Offering help without formal or financial commitment?!

Equidistant

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Oct 13, 2022
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I have been riding a lovely sports horse for 2 years but due to owner's circumstances this has ended. Good fun but was quite a commitment in terms of time (almost 1hr round trip in travel due to small country roads/villages) and due to a "minimum 3+hr time slot" to travel, catch/clean horse, ride, clean tack etc. it could be difficult for me to change timings (I have other commitments although am retired) if it was pouring with rain (we all know how wet/stormy it has been!) so either I rode regardless of inclement weather, or not ride at all (either fine with owner but I was paying quite a lot ... so if I didn't ride ...)
Possibly a daft question but I'm wondering if you think I could find a horse owner who would simply be pleased to have a very reliable, careful and competent rider (+ help look after horse) on a more adhoc basis rather than the more formal share situation where a set financial arrangement expected/set days and duties are rigidly in place? For example, agreeing to a couple of times to ride/help worked out mutually each week prior, doing a bit more if owner on hols, or none if I am away etc. The majority of the adverts around Gloucestershire appear to have considerable "expectations".
Please don't interpret this as "wanting something for nothing" or not willing to work; I would regularly look after the horse I mention above on a daily basis when the owner was often away despite it being quite an undertaking and a friend thought I should be paid rather than pay!! Similarly, I used to let a competent rider occasionally exercise my horse for free years ago when there was not all this "sharing" in place. Am interested to know thoughts from horse owners, thank you. :)
 
You may be lucky, but I think the reason many owners look for a sharer is they're strugging for time and/or money and so they want a consistent commitment. You don't know unless you ask though, so maybe post on local horse facebook pages and see if anything turns up.
 
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Horses are always 'quite a commitment'. Flexible shares are out there, but generally they are advertised as formal agreements initially and then become something more flexible in my experience, or they are friends first who have done a deal.

The issue is if they advertise it as flexible they end up with fair weather and/or free riders. Generally people look for a sharer either because they can't afford the time themselves or can't afford the financial cost and if they don't need help with either of those why should the owner just get whatever days the sharer doesn't want, or the days the forecast is bad!

I had a free flexible share when my mare was lame, we planned who did what days a month in advance, but the expectation was I did 2 days a week, 3 if I wanted a weekend day to ride, and even if I didn't have time to ride I was still expected to show up and take care of the horse (on top of doing my 3 at my yard and working full time). His owner was a short on time sort, since she went off to vet school to become an equine vet. The share was advertised as set days and a set cost per week, but at my 'interview' I was told that would be waived if I was reliable.

If you don't want the commitment then perhaps look for a riding school that hires horses out (hirelings/for free use rather than lessons) by the hour and you can just book what days/times you want each week.
 
I rode regardless of inclement weather, or not ride at all (either fine with owner but I was paying quite a lot ... so if I didn't ride ...)
I do the same. I pay even if I dont ride due to rain. It was so wet today that I went to the yard but didnt actually hack.

It costs to ride, so if a ride is to be "free", the ride cost has to be offset against hours of work.

The grey area arises when a rider is paid to school or exercise the horse. This is not strictly speaking a share. Riding that horse for free could be regarded as payment for yard work or for training.
 
There are some out there who require adhoc. I was one of them. When i struggled with exercising two i wanted someone who could ride at least once a week. More if they were able. Ideally with me. I never wanted financial contribution. The horses were out 24/7 so no yard duties. My one request was, they just need to be able to get them in from the field, unrug etc, groom and tack up there own horse. Reverse when we'd hacked. My last rider started to take the micky. Got to a point she didnt want to get the horses in. So turned up later and later each week. Expecting me to have got them in, groomed and had the horse ready to just get straight on. Then told me they had to be home by a certain time. So i had to rug and turn out. It wasnt a lot to ask really considering they got free hacks and time round horses.
Keep looking on the local fb groups theres often ads. If you see something very local enquire. You may be able to come to a arrangement if someone is desperate for help.
 
