Am I being taken for a mug here?

[stopthelights]

My dd has ridden for several years. She is a competent rider but was getting bored with lessons. We asked at the stable she normally rides at if she could part loan a pony so she could learn some stable management and ride a bit more. The stable agreed we could have a pony on part loan. This would allow my daughter to look after the pony and ride on Sunday and one or two other evenings a week as long as the pony was not being used in lessons. The agreement was that we would pay £150 a month plus pay for insurance for the pony so there would be public liability insurance as the pony was being used outside of lessons. My dd would muck out, clean tack, do hay nets etc on the days she rode. We thought it was quite expensive but agreed.

Fast forward a few months and the pony needed a new turn out rug (we bought one), then a new stable rug (which I found on e-bay) but the last straw is my dd came home with two farriers' bills totalling £160 (£80 from September and £80 this month) which we are supposed to stump up for...

I am beginning to think I am being taken for an absolute mug here. I don't mind contributing to the cost of shoes but given that the pony is used in lessons and only ridden by my daughter a maximum of three times a week I think asking us to pay the full cost of shoes is a bit much. However, I am new to this game (and very naive too I can hear you say) so I am willing to be corrected but AIBU to think this is taking the mickey somewhat?

[JumpingJackSprat]

It might be worth holding onto the rugs in case any new pony she gets involved with will fit them.

[Booboostoo]

Good for you! Hope DD enjoys the new place and ebay the rugs!

[stopthelights]

I will do . Anyone in the market for 2 rugs (nearly new) - a medium weight turn out and a stable rug - 5'' 6?

[JumpingJackSprat]

I'm glad you're taking a pragmatic approach and walking away from this.

[mistlethrush]

Take the rugs too of course...

[Battytwollocks]

Such a shame for your DD, however I have recently had a problem with a yard and my DD was soooo in love with the pony there, however I had a long chat with her and told her what was going on and why I thought we shouldn't continue there (she is 8) but that we would find somewhere else ASAP, she took it incredibly well and the move was smooth from her point of view. Hopefully your current YO will realise she can't do this to people and you never know, she may drop the price instantly to what it should be - that said, would you want to stay there if you know they are happy to rip you off so easily? I hope you get everything sorted, it makes me mad that people think they can get away with this - it's emotional blackmail as they know that children fall in love with their ponies and the parents are reluctant to do anything because of the children's feelings!! X

[stopthelights]

Just a quick update. DH took DD for her lesson and spoke to the YO. YO said that she did indeed expect us to foot the full cost of the shoes and that we were getting a good deal. We asked for a written agreement but she says 'she doesn't do these'. I think it's time to say good bye to this yard. DD very upset but I feel I am being royally screwed over. Going to see another yard this afternoon . Thank you all for your advice and comments.

[dappleton]

As a YO myself I usually see things from that perspective but this is really not on, in no way can I see how a RS can justify passing those costs onto you for 3 rides a week when your DD is also expected to work on the yard. So glad you are sorting this out. IMO you should be paying a fixed cost - for the actual riding and having the pony 'as yours' - plus half shoes and half vet/dentist etc plus any insurance that you need. Anything else is really pushing it.

[Aeroaddict]

You are not a mug! You would be if you just paid up and said nothing though. I hope you manage to get it sorted without your DD being too upset. The YO should be ashamed of herself!

[mistlethrush]

I hope you'll take the rugs with you if you do go!!!

[stopthelights]

Thank you all for confirming what I suspected - I am a mug . I've left several messages on the YO's answerphone but she has not got back to me yet - funny that. Might have to take a trip down to the yard, bills in hand and ask what is going on. I think if she insists that shoes are not included in the £150 a month we might be looking to move elsewhere but I think that would break dd's heart

[cq]

I'm happy with £200 a month. She's a lovely Irish TB, yard is in the SE and is a BHS training centre, 2 indoor schools, 4 outdoor schools, show jumps, cross country course and miles and miles of quiet hacking on country lanes and through woods. No way I could afford to own & run a horse of this standard in this yard on my own.

