How do you politely refuse to let someone ride your horse?

Question

I have a 'friend' from school who is extremely full of herself and thinks she is a wonderful rider. (she took lesssons for a month, fell off on the second week, and is just generally a bloody awful rider) She claims to know everything and do everything and has ASKED TO RIDE MY HORSE.

How do I politely refuse to let her ride? I don't want to make an enemies, and I've let other, more responsible friends ride, with me lunging them.

Answer 1

I would politely tell her that your parents won't allow other people to ride your horse or that you are preparing for show season and do not want to throw off your horse's training and mind set while preparing.

Also as other's have told you, tell her your don't carry the proper insurance to allow a catch rider, your horse is in training, or is extremely skittish(however with this one I'm sure you'll get more of a fight out of her b/c if she is the way you say, she'll say she is a great rider and the horse will like her.)

Answer 2

If it's a show horse you can say that you don't want to hinder any of the training and also mention the liability.  In case something happens you can't be responsible and it just wouldn't be smart to let just anyone ride your horse.  New riders don't understand that horses have been highly trained, they aren't bikes!  As far as I'm concerned, you don't really have to be polite.  Its YOUR horse, just be responsible!

Answer 3

"sorry, but i'm training princess at the moment and i don't want anyone else riding her.  we're working on our relationship, bond, commands, etc....and something like that could really confuse her.  And, my parents insurance won't cover you if something happens and money is tight right now, so it is way too risky."  If you find one to rent I'd love to ride with you though!

Answer 4

I'd just say, "no, he can be a bit of a handful and I think having another rider will confuse him".  Or, "no, I don't think you're experienced enough to deal with him".  It's not rude and can imply that the problem is with the horse, not her.

Or even, "no".  You don't need to give a reason; a simple no should suffice.

Answer 5

Excuses I have used in similar situations:

My horse is lame and has to have some time off

My horse is really funny with strangers

My horse isn't very well behaved and I wouldn't want you to get hurt

My horse is currently on a schooling programme which I can't break

It's my yard's policy that strangers aren't allowed on

I'm busy at work

Answer 6

Tell her in the kindest way that you don't think that she's ready yet to ride your horse. Or if that doesn't work, just say that your parents said that you can't have friends riding him/her anymore because their afraid that something might happen. :)

Answer 7

I don't let iffy people ride my horses.

They are not covered on the insurance and horses are unpredictable animals especially with people they don't know. I am not prepared to take the risk.

Answer 8

the easiest is to tell her that you and your horse have a very good bond, and she only lets you ride her.

you can tell her that when your  trainer, mom, dad, sis, bro, anyone, other than you tried to get on her, she bucked them off.

thats the easiest but the firmest way.

=]

hope that helped!

Answer 9

I don't think there is any really "polite" way. Tell her nicely that you'd rather not have her ride your horse because you are working on building the a bond with your horse recently. Don't let anyone else ride for awhile so she doesn't catch your lie.

I also have this problem. The 8 year old I bought my horse from (because the horse bucked her off) is constantly asking for a ride, and she also blames everything on the horse when it is almost always the rider. She wonders why she can't as I've ponied my boyfriend(who doesn't know anything about horses but is very very gentle with animals) around on my mare. And because she's 8 she doesn't get it when I keep saying, not today. Not today.

I hope I've helped.

Answer 10

Next time she asks, just say "no" and leave it at that.

If she asks why, say your uncomfortable letting other people ride your horse. If continues with a "but I'm a good rider" or something like that, tell her "I said 'no' and i meant it. Please don't ask again"

Remember to be nice and smile, so she doesn't get the wrong idea!

Answer 11

i really don't have that problem.my horses are trained that if someone else tries to ride them they will pitch them off unless they know my cues and have soft hands.i let a friend use one of my horses last week and he said it was like wrestling a bear but he performs perfect for me.i would just say that i don't think that you have enough experience to ride my horse,and leave it at that.either that you could say that you require a deposit of $5000.00 to cover any damage that you might cause to my horse,that will shut her up.

Answer 12

Tell her that you can't let her ride because of the barn rules due to liability. Say that if she wants to ride she will have to get insurance for riding at that particular barn on that horse.

idk it would probably work..

Answer 13

Well don't lie to the girls face just tell her "You know I Have watched you ride and I don't like the way you act around horses and I don't want that kind of behavior around my horse."

No need to lie just tell her the truth and If she goes and tells her mommy what is she gonna do about it..it's your horse you don't want her on it end of story.

Answer 14

Say no and leave it at that if she gets hurt feelings so be it.. I let no one ride my horses well I let my daughter but she has been riding for 21 years.And if the horse gets hurt while she is riding then she would have the vet bill.

Answer 15

say your horse isn't very good with new people riding it. he/she prefers you and you think it is best if you train the horse up more so it will behave better.

or what i do is just keep making excuses like i'm busy or just be vague.  

Answer 16

Simply say "I'm sorry, but I'd rather you didn't ride him". You don't need to give her an explanation why; it's your horse. If she doesn't like it... Well, I guess she wasn't that great of a 'friend' in the first place.  

Answer 17

This is different from keeping people from riding my Suzuki Z400. I usually say "I never let anyone ride it, if I let one person ride it i'de have to let everyone ride it." "It would be unfair to let one person ride it and refuse another." For your horse it's a different story, lol.

