Horse sharing - any experiences or advice?

[Tamoo]

Hi,

I'm currently looking about for a horse-sharing or part loan opportunity, put some ads up on local sites and got quite a bit of response (it seems there are a lot of owners with overwhelming time & financial constraints at the moment). However, before I jump in and commit to something I thought I'd ask for a bit of advice. I've never shared before and would like to know if there's anything I should be wary of or watch out for, especially in financial/legal terms (that sounds dramatic doesn't it).

The kind of arrangement I'm after is one where I'd get to ride more than once a week (lessons aren't really enough for me, I've been riding for nearly 30yrs and owned in the past, though not currently in a position to buy/DIY). Also to have some fun doing yard duties though in terms of time I'm restricted by DS (meaning, not available to do 8am feed and turnout etc).

Anyway, really I'm just interested to hear any horror/success stories. Things that worry me are things like: if the horse trips and falls when I'm riding it, am I going to get a several hundred pound vet bill? (Unlikely, but you never know.) Are you supposed to get a written agreement in advance re. things like that or is it always an informal arrangement? The owners I've spoken to so far (who are looking for sharers) have just said along the lines of, "Oh just give me £X per week and that will cover everything."

TIA! (My first posting in Tack Room but I've always enjoyed lurking and looking at all your pics :) )

[annieapple7]

Where are you? You can share with me!
I have always shared with friends so it had worked well. Make sure horse is insured; make sure you have personal liability insurance for when riding out; have an agreement in writing of who pays for what (I never have but it seems sensible). The simplest way is for you to pay a set fee and agree to looking after the horse and riding it on set days. My friend rides and looks after once a week and pays for half the shoes (so £30 every 6 weeks).

[Booboostoo]

Look at the BHS site they have a loaning/sharing agreement. You should get everything written down and the BHS document is really good as it prompts you to think of different questions. Main things are:

• how often can you ride and which days
  
• what are you allowed to do with the horse and what not
  
• period of notice on both sides
  
• how much you need to pay and/or what other duties (mucking out, etc.) you have to cover
  

The owner should have third party liability insurance as A MUST and may also have veterinary fees insurance if they want to. You are advised to have rider's insurance. In the situation you describe, no I've never heard of anyone being expected to pay in such a situation, but best to have vet fee insurance to cover all accidents/illnesses.

The only other thing is: don't get on a horse that the owner won't sit on! There are a lot of lunatics out there that will pop you on their unriddable horse to see what happens! The owner should show you the horse in walk/trot/canter on both reins, a little jump if it jumps and then you should be able to try it in an enclosed area (arena ideally, or small field otherwise). Before you hack it ask a lot of questions about what it's like in traffic, in open spaces, with other horses, alone, etc. and ideally go out with someone else from the yard. I don't want to scare you but there are some idiot owners out there!

Then again there are some lovely owners and sharers out there and I have been involved in various shares and loads over the years, on both sides of the agreement, that were wonderful - so have fun!

[Principality]

I had a lovely pony on share for a year.

The only issue that bugged me, more and more over time, was that the owner was on the yard at the same time with her other two horses and she had very set ideas about how things were done (which is understandable but did get on my nerves after a while - and im sure she felt the same!) Things like for example, bringing in.

I wanted to bring in at about 5/30ish (in mid winter) as I had a toddler in tow, the fields were a good 8min walk away in the pitch black in ankle deep mud. But the owner was still at work then and so wanted to bring in at 630/645 together... which wasn't an issue at first but was wearing over time as it caused upset to my very tired toddler.

I think the BHS website has a written agreement for loaning that you can print out.

I paid £15pw, plus half of shoes every 6 weeks or so. I had him three days per week.

[Tamoo]

Thanks for replies. The BHS loaning agreement tip off is a good one. What I've been offered so far is shares (3 offers), one is a pony and too small, the other two sound ok on paper. But I'm yet to meet them or the owners...! I've googled the yard that one of them is on and it's recommended on a few forums. I think the situations as far as I can make out are all women with kids who don't have time to ride much at all, but don't want to sell. Will update if anything works out :)

[brighthair]

Hopefully you will find something. I have a fab share, she is a medium dressage horse and her owner competes her at that level
I compete her at a lower level and do as many days as I like. We used a BHS loan agreement but basically I have had horses all my life so I am left to it. I feed her as instructed and wouldn't do anything stupid with her, treat er like my own. But I know I have the freedom that if she had a small cut I would treat it myself and just let owner know, and that I can train with whoever and ride whenever