Am I ready for a horse?

[dcallow9]

Hi!

New to the forum and joined for this specific question really. I've recently been looking into getting my own horse. It feels very right but I know if I straight up told some of my more horsey friends that don't know the full story, they would really advise against it.

I've always since I was very little had an interest in horses - my entire childhood was spent researching them with books and online and learning every aspect. You name it, I researched it. Grooming, parts of the saddle, even how to ride. I was always very highly allergic to horses though, so was never able to execute my knowledge through caring or riding. I went on a few trail rides when I was 7, but everytime I felt horrible after and I would be all swollen with a runny nose, but the first feeling I got when getting on the pony was happiness - and how I felt it was what I was meant to do.

Last year however, I fully grew out of my allergies very suddenly. As soon as I realised, I started taking full care of a family friends two horses, which live in a field directly in front of my house. I finally got to put all my knowledge into the horses, and from the beginning benefitted from knowing a lot. I've learnt so much from those two. The woman who owns them never has time to go down to them, so when I first got there, their manes were matted, hooves were cracking and one of them was nervous and spooky of everything. I researched to make sure I was doing things the way I should, but I eventually halter broke one of them and now she is very confident and we're currently working on leading politely! They love having a good fuss, and being around them for me is so therapeutic. They are now so well cared for, and in all fairness, apart from farrier, vet expenses and food expenses have been mine for the past year.

A few months after that, I started a horse management course which I unfortunately had to stop due to the COVID spike and lockdown recently, at my local stable. I'd be there for 7 hours at a time, 2 days a week and after school for a few hours on one day. I would be tacking up, taking horses out for treks with people, dealing with horses that were spooking whilst on treks, grooming, mucking out and experiencing all aspects of care. I also learnt a lot from this, but they were very impressed by my previous knowledge about them as well.

I have only just recently started riding, but as soon as I got on the horse, I knew it was my thing. I've been told that so far I'm very confident and a natural rider, and I should be cantering anytime soon. I have a very strong connection with riding now, even not many lessons in.

My conundrum is deciding what to do. I feel I am ready and definitely willing to care for a companion horse, financially and knowledge wise, but I am scared that soon, I'll realise that I want something more which I can work with, just for light schooling and hacks but I feel I will get judged by people and that it would be unreasonable for me financially to fully own 2, meaning I would have to then rehome the companion which I have already built a bond with. Do I get a companion, knowing that I may have to part ways with it, or do I jump in, take the risk and buy a horse which I can work with, which is very well trained and beginner friendly?

Thank you so much to anyone that bothered to read all the way through snd help!

 

[Sail_away]

A safe, beginner’s horse with no veterinary issues, will teach you how to canter, jump, take you to your first outing etc etc is going to be about 10k right now. Safety is expensive, even if you don’t want something especially talented.
I rode at riding schools from 9-15, it felt like bloody ages but once you build a relationship with the yard and the instructors, you get the interesting horses, the new ones, the ‘instructor’s only’ ones, and a larger place might let you take them XC, out jumping or away to shows - there’s a lot you can do at a good riding school. It sets you up very well for your own because you work out how to get on a horse, assess it in ten minutes and adjust your riding to it. You don’t get that skill if you get your own very early because you’re used to one horse every time you ride.
I’d stay at your riding school for now, get some more experience, and when you’re more confident then see if you can find a share horse. Usually people are looking for riders with a fair amount of experience, so don’t be put off if it takes a while to find something suitable. Then after having shared, if you want your own, see if you can afford it by putting away the money you’d spend monthly on it away into a ‘horse fund’. Particularly for a first owner, horses are expensive. You learn how to cut expenses and figure out what needs the vet, what just needs a cold hose/clean etc, but at the start you’ll be spending a lot on gear and calling the vet for every little bump or graze.
It is very rewarding owning a horse, but with your first one you do get those moments where you think you’ve been utterly stupid, you can’t possibly cope with a horse and you don’t know what to do. Best to go into that situation with as much experience as you can!

