Adult new or returning riders up for a chat?

[Hereforthedramaz]

I have recently returned to riding after a very long gap.

I was a very casual rider as an early teen, happy hacking on plodding ponies rather than technical riding. I am thoroughly enjoying having proper lessons now.

I thought it might be nice to chat with other newbies or returners, all non-horsey people in my life and there is only so much they want to talk about it!!!

Also the stables I'm going to is so lovely and welcoming but, in their own words, aimed almost entirely at 8-12 year olds so it would be nice to talk to some adults!

Wow, that must be a major flood!

Could I be cheeky and ask how your part lease works?

@Gremlinsateit Yes, that sounds awful!! Hope that you're back to normal soon.

@Hereforthedramaz There are several people on our yard who part lease their ponies, and I've thought about putting my own pony on part loan.

There seems to be a fixed way of doing it here. £45 for three days. Loaner takes on all responsibility for those days. Needs their own insurance.

Thanks, it's definitely something I want to explore when I've had a lot more time in the saddle. I'm trying to get a feel for likely costs and expectations (although I appreciate areas and set ups massively vary!).

Sounds like I need to get "in" with people on some yards to hear about sharing/ loaning opportunities. Mine school is very much just a school

Yes, I’m in NSW where we are having a massive rain event in a cyclical wet weather period (La Nina) leading to some dangerous flooding, though not where I live. “My” horse is on partially-serviced agistment on a small hill in a flood zone which has had road closures. Luckily the horses’ owner has been able to get through to deliver hay, and the owner of the paddock feeds them and checks on them, but the ground is far too wet for safe riding, and being trapped there if the river rises again isn’t very appealing either!

@Hereforthedramaz I have been very lucky with the part lease. It is quite informal; I pay a weekly amount plus the farrier’s bill. I also occasionally add things like more fly spray or hoof supplement to the tack shed as a goodwill gesture. When the weather permits I can ride twice a week for much less than the cost of one lesson, and I’m the sort of learner who likes to practise skills at my own pace between occasional lessons.

I tried another potential part-lease horse before finding this one, but I wasn’t experienced enough to manage her well - she wasn’t quite as calm as the ad suggested and the owner and I both agreed it wasn’t a good fit. With this one it was good luck that he was a beginner’s horse with a kind nature, just as advertised.

I found both horses advertised on Gumtree but I would think it would be easier to find a good match if you asked at a local stables. There are often people looking for someone to exercise their horse and defray some of the expense when they are busy.

@Hereforthedramaz what you’ll be looking for is more usually described as a share in the UK. The usual arrangement is the sharer has the pony/horse for two or three days in return for a financial contribution.

Depending on where you are, what kind of facilities the yard has, what the horse is able to do (ie is it ok to jump? Does it need a very confident rider? Etc), the cost will vary from £10-15 per day upwards. Unless it’s a full livery yard, the sharer would be responsible for all chores on ‘their’ days.

Because the sharer isn’t generally supervised, most owners will only accept experienced riders as sharers but it wouldn’t hurt to start looking soon and putting out feelers.

Some bigger riding schools offer ‘share’ schemes where you can ride the same horse on certain days, groom, tack up etc. These are usually unbelievably expensive, especially when you add the cost of the (usually compulsory) lessons on top, but the upside is you’d get a lot of support while you learn how to do all things horsey so they can be a good way of bridging the gap between riding school lessons and a private share.

Yes that’s true @Pleasedontdothat - I would call my deal a share or a part loan, but everyone advertising here calls it a part lease, presumably to make it clear it’s not free!

@Pleasedontdothat that's exactly what my riding school do. For the next month or so I'm trying out different horses to see which one is the best fit. I didn't think there would be a difference or that if there was I would be able to tell but the big cob I had first was much more chilled than a smaller sleeker horse I had for the next lesson. I presume that it's more fun to have a peppy ride but I liked the plodding way the cob walked and even his trot was a bit half hearted. Here's a laugh for you. This is my first ever trot. In my head I looked amazing. In reality I'm like a fat trifle wobbling along

Aww it won't let me upload it!

