how do you say no to people that want thier children to ride your horses and ponies

[dacasodivine]

I have a friend that asks me now and again if she and her kids can ride my horses. I have a HOT Arabian and a very forward Fox Trotter. They are not beginner friendly.

I really appreciated having people that would let me beg rides when I was a kid and would love to pay it forward, but I don’t have an appropriate horse.

When I told friend I don’t have a beginner friendly horse, she told me she was not a beginner. She had ridden a horse at the beach 20 years ago. I wish I could have thought of a clever comeback to that.

Fortunately she does not live that close to me or she might just show up.

I tried once leading a neighbor’s child on my Arabian. While she is careful and wouldn’t dream of hurting someone, she was really annoyed by the child wiggling around. I have never seen that horse make such faces. I swear she poked her bottom lip out in a pout and had her ears pinned back. And that was the one and only time I tried that. The Fox Trotter would probably be fine for leading kids around but I haven’t tried. Friends kids are a bit old for leading around and the other neighborhood kids have other interests now.

[GotGait]

“Sure. Do you have Accidental Death and Dismemberment?”

[LauraKY]

No is a complete sentence. If you’re not direct enough to use just no, the fall back is that you don’t have insurance to cover it. The end.

[Shorehorse]

When family and friends ask to come see my horse who is boarded at a large stable I usually say yes, but lay out ALL the ground rules up front and make it clear that someone can get HURT if they don’t listen.

With acquaintances and coworkers etc. I usually tell them my horse is not the kind of horse who can be ridden safely by beginners. That statement alone tends to scare off non-horsey people.

I also had an issue with people I don’t know touching my horse. I board him and absolutely love my barn. But on the third time someone told me that “oh my friend/aunt/uncle LOVES your horse! They pet him for so long” I kind of lost it. An email went out to the entire barn (from management) reminding them not to touch other people’s horses and my horse now has a “CAUTION: horse bites” sign outside his stall. A little off topic but it has worked in keeping strangers away!

[Lady_Eboshi]

“I’m sorry, but my horses are not suitable for beginners. Here is the name of a local riding school which has child-proofed premises and wonderful school horses and instructors. You can tell him I said to call.” SMILE. :winkgrin:

[Guin]

[QUOTE=Loopy;6991254]
I just say no :o No reasons or excuses. Might be unpopular, but there you are. I don’t feel bad about it.

I have young horses, an entire, a couple of grumps, and overall they are just big…
It’s great if people want to go and pet some horses, but there are more suitable horses/ponies out there for them to go and visit.[/QUOTE]

No is a complete sentence. :yes:

[Faith]

If you don’t want to do it say no. Why is that so hard? I enjoy it so I let people ride/pet and see the horses. I know I’m an odd duck on this forum. I have a stallion too. I have young horses too. I still let people enjoy them and learn about them when they’re here.