 

[Pearlsacarolsinger]

As you are still at school and anything could happen in the future, with regard to your education/employment, I suggest that you carry on riding at the riding school and learning all that you can to put into practice with the horses in the field in front of your house. What would be the point of buying a companion pony? There are 2 already available to you, it is likely that you will want to buy a horse to ride eventually and what would you do with the companion then?

 

[dcallow9]

As you are still at school and anything could happen in the future, with regard to your education/employment, I suggest that you carry on riding at the riding school and learning all that you can to put into practice with the horses in the field in front of your house. What would be the point of buying a companion pony? There are 2 already available to you, it is likely that you will want to buy a horse to ride eventually and what would you do with the companion then?

My current plan is to stay where I live - which is a stunning, quiet corner of Scotland. Once I have completed teaching one of the horses to lead politely, I don't have much more progress to make with them, except for care for them. If I were to get a companion, I was interested in getting one from a rescue, that was already well behaved but to give them a good life and to learn things myself by having a blank canvas to work with. By the time I get a riding horse, realistically, I will be out of school and I will be employed at the same place I am right now, which full time will give me enough to cater for the two of them. That's the plan I've come up with anyway!

 

[splashgirl45]

i think you are being too ambitious, owning and caring for 1 horse is very time consuming and expensive so 2 for most people is not a good idea for a first timer.. i worked part time at a riding school from age 13 to get experience and only bought my first horse when i was 21, the knowledge i gained was invaluable and i had lots of fun with the riding school horses and got good enough to be trusted to ride a couple of quality horses who were liveries......in hindsight if i had got my own at 16 i wouldnt have been properly prepared..the reason i didnt get one at 16 was financial, my parents couldnt afford to help me, so i had to save up myself....as you are young and prices are sky high i would carry on at the rs the same as i did and save like mad...i have had horses for over 50 years so you have got plenty of time to enjoy them

 

[18hhOlls&Me]

I know this probably isn't what you want to hear but I agree. Even after the initial cost of a suitable, safe and sound horse, you need a regular income and on average £900 a month SPARE (as in on top of all your living expenses) to cover all the obvious costs (livery, tack which is HUGELY expensive, transport to the yard and back, feed) but also insurance, topping up vet fees even if you claim on insurance, saddle fitters, shoeing, extra equipment when things break or you need something different, rug cleaning and maintenance, paying extra to the yard if you are sick and can't get to the yard for a while especially if you are on DIY livery, vaccinations, worming, strangles tests, transport to the vet if your horse needs to go in in an emergency, physios, trainers, supplements, clipping if needed, costs associated with a fall/injury, the list goes on and on and unexpected costs can, no WILL come up. Unless you have well off parents willing to support your horse financially you are young to buy your own horse or pony off your own bat. It's great you have studied and learned so much but like so many things it's a whole different animal (pun intended!) in practice. I worked on a stables at 15, I used to cycle there at 6am to open the yard and bit by bit the owner let me exercise the horses after school, lunge them and I got free lessons in the end too and went to my first shows etc etc. Don't wish your life away thinking I want to be older and have sole responsibility for a horse, its very rewarding but HARD, especially in these uncertain times. With your theoretical knowledge and enthusiasm look for local riding schools or a private owner who will hire you or work for free in exchange for riding, use some of your money for lessons to learn to ride really well and enjoy your younger years knowing that if you work hard and apply yourself, the right time will come. Maybe a career with horses is for you even, but at your age you have so much to enjoy without being tied to the huge responsibility and obligation that comes with owning your own. Check Preloved, Horsequest, equestrian shop bulletin boards etc, looking for people who would love your help in exchange for riding if it's the right horse and safe. And even then you will need to pay for rider's insurance and safe riding gear. If you really are determined that it's just one horse you want to care for, look for a local share at a riding school or livery yard- always be honest about your level of riding experience and expect to pay a financial contribution and/or stable duties. When its 7pm at night in December, freezing cold and raining and you are filling hay nets, mucking out, whatever, you may be glad that at this age you are doing it a couple of days a week not every single day. Study hard, have fun with your friends and keep adding to your knowledge via one of these routes, and look forward to the future when you can enjoy owning a horse by having a stable income that is sufficient to cover anything that might happen. We really aren't trying to crush your enthusiasm but we've all seen it before, young people taking on too much, thinking they can do it on DIY, that they can get a part time job around school to pay for livery, or have some savings.....it almost never ends well. Enjoy it as a wonderful part time hobby and enjoy these great years of your life when it's all ahead of you!!xx

