I'm talking as if, your non-horsey or semi-horsey friends find out you have a horse and they say "can I come ride him/her sometime?!" When I bought Bliss, my three friends from college have told me they would like to come ride her sometime. One girl has done a fair amount of riding but only did western, one has been on a few trail rides, and the other has never been on a horse. I'm thinking I would let them all ride her but not do very much... and the girl who's never ridden I would keep on a lunge line. And I'd make sure they all know that Bliss is sensitive and VERY forward and therefore don't full-out kick her.
Anyways I'm just curious to your all's opinions on this! Have you let other people ride your horse before?
I'd let them ride, but always only under my supervision and for first time put all of them on lunge. Make sure they wear helmets and that they know the risks. It's smart to make them sign something (or their parents if they are underage) that they won't sue you in case of an injury. Posted via Mobile Device
I wouldn't allow first timers/beginners on my horse. She is a good horse but very sensitive, and very forward. so she needs someone who knows what they're doing/has a confident seat. - Plus, I really have no idea what she'd do. I'm the only person who has ridden her in 5 years. (she was a broodmare out in the pasture for 4 years before I got her - my trainer, who was the middle(wo)man, only rode her for about a month inbetween - she really is a one person horse. so...
If I had a horse I trusted with other people/newbies my answer whould be more like Manca's.
Depends on the horse, depends on the person. Scout is pretty laid back, obedient, and tolerant; I'd be okay putting about anyone on him with appropriate supervision from me. No just showing up and riding my horse when I'm not there. Raw beginners would start on the lunge or with a leadline until I see what they can handle, and everyone wears a helmet - liability issues are always something to check into if other people are going to be riding your horse. Accidents happen, and it's sad, but you have to cover your rump. There's my paranoia streak showing...
Years of riding experience aren't the only thing I'd consider. I know a few people who have been riding for years longer than me that I wouldn't let on Scout. I'd be nice about it if the situation arose with any of those people, but no way is my little booger-muffin going to get his mouth hauled on, sides thumped on, and back bounced on... not after all my fine work... :wink:
Years of riding experience aren't the only thing I'd consider. I know a few people who have been riding for years longer than me that I wouldn't let on Scout. I'd be nice about it if the situation arose with any of those people, but no way is my little booger-muffin going to get his mouth hauled on, sides thumped on, and back bounced on... not after all my fine work... :wink:
I used to let friends ride my TB, he was a bit hot but I knew in the arena he had so much attitude he would just refuse to move for a beginner, he thought he was way above them. You'd have to be pretty decent rider to get more than a plodding trot from him.
When I had my mare, she was 4/5 at the time, I would not really let anyone else ride her because I thought it could be unsafe. The only people I ever let ride her was my instructor when I didn't have the time to work her, and the people trying her out for sale, and I certainly warned them she was young and I would not guarantee her behaviour or their safety, but I rode her first. If friends pestered me a lot I'd suggest we go to the local riding school and all go on a paid trail ride together, or if I was in the position, borrow a friend's quiet horse.
It's a bit of a tricky situation because while other horse people, like people on here, understand why owners wouldn't let their non-horsey friends ride horses, those non-horse friends don't understand. They think horse riding is easy and fun, and they see you ride around on your horse and everything goes perfectly and it looks like you are doing nothing but sitting there. They don't understand when you say no, and think you are being selfish or judgmental or arrogant or something.
It helps to have big horses though. Most of the horses I've owned were over 16 hands and when people meet them they are usually too intimidated to want to ride. Or I say something like "if you can get up you can ride" and they never can.
Used to on my old boy, Doey... he was brilliant, could lunge complete beginners on him, had a man with severe mental and physical disabilities ride him, and taught advanced dressage lessons with him.
Not on Duffy, oh no. Experienced horse people can barely get her moving, its a real respect thing with her, even my happy hacker mum at 5'2 can get her moving, but not everyone. A friend rode her for me last Sunday as I rode her mare, and she's the first person I have seen get her moving, only when she had a whip though (didn't use it mind you!) and she still took the mickey... then I have to get on and correct it so prefer not to, however when I tried young horses out you wouldn't believe the amount of people who told me they broke the horse in and no one else has ever ridden it.. at 5/6/7 years old!! When I have given Duffy a fuller education under saddle, I will be getting more people on her under my supervision for sure!
