Am i ready to buy a horse

[horselover02345]

Hi, I’m a 12 year old girl who has been riding for 17 months but I had ridden before with my private school run by my dad and continued so I have about 3 years horse experience. I do go to school Monday to Friday and I am willing to go to the stables after school as I don’t do after-school activities. I do junior riding club every Saturday (which is riding and horse care), and I had a won reserve champion rosette for the Christmas holiday (first place went to the other rider because the horse she rides is insane but she is somehow glued to the saddle) at my riding school which is one hour away from me. The stable I think do livery as I have seen people who don’t work there look after new horses. I don’t have a lot of money right now but I do plan to have a horse in the future, I’m about 5 ft. 5 and I am usually riding a 14.3 hh cob mare called Alice, she’s very easy going (a bit lazy XD) but she is the most well behaved horse there, bus she is getting a bit too small for me and the other horse I ride called Tuttie, she is 16.2 is like mount Everest, I spent 10 minutes trying to put her saddle on and I was even propped up by her bedding so I'm thinking of getting a 15.3 or 16.1, there is also a horse called Satty who is a X racehorse gelding who is 16.1 who I am taking a liking to but have never had a chance to ride him but have seen others ride him in lessons. The stables are kind of in the countryside kind of near the motorway. I do flatwork in the lessons because some of the horses are crazy when it comes to jumping and poles even Alice! I don’t know if I am ready to buy a horse, I’m not 100% sure on which rug to put on or how much feed I should give them but if I did buy a horse I would always have the riding instructor and people working there helping me, I also wanted quite a dark horse as the arena is very dusty and its quite muddy around the paddocks and paths. I have ridden quite a few horses some fight with others, some are very bumpy and some which are very fast, I can walk, trot, canter (but I’m not that good as Alice usually cuts to the back in canter so she does not have to do it, (I could gallop but the arena is not suited for it), I have done ground poles, figure of eight and riding circles in all 3 gaits, I think I’m a novice/intermediate.

Tuttie

https://scontent-lhr3-1.xx.fbcdn.ne...=4e5c4cf1d27d44d9a9ac16208a035265&oe=570A5633

 

[smja]

I think this is a conversation to have with your parents, not an internet forum.

No 12 year old, no matter how experienced, is ready to buy and keep their own horse without help (especially for things like money and transport).

 

[applecart14]

I also wanted quite a dark horse as the arena is very dusty and its quite muddy around the paddocks and paths.
https://scontent-lhr3-1.xx.fbcdn.ne...=4e5c4cf1d27d44d9a9ac16208a035265&oe=570A5633

I love this comment. No greys then? You seem to have your head screwed on when it comes to this!

 

[asterope]

Do your family know about horses? You sound keen but still very inexperienced and you'll need lots of support. Riding (and owning!) your own horse isn't like riding a riding school pony - there's no one to help you if things go wrong, and no one to school the horse and stop it developing unpleasant behaviours. You don't sound very confident with horses that don't behave perfectly - I doubt very much that all of the horses at your riding school are "crazy" about jumping - so I'd be concerned about your ability to stamp out unwanted behaviour before it begins. Maybe leave it and reconsider in a few years...

 

[epeters91]

I’m about 5 ft. 5 and I am usually riding a 14.3 hh cob mare called Alice, she’s very easy going (a bit lazy XD) but she is the most well behaved horse there, bus she is getting a bit too small for me

5ft5 on a 14.3hh cob sounds absolutely find I'm 5'8 and ride a 14.2/14.2 youngster. Your instructor shouldn't ever put you on a pony that is too small for you. When it comes to horses carrying a rider its not necessarilly how tall you are but whether the horse is happy to carry your weight.

Talk to your parents maybe you could loan a pony like Alice from the riding school to start with?

 

[Shay]

At 12 you are too young to legally buy an animal I'm afraid. You need to be 16. So you are going to have to speak to your parents and get their support.

