Part loaning/sharing a horse

Wiz201

Wiz201

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Nov 13, 2011
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Are there any pitfalls to look out for in doing this? Also, is it always the norm that owners ask for small financial contribution? I know its usually the reason they part loan their horse. I'd like to share a horse with someone who simply doesn't have the time to exercise properly, so I'd therefore just donate the time in exercising/evening feeding etc but at the moment I couldn't really donate much in money. Obviously it'll have to be a weight carrier, at least 15hh or a very chunky 14.2hh + pony, and nice temperament so I'll be ok riding on my own in a menage. I'm just trying to find ways of doing more riding for less money basicially, but I'll be prepared to put in more time and work like mucking out/feeding/grooming.
 
Thats the arrangement I had with someone but they cant ride any more so he's back to being an underused hoss again.
I think some one keen is worth their weight in gold but can see why people charge or ask for a contribution as they are expensive to keep and possibly it makes it more of a commitment to the person paying.
If I do get round to another helper/sharer I would probably ask for a contribution towards his shoes.
 
Wiz think you'll find that people will want you to pay for your riding,am afraid you'll get nothing for nothing.Perhaps if you're very experienced & done a lot of schooling up horses & competing you might be in with a chance but otherwise think you'll be very lucky.You'll also need to get yourself insured & probably pay towards the horse's insurance would think.
 
It is usually the norm for people to ask for a financial contribution, but not always. When I was looking a few people asked for contributions to shoeing. You will be very lucky to get a good, nice horse for free (since they are worth their weight in gold and usually have people queuing up to ride them!), but worth keeping an eye out.

Pitfalls depend on what you are looking for, but I will say it is essential to get the right owner....not just the horse :smile:
 
It is the norm, however it depends on the reasons for needing the sharer.

I have a sharer for my cob, I approached a few people then picked the nicest one that fitted mine and the horses needs, and I obviously had to be sure that the sharer was happy with everything as well.

My needs for one weren't on the financial cost but on exercise for the horse, he is a very good do-er and I'm unable to do restricted grazing on my yard. So he's being ridden at the moment at the weekends but when the weather gets better it'll increase. I did ask that she have her own PL rider insurance though. She is paying a small contribution but I asked for that towards the farrier bill, as I feel that I would want some contribution of some sort if she's riding my horse 3 times a week later on.
 
It will probably depend on the owner and their situation. Most ask for a contribution but not all. IME if someone is cash rich but time poor they might just appreciate you exercising their horse and doing some yard jobs. But they would probably expect that you were an experienced enough rider to school alone. And you would definitely need your own rider insurance (about £6-7 per month).

If you look around for a share just be up front that you aren't able to pay but sell the fact that you are hard working/mature/reliable (or whatever!) and see what happens.
 
Thanks for the replies. How much is a typical shoeing cost then? I'm not up on all that stuff, but as long as the horse is safe enough I'm experienced do some basic schooling with them, and if they are really safe enough, even a hack if it was mainly off road. I won't expect to pay towards a horse's insurance, but I could pay for my own rider's insurance. Does anyone know of an online classified site where I could post an advert for a share horse?
 
Wiz my friend pays £55 for shoeing front only. Varies from farrier to farrier but doubt any will charge less.If you've not ridden enough non riding school horses you might have more of a problem getting free riding unless you can find someone who needs their horse ridden because for some reason they can't ie injury or pregnancy.It's well worth your time putting an advert in as you may well find something,but don't tell them you're more able than you are after all you would like to live through the experience :wink:.When you go to look at one please take someone with you who is capable (RI a good idea as she'll know what is or isn't within your capabilities )it might take time but you want the right one & as was said earlier the right owner too.
 
it greatly depends on the reasons for the owner wanting a sharer.

We needed to find people who could contribute financially as get Major out and about but mainly for financial reasons rather than exercising. But i also felt that someone who was able to pay could be more reliable and self sufficient...it has worked out well for us.

around our way - full shoes about £55-£60 and front shoes £28-£30
 
And usually horses are shod around every six weeks I guess? I'll advertise somewhere, and also I'll ask someone more knowledgeable at my riding school, never know there might be a horse there on livery that needs exercising.
 
I wish I could find someone like you near me!! Have a beautiful little mare that is desperate for a rider and wouldn't want a penny, just someone to enjoy her and even accompany me and Dolly on the odd hack out.

Im sure there must be more people over there like me, who would be delighted to have someone help exercise. I would definitely advertise. Tack shops, feed places, local rag etc.
 
I've advertised on Equineadverts.co.uk and Preloved but the best responses (i.e. the most sane) have come from equineadverts. Also try spreading the word with any horsey folk you know, local tack shops, your RS etc. And be honest about your abilities as it was said above.

You might even find the perfect owner who keeps the perfect horse barefoot. It's a slim chance admittedly but you just never know your luck :wink:
 
Cortrasna said:
I wish I could find someone like you near me!! Have a beautiful little mare that is desperate for a rider and wouldn't want a penny, just someone to enjoy her and even accompany me and Dolly on the odd hack out.

Im sure there must be more people over there like me, who would be delighted to have someone help exercise. I would definitely advertise. Tack shops, feed places, local rag etc.
Click to expand...

Oh if only! I've advertised on preloved so far. I have actually seen a horse on there advertised for share near Bradford (that's the most convenient place for me to travel to from work) so I'm hoping my ad might work. If the owner was happy with a contribution to front shoeing for 6 weeks, I could afford that in return for more riding. That'll actually make it cheaper for me as lessons and hacks are not much cheaper than that anyway.
I'm sure some horses can be kept barefoot. At the RDA stable I volunteer at, the miniature horse is kept barefooted and he walks and trots on the road, in fact he's never slipped on the road and seems quite happy. He's only trotted for short periods so it doesn't do him any harm. In fact, if the hacking was off road, there wouldn't be any need to shoe a horse.
 
You could put adverts up in saddleries and feedshops locally too, that's a great way to find a horse local to you.

If you do find a suitable horse to share I would suggest you arrange a months trial period, then both you and the owner can see if it is going to work for you. A loan agreement is also a good idea. I have one with my sharer and since the day we signed it we've never needed to look at it- which is the way it should be- but in the event that something should go wrong it's good to have it to fall back on.


Good luck!
 
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