own horse on a yard, I'm sure there are lots of things I'd be too embarrassed to ask about, but because the owners have an interest in the horse's welfare, it seems natural to ask how they'd like things done.
It's important to find owners on the same wavelength as you, because it would rankle if you were expected to treat the horse in a way you weren't comfortable with.
Asti - I totally agree with you. I look after a TB mare during the week when her owner is away, and her owner has her on weekends. If I didn't look after Kizzy, her owner would have to fork out for full livery. As it is, she doesn't have to pay me to look after her horse, and I don't have to pay for the privilege of doing so.
Samsaria, I'm not sure about danielle's description. In some cases I'm sure it's accurate, but every share is different, and you can't generalise. I have sole unrestricted access to my share horse during the week, I don't pay for it, and although her owner does technically have the FINAL say on any decisions or changes, she generally leaves it up to me to work out what is best.
I know I'm lucky with my share and such an agreement is probably not very common, because many owners look for sharers because they NEED a financial contribution. But look around carefully, there are some excellent shares out there, and they are all different.
Samsaria, I'm not sure about danielle's description. In some cases I'm sure it's accurate, but every share is different, and you can't generalise. I have sole unrestricted access to my share horse during the week, I don't pay for it, and although her owner does technically have the FINAL say on any decisions or changes, she generally leaves it up to me to work out what is best.
I know I'm lucky with my share and such an agreement is probably not very common, because many owners look for sharers because they NEED a financial contribution. But look around carefully, there are some excellent shares out there, and they are all different.
Hi!
I live in dublin and have just finished sharing a horse from a riding school in the dublin area. If you want to know more drop me a PM and ill fill you in.
its not half as common to share horses over here as in england. I think its pretty much stil a landowning/rich peoples sport/hobby! im allowed say that im neither unfortunately
I live in dublin and have just finished sharing a horse from a riding school in the dublin area. If you want to know more drop me a PM and ill fill you in.
its not half as common to share horses over here as in england. I think its pretty much stil a landowning/rich peoples sport/hobby! im allowed say that im neither unfortunately
I share my horse...
with a friend from my village. The deal is that she has responsibility for him at weekends, which means riding as well as stable duties. No charge is made and I retain full control of his care regime and pay the bills. It's a great arrangement as I get my horse exercised and cared for when I have the least time because I have family commitments. My friend gets to have a horse for the weekends and contributes her time and labour. By my way of thinking I save the cost of paying for livery and exercise for 2 days a week when i cannot be there.
This arrangement works very well, but I do trust my sharer. I shared with a more novicy person a couple of years ago and charged £20 per week. I went down one Sunday morning only to find they had forgotten to come down the previous evening to turn him out. He'd been in all night with no hay. I was not impressed. I had another experienced sharer who I did not charge and she wanted to compete my boy, not something I wanted so we parted ways.
I think each Share arrangement is different and you need to be clear what you want and what you are prepared to give in terms of time and work as well as cash. Make sure the terms are clear and then enjoy! Also don't forget to communicate with your sharer as misunderstandings can arise easily.
All best wishes!
with a friend from my village. The deal is that she has responsibility for him at weekends, which means riding as well as stable duties. No charge is made and I retain full control of his care regime and pay the bills. It's a great arrangement as I get my horse exercised and cared for when I have the least time because I have family commitments. My friend gets to have a horse for the weekends and contributes her time and labour. By my way of thinking I save the cost of paying for livery and exercise for 2 days a week when i cannot be there.
This arrangement works very well, but I do trust my sharer. I shared with a more novicy person a couple of years ago and charged £20 per week. I went down one Sunday morning only to find they had forgotten to come down the previous evening to turn him out. He'd been in all night with no hay. I was not impressed. I had another experienced sharer who I did not charge and she wanted to compete my boy, not something I wanted so we parted ways.
I think each Share arrangement is different and you need to be clear what you want and what you are prepared to give in terms of time and work as well as cash. Make sure the terms are clear and then enjoy! Also don't forget to communicate with your sharer as misunderstandings can arise easily.
All best wishes!
Noblesteed said:
Just out of curiosity (I have never owned/shared a horse), what would be the reasons for not wanting your horse or pony to show? Are there things you don't like about showing? (Sorry if this is something 'well known' - I'm not very experienced..yet!)
Asti- i know what you mean but i have to charge the person who shares Pride coz otherwise i wouldnt be able to afford all the things he needs!!
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