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The tack room

Discuss horse riding and ownership on our Horse forum.

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Original poster

Horse share: sensible for teenage DD?

54 replies

OrmIrian · 09/05/2012 13:14

DD wants a pony. It's not going to happen sadly. She has been taking riding lessons for 6 years and is a competent and confident riders. She has plenty of experience grooming, tacking up and cleaning out etc. We have found 2 horse shares within easy distance of us. She is really keen to contact the owners but I have some concerns. She has never ridden alone - with these two ponies she would have to.

Also can you get public liabilty insurance for minors?

Advice welcomed please!

OP posts:

Alameda · 13/05/2012 20:56

don't give up! where are you, roughly?

Booboostoo · 13/05/2012 21:54

If you were looking to buy you would expect to look for a few months, call for about dozens and dozens of ponies and see around 15 before finding the right one, so don't despair too easily!

Have you tried putting an advert in a local tack shop? Or driving around the local livery yards and letting them know you are looking? You need a pony close by so word of mouth is much more likely to find you one. Many owners will expect you to contribute to costs though so that is something to keep in mind.

Original poster

OrmIrian · 14/05/2012 07:57

Thanks.

Alameda - in Somerset.

booboo - I agree that it's a bit daft to expect to find anything so soon but all the websites that advertise horse shares have enormous numbers in the south east and south, virtually nothing in our area. I have tried putting out feelers amongst all the horsey and non-horsey people I know but nothing doing apart from the mention of a horse rescue nearby which now appears to have gone. And I don't know many horsey people sadly. ANd the main problem is, DD gets so excited every time she finds something and gets utterly downcast when it doesn't work out. I don't mind making a contribution, although I hoped that DD doing a lot of the work might count as part of it, but 50%? Can't do it I'm afraid.

OP posts:

emlu67 · 14/05/2012 11:42

Have you tried Preloved? I have noticed some owners in our area offering part loans for £10 a day for 1 or 2 days a week which I know would work better for us if we ever decided to part loan. Good luck in your search!

Original poster

OrmIrian · 14/05/2012 12:37

Thanks for that emlu. Had a look and found 2 potential shares!

OP posts:

Treblesallround · 14/05/2012 14:23

Keep looking Orm, and don't worry if it takes a while, as someone else said it can take ages to find one to buy. Something good will come up.

Ormiriathomimus · 25/05/2012 10:31

Update for those where kind enough to offer advice.

We may have found something. Not ideal but a good compromise. Lady with a small welsh mare - too small for DD to ride but she is happy for DD to groom, lead her, muck out and generally get some pony exposure. DD OK with that although disappointed that she won't get to ride. But we are playing the long game - owner had a yard with other horses and has hinted that DD might find a mount for the occasional hack. We'll have to see. But it's near enough that if neccessary DD can cycle out there.

Fingers crossed.

Mirage · 25/05/2012 14:18

Good plan! Your DD will learn loads and get a huge amount on confidence doing that,and as you say,if anyone needs a rider,there she is.I hope she really enjoys it.

Treblesallround · 26/05/2012 15:48

It is a good plan to get your dd into horse owning company; if she's a good rider she will pick up rides as she gets to know people. Good luck!

Ormiriathomimus · 26/05/2012 17:39

Thankyou.

Met owner and horse. Both utterly delightful DD didn't stop radiating joy the whole time. She groomed pony, mucked out and lead the pony back to it's paddock. We are planning to go out there on 2 evenings and once at the weekend. It's not much but I hope it will be enough for the owner.

Yard is a livery and very friendly and laid-back.

Excellent afternoon all round.

careergirl · 27/05/2012 12:08

this could work as your daughter will become "known" at the livery yard then if anything comes up like a share or someone just wanting a bit of extra help she will be first in the queue so to speak

Booboostoo · 27/05/2012 12:27

That's wonderful news!

There are loads of things DD can do with a pony from the ground, provided of course the owner is agreable and the pony suitable. She can learn to lunge and long rein. She can take the pony for walks in hand. She can teach him tricks like targeting, bowing, lifting a leg, etc. She can do bombproofing with bits of plastic, puddles, umbrellas, etc. Loads of fun for both!

Ormiriathomimus · 12/06/2012 13:57

Oh well..

DD went twice, got one well with owner and loved the pony. Even got a quick walk round the arena on the owner's 17h horse. So all was well but no reply to my texts in about 10 days now. Owner has health problems so I really don't want to hassle her. Will have to wait to see if we get invited back.

Wolfiefan · 12/06/2012 14:05

How about a local stables where she could work for rides? Would that be a compromise?

Ormiriathomimus · 12/06/2012 14:26

It's a good idea but unfortunately the place she rides currently is a college and all the work is done by students. The stables she used to go did let her groom etc but we were still expected to pay full price for the rides... not to mention the owner was a bit ...erm.. difficult . I will ask around to see if there is anywhere else. Thanks

SilverSky · 13/06/2012 05:54

Place Wanted Adverts in local tack shops / feed merchants ? Local horsey Facebook groups ?

It can take ages do font despair?

Ormiriathomimus · 13/06/2012 08:22

Thanks. I am guessing font means not?

She has placed a few ads about the place and advertised on preloved etc. Problem is there is no shortage of teenager girls wanting to help out.

Treblesallround · 13/06/2012 08:35

Wish you were near me, I'm looking for a couple of competent and reliable teenagers to help out and ride and can't find one!

Ormiriathomimus · 13/06/2012 11:04

Hmmm.....where are you trebles?

Treblesallround · 13/06/2012 11:30

We're in Leicestershire

nummus · 13/06/2012 11:33

Can you say whereabout in Somerset you are?

nummus · 13/06/2012 11:34

I have to say we went through years of this kind of thing - ponies of friends, ponies to share that fell through etc etc it was a bit of nightmare. In the end I gave in rented a paddock and found a loan pony for dd. It was one of the best things I ever did for her.

BobbiFleckman · 13/06/2012 11:37

Ormi, it takes ages to find a decent share and it's more complicated than just going out and buying a horse because your hours / days have to work, as well as location - not just the animal.
I've had some howlers - the deal that seemed too good to be true was just that (a kicker / rearer / danger around other horses who'd already put one sharer off riding for life) - and of course found the one of my dreams only to discover that the 3 different sharers' arrangements were simply too complicated to navigate. it'll take a while, but you may find that September is a good time because of all the teenagers goign off to University who can no longer ride during term time. Hope you find something.

Ormiriathomimus · 13/06/2012 11:49

bridgwater, mummus.

nummus · 13/06/2012 11:51

ah a bit far from me.

Does your dd do pony club? You can do it at riding schools and use their ponies.

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