 

[WispyBegs]

It’s lovely to hear how eager you are, but I would worry that you were throwing yourself in at the deep end.

In my personal opinion, I think you would be wise to continue with your lessons and get your riding ability to be where you want it to be.

When you feel like you have all the basics you need, ie. confidence in walk/trot/canter/polework/jumps, or whatever discipline you find yourself leaning towards, I would then talk to your instructor as they will know your abilities best, and they will be able to advise you on what type of horse would suit you best.

If you do decide to buy a horse for riding purposes, please make sure to have it vetted before purchase and do take someone more who has many years of experience with you to the viewing.

Unfortunately, with horses, the cost of the upkeep surpasses the cost of the initial purchase very quickly, so do be mindful of this.

 

[windand rain]

Before buying I would try to find a share horse that can be ridden as owning your own and even privately owned horses are very very different to riding school ponies. It sounds like apart from your age you have put the effort into being a suitable sharer so you might find someone willing to give you 2 or 3 days ridden ownership which will give you more time than an hours lesson to learn to ride well. I certainly would give you that sort of opportunity to prove your worth but you would need specific young riders insurance first.

 

[smolmaus]

My current plan is to stay where I live - which is a stunning, quiet corner of Scotland. Once I have completed teaching one of the horses to lead politely, I don't have much more progress to make with them, except for care for them. If I were to get a companion, I was interested in getting one from a rescue, that was already well behaved but to give them a good life and to learn things myself by having a blank canvas to work with. By the time I get a riding horse, realistically, I will be out of school and I will be employed at the same place I am right now, which full time will give me enough to cater for the two of them. That's the plan I've come up with anyway!

I don't think it would even be legal for a charity to rehome to someone under 18. It sounds like you've done a great job with the two that belong to the family friend but for a rescue to put one of their horses into a situation with someone who is unexperienced, under age, keeping it on someone else's land who by your own admission is not a great owner??? would be irresponsible.

I agree with what others have posted, keep at your lessons and your management course, maybe find a share through your RS, enjoy your pony friends at the end of the road for who they are and wait until you are in a proper set up where you can be confident of success. If you've enjoyed what you've done so far with the two ponies near home you could look and see if any local charities need volunteers who are confident enough to work with complicated horses. That's what I've been doing the last year and a bit and have learned a lot. Most importantly I learned that I wasn't as ready as I thought I was to have my own!

 

[Orangehorse]

Well I certainly agree with everything that has been said. Enjoy what you have now. Does your riding school do Pony Club or BHS riding and ownership qualifications that you could work towards?

 

[seriously festive equine]

this is honestly one of the most difficult wuestions to awnser. I think it is unfair to say DONT GET A HORSE because If you don't throw yourself in 110% then you won't get anywhere with horses. Equally I would hate for you to get hurt.

 

[ycbm]

Zombie thread.
.

 

[Barton Bounty]

Wish i didnt start reading threads from years ago

2021 from someone who probably never posted again

 

[dottylottie]

i do wonder how and why people end up replying to these long-dead threads! i was getting invested too

 

[JBM]

i do wonder how and why people end up replying to these long-dead threads! i was getting invested too

Same! I wonder if she got a horse

 

[dottylottie]

Same! I wonder if she got a horse

when i realised it was an old thread, i thought maybe she’d come back to update us!