1st horse

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stormox

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I have been surprised lately, both on FB and here, how little experience some people seem to have, both in riding and stable management, before they buy a horse of their own.
Just interested really I suppose on how much horse experience people have before they decide its time to get their own. If they are inexperienced do they then get lessons in horse management and riding?
When they do have their own, do they continue to get experience riding as many other horses as possible, or do they then stick to riding their own?
 
I just bought my first horse 2 months ago at the age of 27, having ridden (riding school, shares, loans, and as a paid rider) since I was 5 or 6. I'd obviously built up a degree of horse 'ownership' knowledge, Been to college to do an equine course, done BHS Stages and worked as a groom/ working pupil for both competition riders, livery yards, and commercial yards. I'd say I had a 'decent' level of knowledge, but I still continue to learn every day with my horse!
 
I got my first horse when I was 22 - I was fairly clueless but my OH at the time had worked on a showing yard for years so the knowledge and experience was there. That horse became his and we got another, at that point I was far more clued up what I needed and could handle. Had I been on my own it would have been a disaster. I've had horses since and now have three. Management and handling I consider myself competent but there is always something new to deal with so rely on my network a lot. Riding wise I need lots of work after a few years more or less out of the saddle - I'm having lessons on my new mare and these will continue for some time! I think anyone who has a horse should have a support network they trust, especially if a new owner and be prepared to use it a lot!
 
Just over 40 years ago I got my first horse. A fabulous NF/TB X . I'd done some riding, I done some basic horse care I was 14. We survived , he lived until he was 31 so I think I did ok. We all have to start somewhere. I expect most people do ok and carry on learning. I've never stopped.
 
I bought my first horse after a year of riding lessons at the age of about 20. I bought it with the support of 2 very knowledgeable friends who taught me to do the wider stable/horse management stuff (and talked me through it before we started shopping). I bought and ex-riding school horse who was bombproof and was on a nice small yard.
 
I'm hoping to get my first horse soon and this is one of my concerns.

As a child/teenager I had regular lessons, I worked for rides in my local riding school and helped friends with their horses. I did two years at equine college too.

I've returned to riding as an adult, having lessons again and I'm going on a non-horse owning camp for three days next month. I'd like to think I know the basics and feel I'm ready to own my own, but we're planning on moving house in a few months so I need to get that out of the way first. I'm hoping to get onto a good livery yard where I can ask questions and get advice if needs be, but there's only so much you can learn without actually having your own (ridden and on the ground)
 
I got my first horse at 30. Before that I'd had share horses, I was a working student for a year in the US, I helped run a summer camp riding program for a number of years, had lessons and read extensively. He is kept at the yard where my trainer is located so I also have plenty of help if needed. I've had him for 4 years in September and we've done rather well together so far :)
I've got a few friends who've got first and second horses in the past 5 years and I'm amazed at their lack of knowledge as well but here we don't have many DIY yards and I'd say 90% of your horses care is covered for you.
 
I got my first horse at 18, I had ridden in riding schools and then befriended farmers with horses and hacked out. I had a lot of help at 18 and without that guidance and I'm not sure i could have done it. I then had a break of a few years from horses in my mid twenties because I couldn't afford a horse for a while. Then at 26 I took a pony on loan, bought him at 27, and I still have him now.
I'm constantly learning - and earlier this year took him (and me) away from the safety of the private yard we were on, with a very knowledgable friend at hand, onto a DIY yard. I realised there's still a lot I don't know, but I'm learning constantly and I can look after my pony and ride without issue.
We're about to embark on our next stage as we have bought a house with land and I will be moving my pony to my own yard - daunting but I'm ready for it. I will also be buying another ridden pony so I will have two.
I have some very knowledgable friends who I can lean on when I need to, lots of books I have my head in constantly, and a strong will to learn!

But yes, I think there are a lot of inexperienced people who take a horse on without what I would consider enough knowledge. Of course not many will admit to their shortcomings, but you can see who knows what by the type of things they ask, especially on social media.
 
I got my first horse when I was about 30 years old. I'd had lessons for 6 months and got the bug. In hindsight the purchase wasn't a wise one as he was a very green cob with a propensity for bolting and shoulder dropping. I had him on a working livery to start with, which wasn't really suitable as he just got naughtier and fitter. Switched to full livery for a while, but he wasn't being looked after and I worked away for a few days each week, so the set up was a constant worry, particularly in winter as the yard didn't turn out from mid October to the following May :-( The yard staff were meant to exercise him but seldom did and his stable was often plastered with droppings as he hadn't been mucked out for a few days.