Depends on which horse. I give a lot of beginner lessons and have 3 that I've owned their entire lives (22, 23, & 29 years) that are all very broke and extremely tolerant. I'd put just about anyone on them.
My youngsters or my personal show horses, only I ride, my mom or friends who are also trainers. I don't take chances with the possibility of someone else screwing up my hard work. Posted via Mobile Device
Nope I never let anyone ride my boy other than myself and the trainer I bought him from who does tune ups on occasion. I have always been this way with my horses...I dont think I learned to share as a child But honestly, there are many reasons why I personally dont feel like it is in my horses best interest to have someone else ride him..I am very particular. My friends all understand and it has never caused an issue. I think it is kind of just a personal preference.
Yes. I've always let none horsey friends ride Patty, or once at a big state show to avoid walking half a mile back to the trailer me and a non horse friend rode her back double. I've let my non horsey ex boyfriends ride her. My horsey friends ride her. She's been used as a lesson horse. My boyfriend who has ridden his whole life like me and barrel raced too, has ran her through the barrels at shows. I've had trainers other than my mom tune her up for me. English instrutor rode her english and jumped her a few times. Little kids ride her. Its under my eye though to say hey put your hands down. What do I get out of this? A very broke mare who I can say anyone can ride and will listen to anyone. Though she responds best to me and will do better at anything for me. She's my one person horse who anyone can ride Posted via Mobile Device
It's not very polite to ask to ride someone's horse, but most non-horse people don't seem to realize that. :-|
As long as I'm right there, I'll put Victor on a lunge line and let people walk around on him. That's not a big deal. But no one rides him when I'm not around. First of all, I have a slight possessive streak and he is MINE. Anyone who touches him without permission does so at their own peril. Second, I don't want anyone fooling around and hurting him.
Nope. I tried letting my horsey-but-temporarily-horseless friend ride one of my horses several times. Ending up having to retrain for de-bridling and leg control. Now I will only let non-horsey kids ride under my terms and only with me leading the horse. Horsey kids are not allowed: they know too much!
That would be a big nope. But, only because Aires is greenbroke. Once he gets older and has more miles on him, I would probably put just about anyone on him for a jaunt around the arena...with him on a leadline, of course.
Dee was born to haul beginners around-she's safe for just about anyone, of any age, confidence or experience level. My mom (who's been on a horse probably less than 10 times in her life) rode her on a trail ride with us and Dee just plodded along with her head down, and she even trotted and just took perfect care of her (and no, I wasn't leading or ponying her). I can trust her with anyone, so I don't mind much when people want to ride her. It's really nice having a horse like her, so when you get non-horsey friends who want to come and ride, you don't have to worry for a second about anything happening to them.
Tang has less training and less experience, so no, unless someone is as or more experienced than me, I don't want anyone else riding her...at least until I get her more broke.
Yes.... and no, lol.
My young gelding I would only let another experienced rider on, as he is fast, sensitive, and a bit spooky yet. So no.
However, my old boy anyone can ride, he is generally quite safe. I would have no problem letting someone ride him on trail who has never been on a horse before.
In fact, I really enjoy having people come out and ride him. I remember what it was like to not have a horse, to not be able to afford lessons. So because he is safe, and because we just do trails, it makes my day to have someone come and ride who may seldom get such a wonderful opportunity.
My gelding does GREAT with kids- he's a good teacher for them. If they get to pulling too hard on his face, he stops and doesn't budge an inch until they calm down. If they tug the reins to one side, he usually just twists his head around as if to say, 'Well hey there! What is it you want, again?'
Usually they just get frustrated and start kicking harder, but he still doesn't move. Sweet little guy.
Adults, on the other hand, he will test- I think he knows that he has to do more challenging work with an adult rider than a child who is content having him plod along at an even pace doing things he already knows how to do.