Actually buying the horse isn't the end of the costs I'm afraid. You are going to need to find something between £300 and £700 a month for stabling, feed, bedding, shoes, working, vaccinations etc. (The price difference is because of the different costs for the different stabling options.) Then you are going to need more money for tack, rugs, basic kit like wheelbarrows, hay nets, grooming kit etc. Plus lessons which you still need.

I don't want to pour a dampner on your dreams - but with horses it is really important to be realistic. Speak to your parents. Perhaps see if you can find a horse locally that you might be able to share at first, rather than starting out completely on your own. Get a taste of what owning your on pony is really like - it is very different from a riding school.

And finally OP - can I suggest you delete this profile and start a new one? The internet isn't a safe place and I wouldn't want my daughter mentioning her age on a forum like this. We may all be interested in horses but that doesn't always make everyone safe to be around. Although you didn't use a a real screen name (well done for that!) you seem to have signed your post? Always be safe online!

Edited - spelling error.

 

[horselover02345]

5ft5 on a 14.3hh cob sounds absolutely find I'm 5'8 and ride a 14.2/14.2 youngster. Your instructor shouldn't ever put you on a pony that is too small for you. When it comes to horses carrying a rider its not necessarilly how tall you are but whether the horse is happy to carry your weight.

Talk to your parents maybe you could loan a pony like Alice from the riding school to start with?

i ask for alice, shes the most well behaved pony

 

[horselover02345]

i know, when i go back to the stables in january i need to ask them how much there livery costs just to get a idea.

 

[horselover02345]

Thx for the advice, i have asked my parents and they told me to ask online, they reviewed my question before letting me post. Also i live in a built up area so the chances of getting a horse where i am is low. after i posted this i thought about it and my riding school do 'own a pony day' in the holidays so i think i should do that a few times before having responsibility for a horse by myself,

 

[horselover02345]

I have ridden a 15hh arabian mare with a attitued problem a few times, she tried to buck me off or rear like last year december (i was getting better at riding so they put me on her). fortunetly she wasnt on the junior riding club horses so i dont ride her anymore

 

[horselover02345]

I dont have the money yet but i have support from the people who work there, they are very helpful and know me very well, they also have a trailer that i could use.

 

[horselover02345]

Lol, grey horses are a pain when i comes to grooming (i speak from experience, had to groom 5 muddy greys and piebalds with hardly and black DX)

 

[Sekaya123]

i am also i 12 year old girl who has had a horse for about 2 years now and when i bought her i had no riding and horse experience other than once when i was 4. But things are going great! you should buy a horse, you sound ready at least. but yeah you should probably talk to your parents first.

 

[Starzaan]

Speaking from a riding instructors point of view, absolutely not.

I would suggest you look into helping out at the yard and try to learn as much as you can for a couple of years before you even think about it.

I teach so many people who have bought a horse too soon, over horsed themselves and scared themselves witless. It's not worth it. You sound keen, so stick with it and work hard, and you'll get there.

 

[Shay]

I'm glad you have your parents oversight OP. Put my concerns down to being a parent of a girl not much older than you!

Does your riding school do shares or part loans? That can be a good way to get started. Equally you could try contacting your local Pony Club District Commissioner and see if there are any beginner's ponies in the branch they know of who might be available for share. My daughter's first pony spends his summers with girls like you helping them learn what owning a pony is about before they go on to buy their own - and most do. (And no - don't tell me where you are - not safe!)

Although I can't speak from my own experience - or my daughter's - as both of us grew up with horses many people on here did not realize their dream of having a pony until they were older. If it can happen for you now that is absolutely great. But if it doesn't - hold on to the dream. It will happen in time if you want it enough.

But as Starzaan says - a bit more experience would be best before you buy your own. Its a huge commitment.

 

[horselover02345]

I'm glad you have your parents oversight OP. Put my concerns down to being a parent of a girl not much older than you!

Does your riding school do shares or part loans? That can be a good way to get started. Equally you could try contacting your local Pony Club District Commissioner and see if there are any beginner's ponies in the branch they know of who might be available for share. My daughter's first pony spends his summers with girls like you helping them learn what owning a pony is about before they go on to buy their own - and most do. (And no - don't tell me where you are - not safe!)

