Shareboard price point/advertising help.
Hello! It's unfortunate that this post comes right on the heels of a similar leasing question, but the situation for me is different so I'm hoping for more specific help!
I'm looking for someone to shareboard/half-lease/part-lease (whatever you want to call it) my 7 year old, 15.1 hand mare. I'm looking for a) tips on how to "market" this, and b) help deciding what would be a reasonable rate to charge.
Gem is ridden hunter, and although I mess around in my dressage saddle sometimes she is too green to really market as a dressage prospect. She has a solid walk, trot, and canter (if a bit lazy), does well with pole work/cavalettis, and goes over a crosspole every now and then, but I wouldn't market her as a jumper either. She's fine on trails with a good, calm horse along and a relaxed rider. She does tend to test people and mess around a bit, which is to say, she'll get pissy every now and then (*cough*mare*cough) and sometimes she'll spin, or buck (just little hops, really, she thinks she's way fiercer than she is), or pretty much test you the way a lesson pony test a new rider, if you know what I'm saying.
I'm mostly looking for someone to exercise her. School is back in session and I've had little to no time to ride (read: once in the last two weeks), so I really just need someone to come out 3-4 days a week and ride. As I said earlier, she has a solid w/t/c and has been good this summer about trying for the bit, and I'm not asking any more than that. Just exercise.
So I'm wondering what to charge. My board is $500/mo, but it will go up to $520 in the winter. Heated barn, indoor/outdoor, nice place. I won't be factoring in any farrier or vet bills. I know that for a half-lease, being what it is, I could charge up to $250/mo, but given the fact that she's green I wouldn't feel right charging that much. While money is tight for me, I'm mostly interested in getting her worked, but I don't want to be ripped off either.
Currently she has a 14 year old riding about once a week, but she isn't paying me anything and I'm not exactly happy about the situation, plus I really need her ridden more than twice a week.
So, what would you do in this situation? Is it even worth asking someone to pay to ride a greenie? Again, I'm not asking for training, just a way to keep her fit and not feel so guilty every day I can't ride. I have an ad for her online for $200/mo, but I'm willing to price it lower. I'm actually looking to spend the money on lessons for myself rather than board, so she'd be getting continued training.
Thank you in advance. And, since this is all up here anyway, let me know if you know anyone who might be interested. We're in the Chicago suburbs, near St. Charles.
I'm looking for someone to shareboard/half-lease/part-lease (whatever you want to call it) my 7 year old, 15.1 hand mare. I'm looking for a) tips on how to "market" this, and b) help deciding what would be a reasonable rate to charge.
Gem is ridden hunter, and although I mess around in my dressage saddle sometimes she is too green to really market as a dressage prospect. She has a solid walk, trot, and canter (if a bit lazy), does well with pole work/cavalettis, and goes over a crosspole every now and then, but I wouldn't market her as a jumper either. She's fine on trails with a good, calm horse along and a relaxed rider. She does tend to test people and mess around a bit, which is to say, she'll get pissy every now and then (*cough*mare*cough) and sometimes she'll spin, or buck (just little hops, really, she thinks she's way fiercer than she is), or pretty much test you the way a lesson pony test a new rider, if you know what I'm saying.
I'm mostly looking for someone to exercise her. School is back in session and I've had little to no time to ride (read: once in the last two weeks), so I really just need someone to come out 3-4 days a week and ride. As I said earlier, she has a solid w/t/c and has been good this summer about trying for the bit, and I'm not asking any more than that. Just exercise.
So I'm wondering what to charge. My board is $500/mo, but it will go up to $520 in the winter. Heated barn, indoor/outdoor, nice place. I won't be factoring in any farrier or vet bills. I know that for a half-lease, being what it is, I could charge up to $250/mo, but given the fact that she's green I wouldn't feel right charging that much. While money is tight for me, I'm mostly interested in getting her worked, but I don't want to be ripped off either.
Currently she has a 14 year old riding about once a week, but she isn't paying me anything and I'm not exactly happy about the situation, plus I really need her ridden more than twice a week.
So, what would you do in this situation? Is it even worth asking someone to pay to ride a greenie? Again, I'm not asking for training, just a way to keep her fit and not feel so guilty every day I can't ride. I have an ad for her online for $200/mo, but I'm willing to price it lower. I'm actually looking to spend the money on lessons for myself rather than board, so she'd be getting continued training.
Thank you in advance. And, since this is all up here anyway, let me know if you know anyone who might be interested. We're in the Chicago suburbs, near St. Charles.