Too good to be true?! I REALLY hope not (re pony share)

[Annewilkinson]

I think I may have found a pony to share!

On paper it sounds perfect:

• a calm, sensible pony
• ten minutes from my house
• the owner is looking for someone to help at weekends (unlike most owners who are looking for help on weekdays, which is no good for me due to work)
• The owner only wants a small financial contribution, her main motivation is just to get some help with her pony as it's on DIY livery so a lot of work for her and she would like more free time at weekends to see her family etc
• I can have lessons on the pony and if I like I would have the option of going to shows etc

Just sounds too good to be true.....there has to be a catch surely?! What is other people's experience?

I am going to see the pony soon - any tips on what to look out for / any specific questions I should ask?

It sounds great, I hope it turns out to be exactly as it sounds! I have no personal experience of sharing a horse, but I have known other people do it successfully. As long as you get on well with the owner and the pony it should be fine.

I think the main things to check are who is responsible for doing what. What has the pony done, and what is she happy for you to do with it? Are you covered on her insurance, or do you need your own? I would also make sure you get some sort of written agreement. I am sure there are a million other things you should ask, but that is all I can think of at the moment.

Thanks! I have now got 3 or 4 ponies to view this weekend! Seems like a lot of people need sharers at the moment, or maybe no one else is looking for a pony with it being winter and just before Christmas.

So any tips of what to ask owners etc gratefully received!

I'm looking for someone to help school my 12hh boy a couple of times a week (including weekends), shows and hunting a possibility for the right person, will instruct, don't want any money.

My advice would be get everything on paper and signed before you start the share. Good luck, it sounds great.

I had a share once where I did all the hard graft over the winter in freezing weather whilst she was away at uni. April time, the showjumping league started at the livery/riding school he was kept at and she said that I couldn't use him because she wanted to...that went down well!! Naturally to say the share came to an abrupt end! I now have a share where I have said that I want to be able to do stuff/local shows next season and the owner is up for it as well. We'll share her at the shows as well like we do now. :-)

Think my main concern is how can you trust people you meet online....,,so if they save horse is just a bit green, how do you know it's not a total nutter.......

*say not save

I'm going to ask to see them ride before I do

Not to good to be true, two people looking for sharers at my yard, with similar lovely horses to what you describe, there are literally no sharers out there! Seems not to be as popular at the moment!

Good luck though! Let us know how it goes

Spons where is your yard?!

The ponies I am going to see have all be being advertised for loan for ages and still available. This made me think there must be a catch ...... Or maybe not?!

I think it is purely down to finance - everybody is feeling the pinch and horses are an expensive luxury for most people. There are too many horses in the UK and not enough people with the time and/or money to care for them these days.

Thanks

I think I am just concerned that people will try and convince me to loan a horse that is not really suitable for me (a novice) because they are just so short of money or time that they will loan to anyone.........

Have a few rides before you sign up for anything. I rode two or three times on my current share and I watched the owner on her as well before I signed up. To start with I only rode in the school and we still are 4 months in. I've hacked her out once by myself and realized we weren't ready to go it alone for a while as she messed me around. She has to learn to trust me as well and I have to know her a bit better to work out if she's playing me or really worried about something!! (I think she's playing me though!)