Stuck it for as long as I could, mostly because I was brainwashed by the Y/O, who constantly reminded me how much I needed her wealth of experience and how I'd never cope without her. Moved to a DIY yard with my sister and enrolled in a BHS evening course. The course was interesting but by this time I'd owned my cob for over 2 years and knew most of the basics of the care side such as feeding, bedding etc. I loved it on the DIY yard and learned about the care of horses from getting on with it, rather than reading about it.

To my amazement my horse didn't drink a lot (he often had no water in his bucket on the previous yard) and I managed to fill haynets and muck out... it transpired that he was a very clean and tidy horse who did his droppings at the back of the stable and peed in the same spot. So far from not coping, it was mostly a doddle. My riding slowly improved from spending more time with him and getting to know him properly and he eventually improved too. He had his little quirks, but we got by nicely and I loved him to bits. I bought a foal, husband bought a horse and we managed to buy 4 acres of land, so after 2 years on the DIY yard it was time to do our own thing.

Still learning 20+ years later and that's the joy of equines - we can learn from them every day.
 
I technically only got my first horse less then two years ago at 22. But I had full loaned two horses previously, backed one myself, worked as a full time groom and had ridden and competed for other people since I was about 13. I'm certainly not vastly knowledgable, but I'd like to think I know how to care for my horse and can ride to a fairly decent level. But I'm still learning and suspect I always will be.
 
Interesting thread. As a related aside, what does anyone think of the Equine Distance Learning courses? I know nothing can replace hands-on graft and picked-up wisdom from others in a yard, but as a preparation for someone who doesn't get much time for hands-on yet, anyone rate them?
 
Whilst I am a rather mature rider having lessons etc it would be a 'dream' to have my own horse but I realise it is such a responsibility to be responsible for their care. Reading the posts on here reminds me of the dedication for what goes into owning your trusty steed and what things can go wrong and the ablility of knowing how to recognise that. Its hard graft and dedication and should not be a decision taken lightly. I think that my 'dream' will probably just remain that...

Shirl
 
I've 'owned' horses and ponies since I was 2 - the only thing I rate really is experience... it's like anything else the books and lectures can give you ideas but rarely have the beasts involved read the books ...
 
I was riding at 5/6 yrs old and spent every spare waking moment at my local riding school before moving on to loan ponies on a big livery yard where the support is invaluable. I stopped being horsey through my twenties and early thirties and came back to riding about 6 years ago now where I found it all very quickly fell back into place and i became a horse owner rather quickly. Being on livery in the right place with the right people is a must IMO. When I hear of people having a lesson or two and then trotting off to buy their own horse to keep at home I just shudder with horror!

I do think people need a good foundation of horse care before they own and not just lessons on how to ride one!
 
I've owned my horse for 18 months now. He's my first horse, although I have shared and loaned in the past. My horsey experience only started 5 years ago. I volunteered at a riding school for a year, and it was by chance that my horse came along and was what I would have wanted in a horse.
I spent a few weeks going and grooming him and mucking him out before I decided to actually have him. I thought I knew enough of the basics, but I think you really start to learn when you actually own your own and are literally completely responsible.
 
I bought my own after 2 years of weekly lessons (and no stable management!) (over 10 years ago now). However he was on full livery and I had a lot of support from friends at the time, and I read - a lot! It still took a long time before I was ready to move to DIY, and I only really learned how to muck out straw properly last year!

With horses you are always learning lol!
 
blitznbobs said:
I've 'owned' horses and ponies since I was 2 - the only thing I rate really is experience... it's like anything else the books and lectures can give you ideas but rarely have the beasts involved read the books ...
Click to expand...

true... up to a point... trial and error will only get you so far, some times it will get you into hot water! Good to know the theory on some basic stuff. You wouldn't want to learn about the need to soak sugar beet pellets from experience, for example ;)

Got my first pony at 10 yo, devoured all the books I could and learnt a lot at pony club. 25 years on and still learning :) and in response to the other question in the OP, my horses are now the most advanced in their training that I sit on but I do enjoy riding other peoples horses too :)
 
I got my first horse when I was thirteen after riding since I could pretty much walk. Before I got my first, I'd also participated in several riding holidays which involved completing BHS stages and helped immensely. She taught me a hell of a lot - especially how to deal with a horse who reared if you tried to bring her in from the field! I had some of the worst and best experiences with that mare, as she was also fairly immature (considering Cleveland Bays mature later), but I was also situated on a riding school which was extremely useful.
 
