What do you do when someone asks to ride your horse?

kschmittendorf · Well Schooled

What do you do when someone asks to ride your horse?

Barbara F · Grand Prix

"K", I never let anyone ride my horse, other than my coach. I've been that way for years.

You have to remember that every ride is a lesson for the horse. My feeling is that I make enough mistakes and my horse doesn't need any more added to the mix. wink

If anyone asks you, I would just say that you never put anyone else on your horse, with the exception of your coach. That way they won't get insulted, although I must say that if someone you know who is a fantastic rider wanted to ride your horse, I would put them on and hope the person who originally asked doesn't see. How embarrassing!

myvanya · Yearling

for me it depends. I love sharing my older guy with people so offer to let people ride him frequently. My newer horse I am more careful with but not as much because I think people will ruin him (more on that in a moment) but because he isn't very trained yet and so I worry he isn't suitable for many people yet. However, especially if I am present I usually will let anyone ride him if only for a walk on a loose rein. I think it is good for my horse to experience other riders.

As far as my horse getting set back in his training or messsed up by a begginer: I am in agreement with my trainer who says that if a horse is messed up in one ride so badly that he cannot be correct in one ride or less than he needs more training. I do agree with the idea that horses learn or unlearn things every ride, but I am not averse to sharing my horse because of it. I guess I prefer the enjoyment I get out of seeing someone enjoy my horse and hopefully benefit from it more than I am worried about possibly needing to review a thing or two (though I have never had to fix any training issues as a result of letting anyone else on my horse....maybe I am just lucky). If I am concncerned about the person's ability I would just ask that I be there or that my trainer be there when the person rides.

I can understand those who have reservations about letting someone ride their horse, but as someone who has benefited from riding other people's horses and now has my own, those are my thoughts. If I were to say no, I agree, that it is fine to say, "I'm sorry but I am working very hard on training my horse right now so only my trainer and I ride him." or something to that effect.

csherrenbrueck · Yearling

I only let people I know and trust ride my Allie. I'm very particular about her and because she is in training only those that know more than me are currently allowed to ride her. I know my friend doesn't let anyone ride her gelding unless she knows them really well, she's let me on him just to give me an idea of what a responsive horse feels like and to let me know what happens when leg pressure etc is uneven. But she won't let me take him out of the schooling ring.

But no, I don't think I would let them. She's not a trail/schooling horse, she's mine. grr argh grrr.

DressageLeggy · Yearling

I just say no. The only people allowed on my horse are myself and my coach and occasionally my mother because it's good for both of them.
Even clinicians aren't allowed on him (unless it's Jan Ebeling or Wittig or Markus Gribbe or Dover, but those are special circumstances lol).
It's hard to tell what someone will do to your horse unless you know them and their training methods very well. Far too many whip and spur happy so called "trainers" out there for my liking...

sedonasilver · Advanced

The only instance anyone else is allowed on my horse is when I have hired them as a trainer (I currently have a lovely women riding my boy twice a week to help him build top line) or when my boyfriend wants to sit on his back (in which case I lead him with a long line).

Fact of the matter is, if youre not comfortable with allowing a particular person on your horses back, just say no :)

rfextreme · Foal

Just like drugs, "just say no".

MagsNMe · Advanced

Oddly, most people won't get on my horse if offered, since they know she's a bucker, and she's 17hh... Other than the odd pony ride, no one rides her but me and my trainer.

I did used to let other people occassionally ride my old jumper mare, she's a saint and there was nothing I couldn't fix in a ride if necessary. Now that my Mom owns her, she gets ridden by me, my Mom, and occassionally a woman who teaches my Mom. She sometimes feels guilty that she won't let anyone else ride her, but hey, it's her horse, it's not public property, she pays for her, cares for her, dotes on her, no one else does.

Now if you want to live in my house, drive my truck, whatever, just don't touch my horse!

skypainter · Foal

I hate it when somebody asks me to ride my horse! I don't care if it's family, friends or even my coach, I just say no! Everybody rides a certain way, and a "boarder's" horse is used to being ridden this certain way! As said by many, some less experienced riders may cause some pain or develop some bad habits on a horse you've put so much effort in. I don't even let my coach ride my horse because she should be able to teach me to teach my horse and if my horse (as stubborn as he can be) gives me a bad time, I just tell myself that bad times are part of learning to ride and learning to teach a horse.

Also... as MagsNme said, we pay for the care and good living of the horse, not my whole entourage so I don't feel guilty when I say no to people...

jessiereasmussen · Yearling

I let people close to me, and my trainer, ride my 5-year-old. But really, he takes so long to learn something, that he doesn't lose it in such a sort time. I let my 3yo cousin ride him around. He is an amazing horse and I love him to death but anyone can ride him, just not as well as me or my trainer. Just tell them sorry, but only you and your trainer can ride him/her!

Ranna · Well Schooled

The very times that happened I can tell them that my horse doesn't like it.
And it's true. He doesn't buck them off but just refuses to walk and follows me as soon as I start to walk off :)

Horse-hearted · Advanced

I invest too much time and money into my horse to allow anyone else to ride- and I will explain that.
My last horse solved the problem for me, he was a little too much for many to handle!
I will never understand horse people who pass their horses around. That's YOUR partner!

cjroyg · Well Schooled

When I have familly coming and they have kids I do let them sit on my horse and do a few rounds of the field and I let my coach on. Otherwise I usually pick who gets on and who don't. I think horses should be ridden by other people because when I want to sell him I want him to understand how to act wiith others. I don't have the perfect position which is normal so someone getting on him and showing him that if they are sitting on them differently not to react to it. I think it is a good thing.

SoftTouchTraining · Well Schooled

on an average I say that you should not let just anyone get on your horse. It can be a liability in more ways than one. If something happens, it is your horse and you're liable. Or you could end up getting your horse screwed up. It is your own choice, but your often better to error on the side of caution.

Horse-hearted · Advanced

Very good point- insurance can be tricky, and is a nice go-to if you ever need to say no to someone but don't want to hurt their feelings.

Emiry · Advanced

For me it depends on the horse. I will only ride school master type horses who quickly pick things up, and can easily be fixed. I personally refuse to ride any horse I think I'm not ready for, and won't ask the owner to ride the horse. The only horse I ride(beside for the lesson horses) is my friends cousins horse. She lets us come up and exercise the horses. Even though I refuse to ride her younger horse, and stick to her calmer horse(who still gives trouble, he's just more predictable). Actually, I had a bareback pony ride on him the other day, it was great! (well he followed my friend around, we just left the reins on his neck, and I just sat there being dead weight. I would put people on him any day for a pony ride....besides for the fact he is like my lesson pony and likes to start off trotting in little choppy strides).

I know if I owned a fine tuned horse I would be picky, but it really would depend on the horse.

Horse-hearted · Advanced

I agree, it does depend on the horse and what you do with your horse.

alhoss · Yearling

I'll let people ride my horses but I am ALWAYS right there. Usually on the ground, litterally arms reach from my horse. Anyone who rides my horses also get a mini riding lesson on how to ride MY horses if they like it or not!

I dont believe anyone will mess my horse up in one ride so bad that I cant fix it, but I dont want my horse confused or in pain so I keep it to a minimum.

If I had it my way though, no one would touch or lead my (green) horses without my supervision. Hey, Im a control freak and bust my butt training them.

justice · Grand Prix

I politely say "no" with a short explanation depending on who is asking. Most don't want to ride any of mine anyway, rowdies that they are : )