I'd love someone to help ride one of mine but unfortunately people don't seem too reliable and I've given up. It's lovely to read about all of you starting to ride. It's a wonderful hobby and there's nothing g to heat hacking out on a nice day.

Thanks everyone, I think I will investigate riding stable shares for the time being, although I agree they seem expensive for what you get! A good stepping stone for the autumn or the new year.

Sadly my current stables don't offer them.

@Therunecaster it would be interesting to hear how your's goes. It is amazing how much the personality of the horse, have you decided on the cob in the photo?

Oh that's annoying for you! Did you struggle to get interest or people getting in touch and being super flakey?

I would have thought people were desperate to get a good share!

Did you try via word of mouth or by advertising?

Hi everyone I would love to join in here having bought a horse at age 42.

My last horse was when I was 17 so it's been a while. I've ridden in between on holidays or with dd the off hack but that's all really.

I was going to loan her initially but she came up for sale so I took the plunge. We are staying at a riding stables for 3 weeks just now to get her (and me) started.

I'm loving this new life and her - she's a project as been out of work for a good while but she's very sweet and I think she's my forever horse.

Today we had the farrier out which went well, she's very nervous especially of men but coped well.

If you're anywhere near North London, Kings Oak stables do a lot of loans. They will always be able to find you a horse to loan. It costs £25 per day.

@XelaM thank you for the recommendation but unfortunately I'm in Oxford.

Hi, I’d love to join the chat. I hadn’t ridden since I was 17 and started again last year at 40! Hoping to get my own horse again in the next year or so. I’ve toned up, lost weight and feel like I have so much more confidence in my riding this time around. Never ever thought I would jump again, but have been having jumping lessons lately and absolutely love it! I’ve developed some bad habits and I’m not perfect but it is bringing me sooo much joy! Forgot for nearly 25 years how much I love horses! So glad to be back in the saddle! ☺️

@Tinkerbell1281 that is pretty similar to my timeline - great to hear you're doing so well!

Ah fab! Are you enjoying it more this time around? This is a great thread. There’s only so much I can bore my husband talking about horses and my lessons 🤣🤣

@Tinkerbell1281 that sounds like brilliant progress!

How exciting aiming to buy your own! I wouldn't have your will power and would already have been trawling horses for-sale!

To satiate my self I have just booked a UK riding holiday instead!

I’m hoping to - although the prices are ridiculous at the moment, so waiting for a bit to see if things go down a little. A riding holiday sounds amazing - how does that work? Do you ride all day every day? 😀

Pretty much, it's three days which is pretty much 3 hours riding, stop for lunch and then same again the afternoon for three days!

I'm doing it in Cumbria so beach rides and then head to the fells for the other half of the day.

I'm really looking forward to it

If I enjoy it I like the idea of doing one in wales too and then there are a lot in Europe!

That sounds like a dream week. I bet it’ll be amazing!

Where are you going on your riding holiday? I would love to do that but take Georgia with me.
Maybe next year when she's fit!!

I'm starting again, my last lesson was dire! I'm riding a 15:3 cob x Suffolk he's absolutely gorgeous but would rather stand still than move so getting him going, keeping him going and steering is proving to be a task!

I bought some gloves for my next lesson as I keep losing my reins. I feel a bit 'all the gear no idea' at the moment.

@Purplehonesty2 ooh good idea! When I was doing research to find options I noticed a few mentioned bring your own!

I'm going to Murthwaite Green trekking centre.

I nearly went with Trans Wales, which also seems to be highly recommended and is more inclusive compared to the one I've gone with.

Lol I felt similar on the first bombproof pony they put me on, took a lot of hard work to keep him moving!

I also turned up to my first hack having already bought some new jodpur boots, shopping is the first fun part of an activity I find!! The instructor did raise an eyebrow that I'd bought boots instead of a nice sensible helmet!