Advise Taken

[Shantara]

I was thinking about charities, since I'm a huge fan of charities and I could always try and volunteer for a while, before I decide if a racehorse is actually for me.
Also agree that I don't have to limit myself either Ned's a standardbred (We don't think he's raced) and he was only £600.
Either way, not going to rush this I've seen so many people rush buying a horse and ruin not only their confidence, but the horse too...but who knows, my perfect horse might be the first one I look at Only time will tell, I guess.

 

[RunToEarth]

Some have said that I shouldn't fixate on a certain breed, don't worry ^^ I'm not! I'll look at plenty of ex racers who need a home and if I don't find anything good, I'll go else where I honestly like too many breeds to pick just one! I'll see what's out there when the time comes and shop around.

Echo Bravo: I realise it's full time commitment and I'll need more money I'm not allowing myself to even look (Unless it's for research) at horses for sale untill I know I can totally do it. I know the heartbreak of not being prepared and having to sell, it happened to a good friend of mine. She still hates herself for relying on her boyfriend to pay for it and when he left her...the horse had to go. She had put a huge amount of work in and turned a psycho mare into a dream. I had to go to viewings with her it was awful.

Anyway, I'd rather be at a yard, knee deep in mud and snow, at 5am, than out partying and wasting money on alcohol (Don't drink...ever!!)

I'm sure I've read before that you are on JSA, if this is the case im positive you can't afford a horse.
If I were you I would go for a schoolmaster of sorts, I know you have experience with horses but am I right in thinking this would be first time owning.
Ex racers are a very mixed bag, my OH has two, and I find them a lot more challenging than our others to ride and to handle. I know it is lovely to "Rescue" an ex racer but it may not work out well for either of you.

 

[Shantara]

I was on JSA, but I got a job last friday that's what's made me start to seriously consider a horse. It won't be for a while yet though as although I do have savings, I need more, I can't drive and I'd need more hours at the same job, or a better paying job.

Like I said, I'm going to shop around If I can't find a TB that I can handle, I won't get one. When I go horse shopping, I'll take a couple of other people with me, who can also look at the horse and help me decide, I know how easy it is to fall in love with the wrong horse

 

[Queenbee]

I was on JSA, but I got a job last friday that's what's made me start to seriously consider a horse. It won't be for a while yet though as although I do have savings, I need more, I can't drive and I'd need more hours at the same job, or a better paying job.

Like I said, I'm going to shop around If I can't find a TB that I can handle, I won't get one. When I go horse shopping, I'll take a couple of other people with me, who can also look at the horse and help me decide, I know how easy it is to fall in love with the wrong horse

I thought you had a job

 

[JFTDWS]

QB, she has a new job, hence is thinking about saving up for next year or so to be able to buy a horse (or rather, have money in the bank having bought a horse, I presume)

 

[Lolo]

Reg was Al's first horse, from a 14.2hh mare. He had raced until he was 7 or so, and then been injured so turned away to see if he would heal (it was a front suspensory I think). It did, and he was sound after 18 months. Prior to his injury he'd got quite a few top 3 placings, and a win. Al got him, and it's been an interesting journey ever since!

Last year was very hard work. As she put it, sometimes it didn't feel like they were going anywhere but backwards no matter how hard she worked. He was pole-basher extraordinaire, and could consistently score 48% in the dressage.

This year has been amazing in comparison. He has jumped several clear rounds, and has only scored more than 8 on 3 occasions (although they were impressively over!). His average dressage score must be about 65%, and hopefully he'll do Novice tests next year, and some 1.10m SJ ready to go to BE Novice. He is an amazing XC horse- bold as brass, clever and careful.

He is also a pleasure to own, a superb hack and a gentleman to care for. He is not a lunatic by any stretch of the imagination- he's possibly the nicest horse we've had the pleasure of caring for!

And a video that shows them over the two years:
[youtube]sQYBwOtj_LM[/youtube]

I would just add that the key to this improvement has been weekly lessons with a very experienced instructor. And it's not an easy way, or the way for someone who lacks experience. He does cost a small fortune to keep, not in vets bills (touch wood, fingers crossed...) or in special shoes (shod every 6 weeks, and now he's having his holiday he's barefoot) or in feed (no more than any 16.3hh horse who's in hard work) but because any horse costs a small fortune! He lives out 24/7 because he seems to prefer it.

 

[Queenbee]

QB, she has a new job, hence is thinking about saving up for next year or so to be able to buy a horse (or rather, have money in the bank having bought a horse, I presume)

No I know, its just that I remembered reading that she had worked a year and a half at poundsaver, and I assumed this was still ongoing. then I read this and got confused... it really doesn't take muchOP whats your new job, have you started yet and are you enjoying it?

 

[Shantara]

No I know, its just that I remembered reading that she had worked a year and a half at poundsaver, and I assumed this was still ongoing. then I read this and got confused... it really doesn't take muchOP whats your new job, have you started yet and are you enjoying it?

Yea, I was at Poundland for a year and a half, got utterly sick of it, then worked at the Open University for a mouth (Fantastic pay, helped me save for driving lessons, but due to a mix up at the agency, I was let go...I was furious!) I panicked a bit and signed on for JSA, two weeks later, I got the job at the Co-Op which is just down the road from me I started last week, it's alright, but not what I really want to do for a career.
The pay is ok, but I don't think I could keep a horse with it, despite living at home and not having a house to look after. Hence me still looking for a job or asking for more hours I think if I were completely full time I could afford a horse, but I'm not quite there.
Soooo...I figured I'd use this job to boost my savings and continue driving and even get insurance.

I'm aiming to get a horse next year, but if I can't afford it or can't for whatever reason, there's always next year! I just like having a date to aim for

 

[JFTDWS]

What do you want to do, do you know?

 

[Shantara]

I'd love to do something arty. I have an idea for a comic that I think could be big, but my computer is far too slow to do anything that big on. It also needs some more planning, but I have the basics Already got quite a big following and I've only done a few drawings of the characters.

Here's a teaser for the comic

Kung Fu and big cats are my other love

 

[sheep]

Have you considered maybe pursuing a course in graphic design? My little brother has just started one this year (after not getting the grades to get into uni) and actually now I think he's very glad he's moved into that.. it allows him to use his artistic talents and because it's quite vocational he'll be qualified to do something once he's done. It seems you are very good with producing art electronically; maybe you'd enjoy it (or maybe not!).

 

[JFTDWS]

I thought you might be fancying something like that. I had a friend who considered it for a while, she's teaching now, I don't think her art was really up to it (she had other skills ). I suspect it isn't easy to get into, but if it's something you can work on alongside a "normal" job, you may get lucky...

I like that, very impressive

 

[Shantara]

Thanks ^^

Yea, I was thinking about doing it alongside a 'proper' job. Arty things are so uncertain. Some days I can earn £100, sometimes I don't get anything for months.