I will check out the details of my BHS insurance though - thanks for the heads up.

[Lovecat]

This was now 10 years ago, but I 'shared' a riding school horse (in London, so not a cheap place for stabling/feed etc!) for £15 a week. On top of that I had to muck out & make up feeds (and bath her in the summer) on Sundays and give her a full groom 2 nights a week, plus clean her tack once a month. She was "mine" on those 2 nights once I'd groomed her, and I could do what I wanted with her - exercise her, do training, take her into a shared lesson that the instructor ran for owners & loaners on one night a week, pay for a separate private lesson or go for a hack - I'd pay half cost if I chose to have a lesson. Sunday all the sharers went for a hack together in the forest. Over Christmas there would be separate events for owners & loaners.

We were never asked to pay for feed, tack or shoes or anything beyond the £15 a week and the small amount of effort required as above, and it was a perfect beginning to owning a horse or pony.

I think this school is completely ripping you off, sorry :(

[Floralnomad]

cqs £200 doesn't sound expensive to me ,depending on where you are in the country full livery is very expensive . I'm in the SE and even basic full livery at a half decent yard is about £100+ per week .( note the half decent yard)

[dopeysheep]

I also agree that CQ's £200 a month sounds a lot for a share but if everyone is happy then it works.

[dopeysheep]

Btw my farrier charges £75 for a set of shoes which is why my guy only has fronts!

[dopeysheep]

Blimey for £150 a month plus shoes plus rugs your dd could have her own pony. And you could then get a sharer for that and cut down your bills even more!

I think the riding school sound very unscrupulous and taking massive advantage of the fact that they know how much your dd loves this pony. Very low of them imo.

[mistlethrush]

A friend shares, pays £100 a month, shares cost of shoeing etc, and can ride as much as she wants...

[WillowKnicks]

I once really had the mick taken out of me with a pony I loaned from a riding school, so you have my sympathy!

I can't believe you're having to buy rugs, doesn't the pony already have rugs? I also think the shoes are expensive, I pay £65 including road studs & I pay more than some of my friends but I think my farrier is excellent.

If she won't commit to a contract, why not go down & ask the YO everything that you have to pay for & say you are writing everything down so you can remember, then at least YOU have it in writing & nothing else can be added.

[Huskylover1969]

We have our horse on loan and have a very detailed list of who pays what
We pay two front shoes every six weeks £60
Insurance £25 per month
Vaccinations £40 per year
Dentist £50 per year
Back treatment £40 per year
We have just bought her turn out rug
Costs nothing for her stables etc and we can ride her for up to 3 hrs a day depending on if she's been ridden already
Her owner is lovely we renew 6 monthly and have to give 2 weeks notice each way
She's up for sale and I'm just praying we can buy her

[Lexis1980]

cq I was under the impression the BHS membership insurance doesn't cover you if you pay for your share. Just my understanding but please investigate.

I pay £70 per month for my share and ride once a week (weekends). I don't pay for anything else. I have my own insurance (Petplan do a policy for sharers)

[Aeroaddict]

You are definitely being taken advantage of. I'd be very concerned about the unwillingness to have a written contract. It makes it far to easy for them to make it up as they go along.

[VinoTime]

They're taking the piss.

How many other children ride the pony and how many lessons is it included in? Surely you should only be paying a percentage of the costs based on the above factors? Balls to paying it all! Jeez, they've got a nerve.

You'd be cheaper just buying your own at this rate.

[mrslaughan]

Yes very!........ - think they must be the new titanium ones they have developed in australia for the racing industry...............

[OldRider]

Anyone else think the shoeing is expensive? I pay £60..the farrier does lots in the yard at the same time so no travelling costs to be added.. I think paying for rugs is really taking the pee, are they yours when the arrangement ends? I suspect the YO would like to keep the arrangrment so you are in a strong position to negotiate. Btw how much per hour is thay pony earning the YO when it is used in lessons?!! Good luck..we've all been there.