Why can't I find a rider for my horse??

[jen1]

lol, if i can move in with you with my lot, then ill ride him, west coast of scot and, my fave,

[kofihorse]

Hello, spottycayuse! You're not doing anything wrong at all - there are just not enough people out there who appreciate what a great deal you're offering. He's a super horse and I can't understand why you don't have people biting your hand off to ride him - but it's an odd part of the world, this, at times.

I suspect that people start learning to ride and then one of two things happens - either they buy their own horse (far too soon and it all becomes too much for them and poor horse gets sold on) or just keep on going to riding schools ( get bored and give up). And it's not like when I was a teenager, when I would work for hours mucking out and grooming just to get a chance to ride a horse up to the field at night. Some kids expect everything on a plate. They also expect to be able to "ride" after about 3 lessons and don't really want to put in the practice.

The young lad ( aged 14)who used to help me with dogs and horse was ultra-keen to learn to ride Kofi. He made his Mum buy him the jods, the boots,the jacket (I lent him a hat) and had dozens of lead rein rides in the field, arena and then out on the lanes. He went for a "real" lesson at a riding school on the lunge to learn how to do rising trot (I got fed up running round and round with him on lead rope) but as soon as he realised that he would have to control the front end by himself as well as get the hang of rising trot - he got fed up. He just wanted it all to be easy, no hard work involved!!

I think too many kids see themselves getting on a horse one day, then cantering along beaches the next! Oh, and they don't like getting the designer gear the least bit dirty, either.

If I didn't have a horse of my own - I'd be over at yours like a shot, he's such a capable, willing boy.

The only other places I can think of to advertise are Crocketts, Jet Set and the Adtrader?

[spottycayuse]

Hi Kofihorse,

Good to hear from you, how are you doing? I know what you mean though about some kids expecting everything on a plate. As you know I'm a teacher and am constantly "gob smacked" by the ridiculous demands kids make, eg. "get me a taxi, I'm going home" and this is during the school day.......... It would be funny if it wasn't so desperate!

Anyway, you know the boy in question and you're right, he is great so fingers crossed.

How are your tribe doing? Are you all set for Christmas?

Better dash, catch you soon, take care and best wishes L x

[sara]

Tell me about it! I have been looking since the end of August for a sharer, but without being able to find somebody. I tihnk Lloy's size is puttoing people off, because he is abstoluty wonderful, a real softie, very loving and safe, but he is not a novice ride. All the people that I have had are either completly wrong for him, tey seem to wind him up, or novices, obvoiusly staight form a riding school, with no experiance. I had one girl some to try him 2 weeks ago, and I explined he wans't a novice ride. She got on, and couldn't do rising trot! Which I think is rather basic. I wouldn't mind if she did'nt like rising trot, and prefered sitting, it's fine, when I school I just do sitting trot, but she couldn't sit, she kept getting flung out of the saddle, so she grpiied on harded, so he went into canter. AHHHH. Can you tell I'm rather pi**ed off with this whole finding a sharer lark.
Then I had an email a few days ago from a bloke who wanted to find a horse to share for his 11 year old daughter. I then had to explain that I didn't think a very well schooled 18hh horse, who is prone to take the pis* and get strong out hacking was suitable for an 11 year old!

sara
xx

[highlanderpony2002]

Seems to be a common problem but I manage well enough as my highland teaches any local kids to ride and hopefully if they stick it out with her they'll move onto more exciting things as I have a couple of warmbloods and a welsh cob all young and ready to back or just started

[Confuggled!]

Damn, your miles away! I would of happily taken on that offer!

[lindaandrascal]

We thought we would never find a good, reliable rider when my hubby realised he is not going to ride again, but i advertised our unbacked mare on project horses and found the perfect person, experienced, confident and sympathetic, shes doing a great job. We meet all the costs but its not great riding around here, we thought no one would be interested, it took a while but she found us! You will too in time, i would bite your arm off for what your offering! Unfortunatly im in the midlands, cant you move!

Just to add its right about riding schools, people can ride in a school but have no clue about roads, cant tack up or groom, dont know nuts from mix, and as to putting on a rug........
Theres a girl who rides our pony, shes been to an approved riding school for two years, she rides quite nicely, just started jumping, but she knows nothing about looking after a pony, weve taught her tacking up, how to put rugs on, feeding and grooming, luckily for us her mother had a horse so knows how to lookafter one.

[cubic]

lindaandjack said:

i advertised our unbacked mare on project horses and found the perfect person,

On the subject of project horses, I've been on their website and can't find a section with 'horses offered' etc. Am I being blind?