Am I ready for a horse?

[Lexie6528]

Sorry if I’ve written this in the wrong area, I’m new to the forums thing XD
But anyways, I would like to know if I’m ready for a horse from others point of view. I’m 14 years old and have been riding for around 5 years. I can confidently walk trot canter gallop deal with problem horses and jumping courses of up to 90cm. I know a lot about horse care, being educated on all the main illnesses spotting lameness horse feed racking up grooming the list goes on. I currently have a mare on loan which was meant to be part but has turned into 7 days a week. She’s in DIY livery and her owner is very rarely down so I’m left to care for her on my own this including turning out mucking out changing her rugs doing her feed hay ect. She’s not the easiest horse and is very green in the school which were currently working on.
I’ve been loaning her for around 6 months but don’t like the boundaries which come with loaning and would much prefer my own. My parents are in a financial state where they could afford a horse and I have went through the costs of livery vet farrier feed etc and also shown some local yards to them.
The only downside is they are not horsey so would not be able to help but I have many horsey friends and an experienced trainer who could help me in choosing the right pony/horse.

thank you for reading this far, I would much appreciate any replies

 

[Trouper]

You certainly seem to have as much experience as many others who take on a horse so I would not question your readiness in that regard. You do need to ensure that the finances are in place to cover all the hidden costs of horse ownership so I would ask your trainer to go through these with you so that you can brief your parents fully on what is involved. If you like the horse you are "loaning" I would look to turning it into an official full loan so you would save the initial purchase costs and a full loan might release you from the "boundaries" you are currently facing. It seems as if you are doing all the work for the owner at the moment! If you found things were working out to be too difficult for you, you would still have the ability to return the horse to the owner. Good luck with whatever you decide.

 

[Lexie6528]

Thanks for your reply, finances wouldn’t be an issue as for the amount I’m paying for my loan at the minute, my parents would prefer me to have my own. Also for my loans owner I am now doing both of her horses(as she has two) since apparently she has to self isolate and can’t leave the house to go to her horses for 4 months. My parents think this is unfair as they are paying someone yet I’m doing all the work for her two horses when the agreement was only for one. My trainer has spoke to my parents while I have had lessons about the finances and they have said it wouldn’t be an issue, just don’t know how I’m going to get out of the loan as I feel very bad and feel like the owner won’t take it the best.

 

[mossycup]

Do you have a contract with your loaner? I would perhaps get your parents to speak to her along with you - she can't charge you to loan one horse, then expect you to do the full care for her other horse for free.

 

[Lexie6528]

We did write up a contract but we didn’t get a copy as she took it, I now would feel really bad as I know she wouldn’t be able to cope with her other horse and if I wasn’t looking after him she would have to sell him but at the same time I think it’s unfair for me to have to look after two seven days a week when the loan was meant to be 4 days a week for one horse.

 

[mossycup]

Yes, she is taking the mick out of you because she thinks she can get away with taking advantage of a teenager. Her other horse is NOT your problem - she needs to arrange suitable alternative care if she isn't, or negotiate new fair terms with you if you want to help her out (in return for not having to pay towards your loan horse perhaps?)

 

[mossycup]

And if she's not agreeable, give notice on your loan horse, let this corona madness pass, then enjoy horse hunting!!

 

[Lexie6528]

To start with she was only asking me to do him a few days a week but now she’s only up every few weeks since she’s ‘ill’ except she looks fine when she’s posting on fb. I don’t mind doing him as I know she needs the support atm, but it gets a bit much having to do two horses everyday and not getting home after school until 7pm especially as the way she likes them mucked out takes me forever since she takes out all the wet too. Now that I’ve gotten myself into it I don’t know how to get out without an argument or conflict arising.

 

[Winters100]

I think at 14 you are too young to deal with the termination of the agreement and your parents should step in and deal with this. I can totally understand your feelings about not wanting to do all the work for the second horse, I would say however that in current times we all need to help one another, so now would not be a good time to stop. Maybe your parents could give the lady a call and tell her that once this current crisis is over they would like you to concentrate more on school and ask her to make other arrangements for the second horse.

Good luck, and please remember to be kind to this lady, because however much you may feel taken advantage of you don't know what other struggles she may have.