Q: Do You Let Other People Ride Your Horse?

Posted by Laura Thompson May 31, 2009

Yesterday I received the following question from a Suite101 reader:

Laura, I was wondering if you think it's safe to let other people ride your horse? No one has been on my mare since I bought her three years ago but my horsey friends keep bugging me. I don't like telling them "no", but it seems like it could be a safety issue as well as a training problem. Hope you can help.

This is a very personal decision and one about which many people have different views. Some like the idea of watching someone else take their horses for a spin, while others feel that another rider might compromise their training program.

Letting someone else ride your horse can also become a liability issue. If he or she is hurt while working with or riding your horse,a lawsuit could result.

Here's my take: I won't let just anyone ride my horse, but if I respect the other person's training methods and if I have a signed liability waiver, I'm more than willing to share the love.

Like people, horses can become complacent with just one rider. However, I'm more interested in your point of view. do you let other people ride your horse?