In these aspects, though, I do have a lot of protection for him and his good disposition. Its not often I tolerate a child taking out their frustration on him, and its not often you see them returning for many more pony rides if they don't learn to be more gentle. At the same time, I have a pet peeve of people who act like they know it all about horses- and then come to learn that they've never ridden one in their life. Such as the friend of mine in high school who decided she was a pro because her mother was from Texas. Luckily, Milo treated her well when I led them around, even when, instead of asking me how to dismount, she swung her legs clear over his neck, sat sidesaddle for a second, and jumped down before I could stop her. Thank God Milo took it well- I was expecting him to bolt with a pair of boots clear up between his ears!
All in all, I tolerate people who are willing to learn and are willing to ask questions- its the ignorant fools and bratty little girls that I don't feel deserve pony rides on the gentle giant.
Vanna is... well, she's a difficult horse to be around. She knows me, she trusts me and she will let me do whatever I want with her. However, she is a little bit wary of strangers and fearful of men. I don't know how successful anyone else would be when riding her, but I think she'd be more willing if they took the time to get to know her and establish some trust. She needs to trust the person who is working with her and if she doesn't, she can be a complete witch. I wouldn't trust a lot of people with her.
I let others ride a couple of my horses... My kids ride, so i have a couple bomproof fella's... But I am the only one to ride my favorite boy Sur. We kinda grew up together, and he knows what I want to do almost as soon as I think it. I'm not even sure how he would react if I put someone else on him. And maybe I'd be jealous if he did behave... Ha ha ha Posted via Mobile Device
Yes, I let other people ride my horses if they know how to ride. They have to clean stalls in return. If they want to ride several times a week, they pay for that horse to be shod. I get the same riders all the time.:wink:
People not experienced around horses I would be reluctant to let them .If they have had some exposure to horses but still pretty much a newbie,depending on the person I may let them try out my one mare under close supervision,she is pretty tolerant. My other horses no way.My one horse is way to sensitive to cues & body position they would not get to far & probably screw her up. My other horses are are too young & green for a newbie rider.Most people that aren't regularily around horses their experience was being on a pony as a kid, going on some dude trail ride,or what they have seen on TV.They have no real concept of what real riding & horse communication is & i'm not subject my horse to be some schooling pony for them.If they are that keen on wanting to ride then let them go to a lesson barn
Not really I am pretty protective over my horses! The only people I let ride either of them is my trainer. I am always pretty afraid of someone ruining the work I have just done or something like that. I do tend to give pony rides though!
Since I bought Biscuit he has been rode twice by friends on trail rides with our group of friends. I was at home making wedding cakes and then get up to join them. One was Biscuit's former owner and the other was a lady that had wanted to buy Biscuit before I did (LOL she offered to buy him from me that weekend!) but I knew that she can ride and is a good rider. Biscuit didn't have to be left behind in the corrals and got more miles put on him by experienced people.
I have let non horsey people ride Lucky and probably would again. Lucky is pretty well spook proof and won't do anything dangerous with someone on him. However, inexperienced people tend to ride him once for about 5 minutes and never want to again. He takes full advantage of inexperience and just turns circles at one end of the arena or refuses to leave the gate. Apparently that's not enjoyable to people lol. I kinda wish one of them would stick with it as I think it'd be good for his training to learn to listen to people other than me. Posted via Mobile Device
When I first bought Leia (almost 7 years ago now..) and she was a green four year old, I didn't let anyone else ride her for the first few months. After that, though, I've let whoever ride her... under my supervision. She's been used in a few lessons, though, by people my BO said wouldn't ruin her.
I have had just about any type of rider ride my Arab/saddlebred because he is usually smarter than most people. If he sees someone doesn't know what their doing he'll just stop or only walk for them. I have only allowed friends ride if I'm present just in case, cause it makes me feel better. Everyone finds Joey enjoyable because he doesn't do anything they aren't comfortable with. It helps too that he isn't very tall as most non horse people seem to be intimidated by larger horses. If the friends aren't intimidated my a larger horse I let them ride my canadian mare. I would never let an inexperienced rider ride my paint horse as he is very forward and could possibly cause someone to be unseated as he is very animated with his trot. In general, I enjoy watching people ride my horses as I get a different perspective than the one you get from atop your horse. It makes me smile.
I've not let anyone ride Peanut but I would. He's such a good boy and likes to please.
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