Horsey money saving hints? (merged)

purplelotus

Anybody else feel like they risked drowning in a field yesterday? Rain was ridiculously heavy!!

Anyway, I'm back with another of my silly questions - what's the difference between jodhpurs and breeches?

That Derbyhouse website looks great except I keep coming across things that are out of stock - been looking for new joddies cos mine broke in the wash (silly hook fastening got stuck on the washing machine door!) - and that's when I wondered what the difference is - what do I actually want for regular weekend hacking and occasional lessons?

Thanks!

scottishsuz

Breeches don't go right down to over your ankles like jods tend to. They stop near the bottom of your calf, but not quite your ankle. I personally prefer them, less 'stuff' at your ankle when you are wearing long boots.

Savvy_Sue

I will merge you into our existing horsey thread.

Katy83

Wow, this is such a good thread!

I am absolutely determined that I will buy a horse when I have finished paying off all of my debts - Hopefully within the next 3 years. I'm trying to work out a budget plan at the moment that would let me go for a couple of riding lessons a month as well.

I had horses from when I was 11 up to about 20 and I lived/ate/breathed them back then. A couple of questions for those of you that horse share:

- Where did you find your sharers?
- What kind of costs are you looking at?
- How often do you generally get to spend with the horses?
- Would you generally recommend it over riding lessons for someone wanting to get back into the game?

Hopefully someone will answer, doesn't look like anyone has been on here for ages!

Katie-Kat-Kins

Hi Katy, first time I've spotted this thread so thanks for bringing it back up!

I'd recommend that you start having some lessons now, and start looking for a horse to share around the same time, it will take a while to find a suitable share so you may as well start getting back into it while you are looking. The riding school can also be a good place to find a share, especially if they have liveries there. You may well find that teaching has changed a bit since you last had lessons and that the break has eroded your capabilities so the lessons will be useful.

Most people looking for a sharer would be wary of taking someone on who isn't doing much riding at the moment in case they aren't up to the job. People are very fussy about who they let on their horses!

I ride at a riding school at the moment but have done a couple of shares, both found via word of mouth. Would love to have my own but time/money are such huge factors, I only have time if I can afford half livery and I can't afford that. I could afford DIY but don't have time......... Keeping a casual ear out for a new share, or just a bit of casual riding helping someone out but I'm aware that with a full time job I'm not a great sharing prospect!!!

Good luck getting back into it though.

Kat

orlao

Katy83 wrote: »

- Where did you find your sharers?
- What kind of costs are you looking at?
- How often do you generally get to spend with the horses?
- Would you generally recommend it over riding lessons for someone wanting to get back into the game?

From the horseowners POV;)
- Sharers find me, I'll never ever advertise again, too many people can't read the ad or have far too high an opinion of their abilities
- Depends usually on how the horse is kept, if it is on an expensive part/full livery yard with all the bells and whistles then the cost will be substantially higher than a scruffy grass livery yard that is knee deep in mud all winter:eek: I share my happy hack pony for £20 a week but my sharer doesn't have any weekend days and TBH I'm going to put the price up because that only covers about a third of his costs(not inc vets bills/insurance) but she has the use of him half the time. If she was prepared to do any of the work involved I'd probably leave the price as is but she only wants to ride.
- She can spend as long as she likes weekdays but tends only to ride with her mother, sponge him off and turnout straight away.
- Speaking personally, I'd consider someone if a riding instructor recommended them but wouldn't touch someone who hasn't ridden for years, mainly because they might not stick around once the weather got bad and while riding is something that you don't forget how to do, I'd prefer to see you on another horse first (see point about people's opinions of their own ability:D) . Also, if you can afford regular riding lessons the cost of a share shouldn't be a shock to you!

I'm sure you're nothing like some of the people I've had the bad luck to meet:eek: but my horses are very precious to me so I am very very fussy - I don't share for the money but because I don't have time to ride during the week especially during winter. I do charge a realistic price because IME if something is too cheap/free people don't value it as much IYSWIM....

Katie-Kat-Kins

From the two shares I've done I'd say:

I've never paid to share, but then I have been prepared to do stable duties etc on days when I ride, and have simply been riding for the owner rather than being allowed to do my own thing. The ex-racer I shared I'd sometimes do stable jobs even if she was out of work, just to help out because I appreciated having a free ride when she was fit. The section D I did less partly because he was on part livery, partly because I didn't know the owner so well and things were a bit more set.

