Babysitting Rides - Where Do You Draw the Line

I like the idea of making them "earn" their riding time; if the person intended to ride my horse, especially on a regular basis, I would expect some kind of help from them in return.

However, when someone has their own mount but they just have no real experience, their horse is just as inexperienced, and they THINK they are a good rider. . .it's trouble.

I'm a lot like Iride. I enjoy doing it occasionally with a novice that actually wants to learn, but all the time gets really old...fast.

Part of my problem, I know, is it was my job to babysit my 2 younger, non-horsey cousins whenever they would come visit. One of them was 2 years younger and the other was 4 years younger. Don't get me wrong, I loved them then and still do, but to be required to take them riding and spend every waking moment doing exactly what they wanted to do the entire time they were here got old in a hurry, especially considering I was still very young too.

AHHH....was just dealing with same sort of thing two weekends ago.

And they are talking about going on trail ride with "Good Time Charlies" which is apparently a bar? That has trail rides?

Saw pictures or 3 pictures, and too many people, and varying degrees of skill it appears?

And looked like one was holding beer?

Glad to see this, as sometimes I think I am just old fuddy duddy, but I just don't like morons.

I used to allow a lot of beginners to ride with me. It can ruin the ride. It can also introduce somebody to riding that turns out to love it. Basically I think the problem is one of riding with people who are fun and not annoying. I really don't drag beginners out much any more. My riding time is limited and I don't want to waste it.

Another thing that I worry about is liability. Georgia state laws protect you against liability to a point, but if a lawyer can say that you were negligent some way, you can still get sued.

For the past 8 years I've been nothing but a babysitter! I've only ridden with my Husband and kid, both I've taught to ride and had to train/finish their horses. Course they ride like me, have horses trained by me, and I'm trail boss so who can argue with that!?! LOL!
Last good ride with a friend was months ago but I was putting trail miles on her green horses so that wasn't relaxing at all. It's her turn to haul her butt down here so I can get in a good ride without worrying about a newbie/greenie.

Worst ride I ever had was with my ex SIL who's been riding since she was a baby and she's supposedly a horse guru/expert. After dealing with her excuses and terribly behaved mare (who was supposedly "PRICELESS"), dragging her through tricky areas, and listening to her constant banter about how great her mare was as she was almost getting thrown... I left her.
To this day my MIL is still Po'ed about it but I'd do it again in a heartbeat.