Do you find this frustrating?

No one has ever done that to me, but family has said "Can I ride your horse?"

I have no problem letting someone ride my horses. They are well trained and safe animals. But that also doesnt mean I pass them around

I get this all the time. I've got a wonderfully docile 11 yr old Paint gelding. He's a babysitter horse, and everyone believes that he and I are at their beck and call. My sister loves to invite her boyfriend's children to ride him, without consulting me first. Yeah, they like horses and its great to see them happy, but it's insulting that she goes around me. MY HORSE. -_-

My brother frequently brought his non-horse savvy girlfriend and her brother who has a saddle to ride. They'd gallop and lope him all around my pasture with out warming him up or letting him breath. THey'd cinch the saddle too tight and never groom when they were done, pull his mouth, kick him too hard, and used unnecessary spurs simply because they had them and saw that they were used in movies. The girlfriends brother would ask my brother about the horse, when he didn't know anything, just because I'm 14 and apparently stupid. Iroquois was used as a tool for my brother to show off and play cowboy. His incompetencee and his girlfriend's over confidence resulted in getting her elbow shattered and 2 months of surgery. She hasn't been around in a while. hehehe

And my dad has a paint mare that everyone loves because she's pretty. Pretty horses aren't always good horses, which all of these idiot city slickers can't seem to understand. She's a hot-headed barrel horse with too much energy and attitude for her own good. Definately not a beginners horse, and whenever I have to explain that the pretty horse can't be ridden, I'm insta-bad guy.

Yeah it happens all the time- my horse is as safe as they come so people are always throwing children at him.

Just because he's sweet enough not to kill them, doesn't mean I want the world and his wife piled up on top of my pony. I try so hard to train him so he doesn't get any bad habbits and yet he still ends up as the resident seaside donkey. I've come out the tackroom before only to find that during the 5 minutes I had gone in to get something, there was a baby (yes, an actual baby- as in still in nappies) being held on my horse's back obviously with no hat on, and with no tack on my horse. Admittantly I wouldn't have minded that much because my horse hadn't actually noticed he was up there, and if my horse had his first mental moment of his life then the baby was technically just being held by his mother but I just don't appreciate not being asked.

It's incredibly annoying, and also incredibly hard to say no. I know my horse wouldn't do anything... Yes, he's safe- is that any reason why he deserves to be bounced around on and have his mouth yanked by a bunch of beginners? People should have more consideration.

I just had a little girl thrown from a pony that belongs to my grand daughter. The pony is one of two paints that had been ridden by my grand children, ages 6 and 7, the weekend before. The first thing this nes rider did was to stiffen up and squeal. The next thing she did was hit the ground. Everyone stood there looking at me as if I had thrown her. Her father was even holding a lead rope. It just goes to show why people should only ride their own horse and strangers be made to know that they are responsible not you. Try this sign. Rides = $50 per hour. This should slow down the unwanted traffic.

Extremely frustrating. My mother works with a woman who's daughter has been taking lessons for about a year at a stable that really only specializes in w/t/c lessons. My mom's co-worker thinks her daughter is the world's greatest rider or something and is constantly volunteering her to "gallop" my horse for me.

My horse, by the way, is a four year old OTTB who has been off the track for only about three months and she's only had about five weeks of training. She is not suitable for a beginning rider to walk in a circle, let alone take for a gallop.

And she just does not understand why I will not allow her daughter to ride my horse. She thinks a year of lessons are all one needs to be able to handle a barely green-broke horse.

Yes. And I tell them sure, but you have to sign a waiver first and oh, maybe make sure you have some life insurance. That usually gets their attention. We have seven horses, and out of all of them, no one ever wants to ride the one guy anybody of any age or riding level can get on. I don't know why, he's such big baby, but I guess people think he's boring and they look better riding the other guys. No one is allowed on Socks unless they're special. She's very spirited and tests her riders. She knows how to scare people very well. I've started letting a few more people ride her, but just in the arena. Most people aren't allowed on Thor. He's a formerly abused mustang gelding who has spooking issues. He's a very pretty colour, silver dun, so he catches people's eyes right away. You have to be confident to ride him, so beginners are a big no. Seven and Jimmy are pretty young. Sadie and Pawnee are pretty good with people, but no one ever seems to want to ride them, just the ones above their ability.