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There are some out there who require adhoc. I was one of them. When i struggled with exercising two i wanted someone who could ride at least once a week. More if they were able. Ideally with me. I never wanted financial contribution. The horses were out 24/7 so no yard duties. My one request was, they just need to be able to get them in from the field, unrug etc, groom and tack up there own horse. Reverse when we'd hacked. My last rider started to take the micky. Got to a point she didnt want to get the horses in. So turned up later and later each week. Expecting me to have got them in, groomed and had the horse ready to just get straight on. Then told me they had to be home by a certain time. So i had to rug and turn out. It wasnt a lot to ask really considering they got free hacks and time round horses.
Keep looking on the local fb groups theres often ads. If you see something very local enquire. You may be able to come to a arrangement if someone is desperate for help.
Thank you, I will have a look on local fb groups - very helpful.
Gosh, your last rider was dreadful! :(
Difficulty conveying in my original message (!!) I always "go the extra mile" when looking after any horse as I was taught very high standards in a competition yard in my teens. Even won award recently at professional yard turning up whatever the weather or early start (as a volunteer, few riding opportunities there sadly).
Not living here very long, it is difficult as no-one really knows me for word of mouth recommendations and grooms from professional yard have got me the odd ride but not very close by for regular riding. Neither am I adverse to paying (always used to be buying extras like tail detangular as well as monthly payment) but it was really "less long term commitment" but not "less reliable or skipping horse care".
Jessey kindly mentions hirelings but I'm guessing that is super expensive unless just very occasional and I've not always had great experience of quality horses at riding schools. More advanced riding schools near here look to be charging £70-£80 (minimum) per 45 min lesson.
 
Years ago what you describe was known as work for rides.
You might be able to find someone who needs help with exercising their horses and you contribute towards the cost of the shoes and do the necessary chores.
You are not sharing or loaning so you are not responsible for the cost of livery, care, feed etc etc etc.

The time slot you describe would concern me though. How much time do you realistically think it takes to travel to and from seeing a horse, doing all the necessary chores to look after them - even if they live out. Then riding them?
 
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Years ago what you describe was known as work for rides.
You might be able to find someone who needs help with exercising their horses and you contribute towards the cost of the shoes and do the necessary chores.
You are not sharing or loaning so you are not responsible for the cost of livery, care, feed etc etc etc.

The time slot you describe would concern me though. How much time do you realistically think it takes to travel to and from seeing a horse, doing all the necessary chores to look after them - even if they live out. Then riding them?
"Work for rides" interesting.
Hah! Maths not my strongest point - 3hrs **plus travel** but 3hrs was absolute minimum and usually a lot longer. :) Thanks for replying.
 
Thank you, I will have a look on local fb groups - very helpful.
Gosh, your last rider was dreadful! :(
Difficulty conveying in my original message (!!) I always "go the extra mile" when looking after any horse as I was taught very high standards in a competition yard in my teens. Even won award recently at professional yard turning up whatever the weather or early start (as a volunteer, few riding opportunities there sadly).
Not living here very long, it is difficult as no-one really knows me for word of mouth recommendations and grooms from professional yard have got me the odd ride but not very close by for regular riding. Neither am I adverse to paying (always used to be buying extras like tail detangular as well as monthly payment) but it was really "less long term commitment" but not "less reliable or skipping horse care".
Jessey kindly mentions hirelings but I'm guessing that is super expensive unless just very occasional and I've not always had great experience of quality horses at riding schools. More advanced riding schools near here look to be charging £70-£80 (minimum) per 45 min lesson.

Yes hirelings will be expensive because someone has to buy them, keep them, insure them for business use, keep them fit and still make a living. Likewise riding schools that keep decent schoolmasters that aren't suitable for a lot of riders, there's a reason most riding schools don't have what you call quality horses and instead stick to ones that can be used by a wider range of abilities. If you're a good rider it's surprising what you can get out of many school horses so rather than dismissing them out of hand perhaps see them as test of your abilities and a challenge?
 
£70-£80 (minimum) per 45 min lesson.
That lesson fee covers a teacher, and hacking accompanied involves an escort and a second horse. Even in the South East where prices are high, I paid £50 for a half hour weekday school lesson last week. It could cost less if one were booking a block of several lessons. The lesson was not what I was expectng or hoping for, (wrong bit to ride dressage tests) but I reckon that the first lesson is usually a write off as they give one an ultra safe RS pony.
The funny thing is that pre Covid when I rode many dressage test lessons, I did them all on the beginner lunge lesson pony. He took to it like an angel.
 
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I used to share horses for many years had 4 different arrangements. The first one worked ok till the horse was sold though the owner did mess around a lot and it was only when i mentioned it to yard owner that she had a word as I was paying and then she would demand I change my day it was weekends only. Then I shared 3 horses with one owner and I had 1 or 2 to ride as much as I wanted. All at same yard then I exercised whatever they had that needed exercising. Then I had a share in a horse when owner had a small child and i got weekends only which was great.
 
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If you cannot commit to once a week at the moment you are better to book a ride at a nearby trekking centre. Then you will get to meet horsey people and can mention that you are looking to help out anyone with a horse. Perhaps you could volunteer there as well.

The situation you've already encountered is how much time and money is needed to help keep someone else's horse. So I wouldn't want to be getting involved with any sharing arrangements.
The only thing looking at it from an owners point of view, if I needed someone adhoc I would be paying for it. I have a groom when needed.
 
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