AHHH!!! This is drivnig me mad. I need some to the point advice please!!

Marble Arch

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I have stopped owning and now loaning. PLEASE HELP!! I have the following options: (if there are any other options let me know!)

Option 1 (I am currently doing this)

Ride 2 days per week (any days) - £65 per month
Good: cheap, straight forward, no commitment.
Bad: I don’t have a say in his upkeep. Other people might ride him and I would have no say. I REALLY like this horse. I hate the idea of anyone else having him.

Option 2

Ride whenever I like - £130 p/m
Good: I can see him more than 2 times per week.
Bad: More expensive, still don’t know if I have exclusive possession although it would make it harder for the owner to let others ride as that would affect my arrangement. I still don’t have say over upkeep. I like my horses with nice food, feet done, cleaned up, new rugs. I wouldn’t have any control if she decided for any reason to stop loaning out.

Option 3

Take over ownership. Cost - £0 to buy £175 for livery.
Good: He’s mine!!! All mine!!! :)
Bad: she might say no and that would really upset me :(. Risky (potentially) as he is 17yrs old things could go wrong. Its the most expensive option and I am supposed to be saving for a wedding (but I can get round that :))

Option 4

Walk away
Good: costs nothing
Bad: I have a mental breakdown :D

WHAT DO I DO?!?!
 
Option 3 - I would hate either of the first two options tbh.

Yes, he is older, but things can go wrong with a horse at any age, my sister's 20yo competed in a 90cm ODE at the weekend, so his legs aren't exactly falling off yet! :D

If you have to spend that much, you will find other areas to cut down on I'm sure so that you can still save for the wedding :)
 
Look out for a younger horse to buy, good horses are about and at good prices. Try to find one that can live out to keep costs down. Then you have all the rights to its welfare and riding.
You could then part loan it out to help with it's keep and you would be in charge.
 
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I don't have allot of time during the week so I was looking for something older that doesn't mind being out of work for a few days at a time. I think something younger might be a too much fo me. Plus, I don't want to share my horse at all. Sounds completely selfish doesn it!
 
I think when you say take over ownership you mean take on full loan (excuse me if I'm confusing you with another poster here!)?

If so, and you can afford it for, e.g. at least a year, then go for it.

Owning outright (as in can't send it back to the charity if you need the money for e.g. house, kids after you get the wedding out the way) means you have to have the finances in place to care for him
- for the next 15ish years
- even if he develops a medical/age condition that prevents him being ridden
- even if treatment for the above is expensive (and, after the first year, excluded form your insurance)
or pts for financial reasons.

Good luck with whatever you decide!
 
option 2!
making sure you do have exclusive rights over riding him and have a chat with the owners over the details of the care and feed etc You need the feed and the feet etc to a certain standard for you to be able to ride him which you are paying for. I would be weary about buying at that age, as someone further up mentioned there will be more medical issues/costs with an older horse and there could be 10+ years of it, and who knows when the horse will have to be retired - it could be tomorow!
I would definately loan, with a good contract in place and an agreement over the care and keep to create a horse fit and well enough for you to ride.
 
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