The section D I used to hack on a saturday and have a lesson one night in the week. Those days I'd groom, tack up, muck out, feed, and prepare nets and feed for the next day. I could school or jump if I wanted to on the saturday but the menage was never free. I'd do extra if she asked me to, for example when she went on holiday. It ended a bit sour though. She was looking to sell him and I offered to take him on full loan for six months as she was a bit unsure about selling and was struggling to find a buyer (would have been easier if he'd been fitter) but she refused. As far as I knew it was going fine, although I was getting the distinct impression I was doing more than my fair share (I'd find out he hadn't been ridden for days when I got down there, or his stable would obviously not have been mucked out the day before, the yard owner was complaining about the owner too. When I had a fall and had a couple of weeks off he wasn't ridden for over a week). Then I went on holiday, having told them when I'd be away in plenty of time (he was on a yard where he could go full livery if necessary so shouldn't have been a big problem) when I got back I turned up to ride him and he'd been moved away to a DIY yard without telling me. I was gutted I'd seriously considered buying him. She said she had changed her mind about selling him, but six months later I heard he'd been sold on. I offered to continue helping out after he moved but she didn't take me up on the offer and I could see when I saw him at shows that he was getting fat and his schooling was going down hill. Very sad.

The ex-racer was a bit less formal, I worked with the owner and would hack out for her, as and when, on those days I would muck out etc. Sometimes doing morning and evening, sometimes just one or the other. I would occasionally just do stable duties if the horse was out of action and the owner was busy, and I filled in for her when she was on holiday. I didn't pay and only hacked as tehre were no facilities. The arrangement ended when I got a full time job as I just couldn't do what she needed and I didn't see the owner anymore.

Both were a great experience but I'd be a bit wary of getting too involved after what happened with the section D. My OH had a similar experience where a share was whipped out from under him, and he was presented with a bill for riding the horse that he had been asked to help school and fitten! No costs had been discussed. When he refused to pay he was thrown off the yard and told never to go back! So owners have their mad moments as well as sharers!

I have since helped out with other peoples horses on a more occasional basis, doing bits when people are on holiday/injured/busy etc.

Katie-Kat-Kins

orlao wrote: »

I'm sure you're nothing like some of the people I've had the bad luck to meet:eek: but my horses are very precious to me so I am very very fussy - I don't share for the money but because I don't have time to ride during the week especially during winter. I do charge a realistic price because IME if something is too cheap/free people don't value it as much IYSWIM....

But if you don't have time to ride in winter your sharer is actually providing you with a service, in my opinion they shouldn't have to pay to essentially do you a favour. Depends a bit on the circs though.

I've always been willing to do all "jobs" as well as riding and don't expect thanks but also don't think I should be paying to help someone else out. If I was getting a lot of time and freedom with the horse though I might be prepared to "contribute" to his keep though.

Generally most people I know who are looking for a share or opportunities to ride largely want to do it because they can't afford their own, but are so pathetically grateful for opportunities to ride outside a riding school they will fall over backwards to help. On that basis you may not get the best people if you are looking for payment. You may also find you get a bit of an attitude that if they are paying then they want their money's worth rather than being grateful for an opportunity.

Makes me sad to see a fit and able horse getting fat and unfit with insufficient work though and think owners should be more open to having other people ride their horses. There are bags of competent riders out there. Everyone in my lesson has either had their own or had a share at one time and they are all great riders who would probably bring on the horses of a lot of liveries on the yard who are too precious to let "riding school numpties" near their horse........ :cool:

Katy83

Wow, thank you for the answers, it has certainly given me a lot to think about.

The tempting thing about sharing is definitely getting to spend some time with horses that is not just at a riding lesson. I've never really liked the production-line feel of a riding school after having my own horse, but then needs must!

I am going to first of all start off by having a few lessons because even if I do find a share it will take a little while to get sorted and I don't want to be too out of practice.

KatP, I see what you are saying about paying for the privilege of mucking out. I am not adverse to getting involved and doing my fair share, but that is what it has to be, fair.

Orlao, certainly sounds like you have had some bad experience :eek: Would you generally recommend it as a horse owner? Or has it put you off?

Thanks again for your thoughts - I'm off to phone the riding school down the road now :cool:

Katie-Kat-Kins

Glad to help Katy, hope everything goes well, once you have your feet under the table at the riding school mention to a few people that you are looking for a share, I found one of my shares through the riding school and almost got a part loan through the yard owner too but the potential loaner got cold feet about giving up control of her horse.