Answer 18

Just say no you can't .Your horse is more important to you that her  friendship.  If she is hat awful of a rider then probably most people already know it and won't care what she says

Answer 19

Just say you don't allow others to ride your horse and that they are trained for your cues and you don't want them dulled.

If they still pitch a fit... then I'm not polite anymore.

I get this alot actually because ppl want to ride my mules.. You just have to be rude sometimes.

Answer 20

If you are worried about making enemies you could say that your horse doesn't like strange riders and might buck and you don't want the liability. That way it's not your fault and the other girl has no reason to get mad.

Me, I don't care what people think when I say no, I'm polite when I say it though but I don't give a reason. Sounds harsh but it my horse and I pay the bills.

Answer 21

"My horse doesn't like anyone but me to ride her"

"I'd prefer if you didn't"

"I dont think you riding my horse is a good idea"

"I really think you need more lessons before you ride my horse"

and if none of those gets through her thick skull, please shout at her face:

"I  DONT WANT YOU RIDIN MY d**n HORSE!!"

lol that should do it.

Answer 22

I've had a few very similar situations! People think you are a nice person and try to take advantage or just feel they can get away with asking you if they can ride your horse rather than asking someone else. My reply with my current horse is 'Sorry, but I don't let anyone else ride him, only I ride him'. Straight to the point and they don't normally question it, after all why should they? You pay for his upkeep so they have no 'right' to ride him at all. When I was a kid and had a pony I had no end of these requests, It's amazing who thinks they are a great rider! There's also the classic 'he's lame right now', until they see you riding and take the hint. Good luck with dealing with this girl and remember that if your not protective over your horse you wouldn't be a good horse owner!

Answer 23

Do not let her ride.  Tell her that your horse can be tempered and that you only let friends ride when you are lunging them.  I doubt that she would take you up on that being that she is a very insecure know-it-all showoff.  If she does happen to take you up on it, tell her directly that she is to treat your horse with respect.  Then have her sign a release form in case of injury.  You do not want this to ever become an insurance issue.  Just tell her NO.  

Answer 24

Tell her that your horse is still in training, or that the horse is very peculiar about who rides him/her (tries to buck off strangers, but is OK with you).

I'm sure you can think of something. :)

Answer 25

just tell her that you have a very advanced horse and that you can only ride her yourself one of my friends asked to ride my advanced fast and chalenging american saddlebred and when she asked me i said no... she asked my rideing instructor and she said no... just say no thats all you have to do!

Answer 26

Good Question!

I have a roping horse

who is very skilled in western rodeo

he needs a experenced rider on him

and he was a rescue horse

so you have to be very carful while riding him

i have learned that if you use too much rein

you will more or less end up on the ground.

My excuse for not letting my boastfull friend ride?

is that he is used to the way I ride him and not others

and if she say well I saw so and so riding him while lunging

him tell her that you have been giving her lessons for months

and if that fails say to her that your not going to be leting

them ride your horse for much longer because hes not doing as good in

shows now.  It's really hard to single out one friend but once I had a girl from school get on my horse kick the c**p out of it.  I yelled at her to get off and that she was not riding my horse as long as she rode like that. She got mad and ended up turnig riders against me.  Some people say tell the truth but some times it just doe's not pay.

Answer 27

Sorry - NO.

No need to lie, simply say no. He is a private horse not a lesson horse.

But if you need to add "something" just tell her that your insurance won't cover her.

Answer 28

My horse died. End of story. Just don't let her ever come around when you bring your baby out! No... Or you can say that he's only comforable when you're riding him, and any one else, he gets really upset.

Answer 29

I would be honest with her.  Tell her that her style and your style don't mix.  Let her know that you treat your animals in a certain way and that respect for the animal is expected of anyone that rides them.  Also explain how your horse doesn't respond well to a harsh handler.  Perhaps she can learn something from you and will respect your knowledge.  Then maybe she can ride your horse.

If you prefer to just flat out tell her no...be firm and briefly,matter of factly,explain why you feel it isn't a good idea. Let it go at that and don't bring it up again.  If she asks later you  can further explain your feelings.  I just think that if your honest from the get go it will make things easier in the long run.  

  

Answer 30

Just pretend you're really busy all the time. You could tell her that he is only young and is still in the critical training stage. Or, so then she doesnt think you are refusing to let him ride him, tell her she can and sound really excited, then the day before ring and tell her he is lame.

Or failing that, tell her he has strangles and she cant come and ride him for weeks - she'll have forgotten by then

Answer 31

Um, lets see. There's: "Sorry, She's really still in training and I had those other folks (providing she knows about them) on her (I'm assuming this is a mare) for specific reasons that you just don't match. I can't mess up her training schedule."

Or: Point out that she'd be just SO bored as you only let other folks on your horse at the end of a lunge line.

Or: Go ahead and put her on your horse at the end of a lunge line only, with NO Reins and only a halter, then proceed to 'politely' instruct her in just how freaking much she don't know. Getting on her case hard if she kicks, slaps or otherwise mistreats the horse. This last might not be such a good idea for legal reasons and as it might be hard on the horse.

Then again, you could just look her in the face and say "Sorry. Get your own horse. Only I, and a select few, ride my animals."

That last may not keep her as your friend, but hey, if she's that kind of rider, do you want her as a friend?