In an ideal world this is how it would always work- but there are many less than ideal experiences of sharing. Before deciding that you would like to find a horse or pony to share it is necessary to examine the potential pros and cons.
Pro- The Closest to Owning Without Prohibitive Expenses
If you may never be able to afford your own horse, sharing is a way of finding a special horse to care for and develop a relationship with. Any cash contribution required will be a tiny fraction of what a horse of your own would cost. It is your opportunity to learn about the quirks of a particular animal, look after him and learn to ride him as well as possible. Without the financial means of owning for yourself, it may be your only way of getting close to an individual horse.
Con- Horse is not Yours and you Have no Entitlement to Him or say in What Happens to Him
As the horse is not yours, no matter how long you pay towards him or ride and school him, you never have any permanent entitlement and you will never have any say in his future, whether that be being sold elsewhere or even put down. The owner may decide to cancel the arrangement between you for a multitude of reasons, and if you grow attached to the horse, this may be very painful. The owner may choose to sell or loan out the horse at any time and again, you will have no say. Some written contracts may describe a period of notice to be given should an owner wish to terminate- in reality you would have little right to see this enforced.
Pro- Opportunity to Practice Skills More Regularly than a Riding School may Allow
Being around horses more often will improve your skill and speed in horse care tasks like tacking up, mucking out, grooming, leading and general care. Being able to spend more time in the saddle is also one of the quickest ways to improve your riding. If you are interested in improving all round abilities the practice that can be gained by sharing is invaluable.
Con- Must Have Basic Level of Skill to Begin With
Most share arrangements will not be suitable for people who are new to riding and horse care. The owner will often not have time to babysit someone who has rarely handled horses and will be reluctant to allow an inexperienced person to be responsible for his animals' care. Before looking for a share you should be confident with basic tasks and happy to work unsupervised. You should be a competent rider- privately owned horses are often 'friskier' than the hard working and experienced school horses.
Pro- Encourages Independence in the Saddle and Out of It
Sharing can be a great way to develop your independence, knowledge and confidence. You will have to think for yourself, follow instructions left by the owner and act responsibly. When riding you are more likely to be working with the horse on your own, so will have to plan and introduce schooling movements for specific reasons. It is an ideal step up from the near constant supervision of riding schools.
Con- Risk of Being Used as Labour and Paying for the Privilege
There are unscrupulous people in every walk of life, and in the horse world some offer very poor share arrangements that involve little more than you acting as their personal yard worker and paying for the privilege. Confirm the work to riding ratio that is being offered before making any firm agreements. Beware also of the similar con of multiple share arrangements where the owner shares the horse with a number of other people- how much riding time is actually going to be available without the horse being overworked? This is more likely to be a money making venture by the owner with little concern about the welfare of the horse or the people involved in the arrangements.
Pro- Educates About the Reality of Horse Ownership
Sharing helps you to learn what is really involved in keeping a horse, the work involved, the expense and so on. You will experience the highs and lows, such as feeling that a horse has improved when ridden, or discovering that that horse has injured itself. If you are considering a horse of your own in the future, sharing is a great way to get a feel for what is really involved. A genuine, friendly sharer will tell you a lot about the problems she has had and the special needs of her horse, and what they cost. It's a great chance to consider how you deal with potential special requirements of your own horse.
Con- Reality is That Riding may be Unavailable at Regular Intervals
In a paid agreement, you may find that you go through periods of paying for nothing, more or less. Horses are not machines and lameness and illness can curtail your riding. Riding schools could provide an alternative horse- a single horse owner cannot. If the prospect of contributing and not being able to ride for short periods is not for you, you may not be suited to a paid share arrangement.
A good share is a wonderful experience. A bad share is a devastating nightmare. The next section will look at how to find a good share.
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