What’s a typical pony share like?
I have an arrangement with someone for a pony share. The pony is a 13h cob that my 7 year old daughter rides. The owner of the pony has two other ponies only being ridden by her 6 year old son which is why she wanted a sharer.
When I started with her in January I had little knowledge but she has taught me everything I need to know like tacking up etc etc, and I am grateful for that as I don’t think many people would take on anybody inexperienced. She has taken us out on many hacks together and to the river and my daughter has had a lot of fun.
The problem I have, is that I feel I am being taken advantage of. The owner has an 18 month year old, and whenever we do things with the ponies I have to be the childcare, changing nappies and running after the toddler everywhere and it’s becoming very stressful for me as I can’t be with my own daughter or be able to watch her. We went to a show on Saturday morning and my daughter was only able to do 2 classes whilst her son did 5 and all the while I’m looking after her toddler and sometimes the 6 year old (who has audhd) whilst he’s not in the ring, and I had to have the both of them round my house in the evening before whilst she bathed and plaited the ponies . A lot of stress for me and my daughter to only be in the ring twice.
Also, financially it started as me paying £150 pm and by the second month I was asked for an extra £25 to pay for the school, and then I was asked to pay for my daughter to have private lessons on him per week which was another £25 per week. And then I was asked for the private tutor to ride him after the lesson to work on his correct canter lead for another extra £10 per week. Every outing I’m asked to pay £10 towards fuel. I also have to pay monthly for pony club but she’s only taken us with her 3 times all the while I’m looking after the kids. I don’t think she would be able to do a lot of these things without me helping her with childcare.
So on average I’m paying £300pm. And the only thing I’m allowed to do without her is a hack around the gallops which takes 30 mins and my daughter is getting bored of. She wants to do more schooling but she can only do this with the private tutor.
I feel bad for my daughter because she loves the ponies and being involved with all their care. She is very hands on with it all, and she loves to being doing horse shows and get out and about. But I’ve had enough of the whole arrangement. I want out but I don’t want to pull these opportunities from under her.
Is this typical of a pony share?
I don’t know what to do now, I feel so deflated.