Had ponies as a kid but then didn't have a horse for 30 years. Got a horse just over two years ago who was sadly pts a few weeks ago. He taught me a lot but I don't think I would have coped with him if I hadn't had ponies when I was younger. The last couple of years have been a steep learning curve but we got there in the end. I now have my new mare who is lovely. I do have go to.people on the yard. I sometimes think I have forgotten more than I know x
 
stormox said:
I have been surprised lately, both on FB and here, how little experience some people seem to have, both in riding and stable management, before they buy a horse of their own.
Just interested really I suppose on how much horse experience people have before they decide its time to get their own. If they are inexperienced do they then get lessons in horse management and riding?
When they do have their own, do they continue to get experience riding as many other horses as possible, or do they then stick to riding their own?
Click to expand...

Don't you just need youtube these days and the one of each of everything in "equine" on amazon/ebay? Surely you can ask siri anything too if you get stuck?
 
I got my first horse just under a year ago. I've been riding since I was four and turn 24 in August. I've had several ponies on loan and worked at a few yards and I still think I was being a bit naive and over-estimated how much I knew.

I'm very lucky that I've had some incredibly supportive friends and my pony is on a yard where everyone is very kind and helpful.

I think with horses, you will constantly learn and develop. They're horses of their own will and thinking and that's why we all love them! I don't think I'd ever go back to not having a horse now. I can't believe how far we've come in such a short space of time :)

Also - the Exmoor pony community has been nothing but helpful since I got my mare - they're all lovely!!!
 
I got my first horse at 25 having started regular riding lessons when I was 4. I'm 33 now and compete at low level but still describe myself as a bumbling riding school idiot!
I'd done occasional "own a pony days" but during my uni years I couldn't afford riding lessons so volunteered at an RDA group and got quite a bit of experience on the floor - we'd groom at shows, etc. including over night stays.
I had a number of (mostly unsuccessful) shares in the following couple of years so I'd got a bit more experience of both riding and stable management. I was still doing my usual lessons and going trekking a bit too.
I still didn't really feel prepared for horse ownership so I took on Alfie on a fixed term loan with a supportive owner who could take him back if I couldn't cope and I went on a small livery yard with an experienced yard owner who knew I was a newbie to it.
It went so well I bought Alfie some months later and have never looked back but there isn't a day I don't learn something even 7 years on. It is scary what I didn't know I didn't know when I got him and dread to think what I'll yet discover I don't know!
 
For me this feels close to the bone...I'd planned to move house to a more horsey area before getting my first horse. I have experienced friends but not near by. My family aren't horsey at all. My house sale was due to complete this week but it fell apart when my buyers pulled out last week. I'd already found a horse (wasn't looking) and had an appt to go try him.

I've been riding for 20+ years but never been able to loan (I work and there's nowhere close). I've done stage 1 certificates and read full BHS stable management book and many Kelly Marks books. I've been on horsey holidays with friends where I cared for a horse for a week. I ride regularly at a RS.

I'd visited livery yards based on where I was moving to, not where I am now. If I can find a yard where I can get the support I need I'm going to put a deposit on him this week and get him vetted. He's a big horse but very straightforward and has lovely manners and a nice, calm attitude to life.

Do I feel ready? No, not really but I don't think I ever will. I'm happy I know enough and I'll have support to keep us safe and happy. I will develop osteoporosis in the coming years (10 years or so into my future) so every year I waste now through doubt will be something I regret hugely in the future.
 
Bought mine when I was 10 after being at a riding school for 5 years.

I used to help out after my lesson while Dad was having his as well as sharing a pony called Naughty Nicki on Sundays. After that I learned from reading stuff and asking people for advice :)
 
I'm not opposed to complete novices, who know what they are, and have the wit to have their horses on full livery. I have more of a problem with people who have a few years riding experience, have done a stable management course, and think they know everything.

I've been riding/owned horses fro 40 years, and I still have regular lightbulb moments, where I realise that I'm doing something all wrong
 
I'm 25 and bought my first horse in September. I have ridden for around 20 years, done my BHS up to level 2, worked on a riding school when I was younger etc. I am still learning so much, I have always been a confident rider but less confident handling which I now feel so much more competent doing. I was always cautious not to over horse myself - I ended up buying a rising 4yr old cob and feel we are doing great together so far
 
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