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The tack room

Discuss horse riding and ownership on our Horse forum.

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Original poster

Gap in pony's job

15 replies

Olderyetwilder · 15/11/2011 09:33

Gd's first pony (Ben) is now pretty much too small for her and her new one needs a lot of schooling, so it's not really feasible for her to ride Ben much. We won't sell him as he's too dear to us so loan to stay at our yard is what we want for him. We have a lovely girl who rides him, and has been for a good while now (many thanks to marialuisa for putting us in touch).

When sharer started riding Ben it was effectively a share with gd and that was great. Sharer has lots of other interests and commitments and it's not feasible for her mum to be up at the yard all the time so they only really want a half share, which is absolutely fine, they are such lovely people and sharer is perfect for Ben so it's been working out fantastically well.

But now that gd can't really ride him it's working out that he doesn't work during the week, then 3 days at the weekend. Ben's 19 and is very fit, but I'm concerned that if he drops his fitness he'll struggle to get it back and he's the sort of pony that loves his job and thrives on it. I'm also concerned about concentrating his work around 3 days then nothing for 4 days.

So what I need your advice about is:
-Am I seeing a problem where there isn't one?

-Do you think if I advertised for someone to ride in the week with no contribution I'd get anyone over the winter?
-Should I ask sharer to give up one day at the weekend and offer him for part loan 3 days a week so the two sharers share the pony (and both contribute) and gd just looks after him on his day off?

If I did go for part loan of 3 days a week each how much do you think would be a reasonable contribution to ask for?

I haven't spoken to sharer's mum yet as they are my ideal people for Ben and I don't want to upset anyone (although they are possibly the most reasonable people in the world) so thought I'd canvass opinion in the tack room first

OP posts:

georgesmummy11 · 15/11/2011 09:44

My first pony was in his late 20 he was worked everyday, was showed and at weekends was out all day. I got a new pony, and I still rode him and my sister started to ride him she then decided that she didn't like it !. Slowly his worked dropped as I was too big for him and his condition deteriorated quite quickly his muscle went very fast. We got another girl to start riding but couldn't get him back to where he was so we decided to retire him.
With his age I would try and keep him worked as much as you can, would the current sharers be able to commit more if they had the option x

Original poster

Olderyetwilder · 15/11/2011 09:47

Thanks georges, that's exactly what I'm worried will happen, and it would be a huge shame. I don't think the current sharers could commit to more, we discussed loan when we got new pony and they were really only up for half share, and I don't want them to feel under pressure

OP posts:

StopRainingPlease · 15/11/2011 09:50

Depends where he's kept I think. It would have to be a small child that rode him, I guess, so that would be someone school age who rode after school. Are there reasonable facilities for this? e.g. lighting, all-weather surfaces, indoor school, etc.

We have lights at our yard btw but even so I hate riding in the dark. Some people love it though.

Original poster

Olderyetwilder · 15/11/2011 09:56

We have an indoor school and fantastic hacking, could be a small adult who's free during the day (maximum 8 stone ish, he's 13.3 but finely built) but most likely school age child so during the week it's pretty much in the school.

OP posts:

Furminator · 15/11/2011 10:00

I know you don't want to, but have you considered selling him? He sounds lovely and I hate to see a wasted pony.

Original poster

Olderyetwilder · 15/11/2011 10:09

I don't want to sell him due to his age as if I did I'd have no control over what happens to him in the future and if any pony deserved to be looked after when he's old it's him

I would consider putting him out locally on loan if that was best for him, but ideally I'd like him to stay put, and ideally I'd like current sharers still part loaning him. But I do feel as though he'd be happier with a bigger workload. Don't want much do I?

OP posts:

Furminator · 15/11/2011 10:33

Ha! It's a tricky one. It is hard for any school aged children to ride during the week as you know (short dark days). I will be taking dds pony out a couple of times a week so it isn't as much of a shock for him at the weekend when dd will want to be riding constantly. You MIGHT get a light adult. Is 8 stone really his maximum? dds pony is 13.3 and I ride him (I am 10 and a half stone ) but he is a full up NF.

CMOTdibbler · 15/11/2011 10:39

Could you lunge him in the week ? It is hard over the winter to get anything done in the evenings, so dpony gets lunged Tuesdays and Thursdays (he also needs the schooling, so double effect)

Original poster

Olderyetwilder · 15/11/2011 11:00

I could lunge (and do when there's no alternative), but to be honest I haven't got that much time in the evenings by the time gd has ridden new pony, and I've ridden or lunged mine, we've looked after DH's horse and done stable jobs for the ponies it's difficult to find the time. I'd also still have the problem of him only really having half a job.

Furminator, maybe I'm being over-protective, 9st should be ok, I'd have thought, but he is finely built (Arab/welsh)

OP posts:

marialuisa · 15/11/2011 11:04

Have replied to your pm with a possible solution!

Tangle · 16/11/2011 09:40

Have you considered trying to contact any local HomeEd groups? Seems like it might be a way to get a school-age child who may have time during the day in the week. Might be worth a try :)

Mirage · 16/11/2011 17:04

Good point Tangle.OYW,if you'd like a contact for a home ed group in the area,I have one.

emlu67 · 16/11/2011 18:14

You would probably be able to get a mother / daughter share over the winter with a small contribution. I agree that pony should be worked regularly over the winter, we knew a pony used in a riding school that worked until 40 and still looked and behaved like a show pony, the work kept him going. DD and I would certainly be interested if we lived near you!

dappleton · 22/11/2011 08:19

Where are you based older? i'm miles away (on a entirely different continent) but if you happen to be in Suffolk/essex I might know of someone who would be interested in some weekday riding.

Original poster

Olderyetwilder · 22/11/2011 14:47

Thanks dappleton, we're Leicestershire (Charnwood Forrest just in case anyone's interested and local). I've emailed current sharers to let them know(no chance to chat at weekend) and put up some adverts in the tack shops etc. I wondered about local riding schools as he's a good first pony for an older child but wonder whether they'd think it would take business from them. Might ring around and see

We've decided that we're looking for somone who wants a half share ideally as we don't really have a job for him any longer so he needs two reliable sharers.

OP posts:

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