schooling to sharing?

[headlesshorseman]

I'm a long time lurker in need of a bit of advice.
I found a sharer required advert at work and contacted the owner today for a chat.
I'm now thinking would I be taking on too much? I haven't met horse or owner yet so trying not to jump the gun, but I've been mainly riding in schools for the last few years and haven't hacked out in a very long time.
How can I ease the transition between schooling and sharing?
The horse is kept on a farm with no schooling area so it would be all hacking in the nearby woods and bridleways.
Thanks in advance.

Sharing is a sensible next step from having lessons if you want to ride more often and have some responsibility for handling and care tasks but without owning your own horse.

Having said that you are most likely to get the best out of a share if you are confident and happy in what you are taking on. Could you arrange a few hacks at your RC to get back into the habit? Safe hacking requires quire a few skills and it's good to practice on a suitable RC horse with an instructor around first.

If you do go to see this horse make sure you ask loads of questions, see the owner ride him first and try him out is a safe area (e.g. a small field). If the owner refuses to get on him alarm bells would ring for me and I would walk away - some people couldn't care less for the safety of others so don't assume the person has your best interests at heart. On the other hand, many shares work out brilliantly! If you do want to go ahead make sure you have a written agreement to clarify all rights and responsibilities.

Have a trial period and arrange to ride out in company the first few times until you get to know the horse/area.

I have had a number of shares and now have moved to having my own! My advice would be take your time with speaking to owner, meeting the horse. Talk openly about any worries you may have and let the owner know you are inexperienced in terms of hacking. Are there others at the yard you can ride with. See if the owner will introduce you to people rather than just leave you to it. Could the owner perhaps borrow a friends horse to ride out with you once to see how you get on? Also make sure you feel comfortable riding the horse ( prob a field or something that you can ride in without leaving the yard) before you head out. Finally if you feel nervous or worried about the horse then don't do it! There will be other horses out there that will suit you. My first share was a complete nut job and actually led to me losing my confidence for a long time having ridden my whole life. I wish I had admitted defeat long before I actually did but I was so desperate to be riding again!!

Good luck, hope it all works out for you. A share horse can be a fabulous thing!!

thanks for the ideas.
I'v booked a few hacks with the RS, and am going to meet horse and owner next weekend.
Do you think I should take someone with me?