I just say no, I don't want to deal with the legal issues. I try to make a joke out of it, but let them know I'm serious at the same time. I'm getting very good at telling people they can't ride my horses.

Yes, it makes me so mad! I've had it happen several times by friends, family, and my boyfriend did it just a couple days ago! I don't have a problem with letting people ride one of my horses, but I have a release typed up and signed before I allow anyone outside of my close family and best friends, considering they are very experienced riders, on one of my babies. Not only is it dangerous for an inexperienced rider, but it's also dangerous for the animal if somebody doesn't know what their doing, so I don't let just anybody on one. I have to know that they have had some type of riding experience.

ironicly, this happened to me just the other day, this is how it went down...

So I have a 17.1 warmblood mare, who i LOVE dearly, but lets be honest, she spook at almost every thing, and goes a little faster than normal. So a couple of my friends (and thier children) went to go meet up, and some how our conversation leads into horses, and all the kids are like "I wish i could ride a horse" and my best friend (def. not a horse person) says "Oh, I bet Caroline will joyfully give you a ride on her horsey... infront of all the little 5 & 6 year old kids!

So I was like... "Maybe another time..." because it was so awkward for me... I mean, if i had like A little quite little pony who never does anything bad, maybe, but a crazy mare... i don't think so! :)

UUGGG... I hate when this happens

Non-horse people just don't understand. Most of them have only ever encountered sweet, mellow, dead-broke horses, and assume all horses are like this. I'm glad nobody has ever volunteered my horses awkwardly before, but my friends have asked me if they can ride my horse.

I lease a 17.2hh Thoroughbred gelding. He's totally beginner-safe, and I recently gave my parents a riding lesson on him, but that was with special permission from his owner and the barn owner. He's not my horse, and so I can't just say, "Oh yeah! You can totally come over and ride!" to just anyone. There are rules at my barn, and rightfully so, which include that people who aren't students, boarders, leasers, or instructors aren't supposed to ride unless it's specially arranged and supervised. Not letting your friends ride your horse is a pretty strict rule. But, it's really hard to have to say to your best friend, "I'm sorry, but I can't let you come ride," especially when they repeat to you that they've never ridden a horse and have always wanted to...

Haha, it also gets on my nerves when a good friend of mine, who has apparently gone horseback riding (on a supervised trail ride) ever summer since she was nine, says she knows how to ride. Um, actually, you don't... Not that it's a bad thing, but don't say you can when you can't! I'm so tempted to say, "Why don't I give you a lesson on my horse?" just to prove her wrong (in the nicest way possible :P) but I can't do that. Oh well :) I love her anyway.

I totally get that! There are some ladies at my stable who volunteer others horses! Its like, "hello, not your horse, not yours to volunteer."

"My" (long story) horse knows me and I know her little quirks best out of anyone. This woman who hasn't been riding in 18 years hops on "just for fun!" Lets get something straight, "my" horse is a spooky, anxious OTTB with lots of quirks that make most people freak out. This woman had no clue what the frick she was doing and was on her way to ruining a whole bunch of training that I had finally accomplished with her. It hurt to watch.

That same woman's daughter passed around (almost literally) my instructors horse for a few HOURS to 6 different people, when this stubborn old QH is used to a light 1 hour at most ride. My instructor was pissed beyond belief.

Yes! actually my bf just did this to me. He said his sons gf who has never been on a horse could come ride holly. Well thats nice to know! She is no longer at our farm to be a pasture mate for his QH that I cannot get to stop jumping the fences and chasing cows. She is a good girl but has not been saddled and ridden in about three years since there is only the pasture they are in and his qh is very spooky and teaching her to be. I told him fine then she can ride your horse since you want to let her ride so bad. He wont even ride her and while i have been working on her she is still a b**ch and will try to kill you from time to time.