Guide

Clarifying expectations and rules in a horse share

3 min read

Most horse shares don't break over riding, but over unspoken expectations. Whoever clarifies tasks, contribution, days, holidays and insurance early builds a relationship that lasts a year and beyond. This guide presents the six expectation topics, a template and Swiss key points.

Why unspoken expectations are the main friction source

On reitbeteiligungen.ch and Swiss forums, the pattern is clear: when a horse share collapses after three to six months, it's almost always over expectations that were never voiced. The owner assumes the sharer also mucks out in winter. The sharer assumes the arena is included in the contribution.

These expectations don't appear in the ad and emerge only when someone feels passed over. An honest clarification before the first riding day prevents this.

The six expectation topics

Six topics recur as conflict sources in Swiss practice. Clarifying them before day one covers 80 % of typical frictions.

  • Days and frequency. How many per week, which days, which time slots, which model (see Sharing riding days).
  • Care division. Which tasks are standard, which not? Mucking out, feeding, paddock, blankets?
  • Holidays and sickness. Notice period for holidays, replacement for sickness, owner's priority on conflict.
  • Riding style and horse's training goal. Which gaits allowed, which not? Jumping only with supervision? Trail in company?
  • Special costs. Who pays what's not in the monthly contribution? (See Extra costs.)
  • Insurance. What owner's liability coverage? Which "riding someone else's horse" add-on for sharer?

The written agreement: short and clear

A horse share agreement in Switzerland doesn't need to be notarial. The point is both sides have the same rules in view. Tried-and-tested structure:

  • Who: Names and locations of both parties, horse's name and location.
  • What: Number of days, chosen model, included tasks.
  • When: Start date, trial period, notice period.
  • Cost: Monthly contribution, payment method and date, special costs handling.
  • Who is liable: Insurance status of both sides, reference to Swiss contract law.
  • Preferences: Riding style rules, trail, jumping, supervision.
  • On conflict: Pre-contact to stable manager, deadline for clarification, mediation option.

One A4 page suffices.

Swiss key points

Several standard values in nearly every Swiss agreement:

  • Notice period: One month at month end.
  • Trial period: Four to six weeks without notice.
  • Payment date: By the 3rd or 5th of the month, by bank transfer or TWINT.
  • Insurance clarification: Owner has animal liability, sharer's private liability covers "riding someone else's horse".
  • Contract basis: Swiss Code of Obligations (OR), valid also without signature if service is used.

What doesn't belong in the agreement

A good agreement regulates the essential, not the maximum. Not to include:

  • Micro-prescriptions on every grooming technique or hoof care frequency.
  • Prescriptions about the sharer's private life outside the stable.
  • Excessive social media clauses.
  • Excluding clarification conversations on disagreement.

Frequently asked questions

Which expectations to clarify before day one? Days, care division, holidays and sickness, riding style and horse goal, special costs, insurance.

Should expectations be written? Not mandatory but highly recommended.

What doesn't belong? Micro-rules and private life prescriptions.

Unspoken expectations later? Short clarifying conversation soon and without blame.

Swiss key points? Notice period, payment terms, insurance clarification, OR reference.

Sources

Keep the agreement up to date in HorseCompanion

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Updated: June 2026