Although I can't speak from my own experience - or my daughter's - as both of us grew up with horses many people on here did not realize their dream of having a pony until they were older. If it can happen for you now that is absolutely great. But if it doesn't - hold on to the dream. It will happen in time if you want it enough.

But as Starzaan says - a bit more experience would be best before you buy your own. Its a huge commitment.

Im thinking of doing own a pony days at the school and maybe helping out on christmas day (my uncle is having a christmas party on boxing day) mucking out stalls and grooming dirty ponies is actually fun for me.

 

[Irish gal]

It's lovely that you want a pony, I think many of us were the same at your age but if you have to keep it at livery then it's a lot of work, so you've got to really, really, really want it.

If you were not in such a built up area then you could maybe rent a nearby field and there wouldn't be half so much work involved but that's not the case. I think getting a share would be a great way for you to start so you can see if this is something that is really for you. Why not start by contacting your local pony club as has been suggested and ask them the best way to find a pony to share in your area.

 

[cava14una]

I got my horse when I was 13 he was 15.2hh Irish bred and 6 years old. I was lucky in that I was sharing him with my dad so he was involved from the start and bought me Ace and also paid all the up keep.

He was kept on a friend's farm and they used to feed him during the week on their way back and forward to children's school.

After we had had him about 18 months we moved him nearer home and Mum and Dad fed him during the week. At weekends I did everything myself but I was about 15 by then.

It would be very hard work to look after a horse with no back up from adults so you really need your parents on side as far as transport and finances go and if they aren't horsey you would need someone where you keep him to go to for advice

 

[XjenX]

When I was ur age that's all I wanted had to wait for years till I was staying myself and financially capable u need to be in a position to handle the unexpected vet bill or a new saddle ect while I was on my teens I went to riding school before lesson and stayed after to help out groom the ponies lead the young riders round and in long run that gave me so much knowledge after I had learned more I took out a share on a horse for 3 days a week this gave me a insight of owning one after I had done that I took out a full time loan and dome a stable management and horse cate course after that I knew I had enough knowledge to buy one that was six months ago and I'm 26 some times I still get stuck and need help stick in with lessons and see if you can help out at yard talk to your parents if they don't think your ready for a loan horse helping out at yard gives you experience and helps prove your commitment
Good luck

 

[CowCob]

You sound a very sensible girl, and like others are saying I don't think you're ready. Once you do a few own a pony days and stuff you may be able to try a loan pony for a short time. The easter holidays I think would be ideal, it's a short time but not too short. Don't worry about your height on a 14.2hh, a friend of mine is 6ft-odds and only looks a bit big on a 14.2hh. I'd say 13hh-15hh is the ideal size for you and who wants to be looking for a place to get on a massive 16hh horse out on a hack if they have to get off for a gate?! Being in the 'I own a pony' club rules!

Wish you the best, it's nice to see you're looking out advice rather than just doing what many adults do of just thinking they're capable and diving straight in

 

[ILuvCowparsely]

Lol, grey horses are a pain when i comes to grooming (i speak from experience, had to groom 5 muddy greys and piebalds with hardly and black DX)

I don't find greys a *pain* and I am on my 3rd one and I speak from experience over 40 years worth. Goodness knows how many I have groomed in my lifetime. Being muddy and having to groom is hardly a reason to dismiss an otherwise perfect horse match.

Do your parents know the full cost of owning a horse?? help from the yard aside it is a HUGE financial burden etc and what happens when your exams come along and study comes first? I think you should consider loaning first, then see how it goes

 

[ycbm]

I don't find greys a *pain* and I am on my 3rd one and I speak from experience over 40 years worth. Goodness knows how many I have groomed in my lifetime. Being muddy and having to groom is hardly a reason to dismiss an otherwise perfect horse match.

I won't even go and view a grey, so I'd have no idea whether they'd be a perfect match for me or not . I've always found great horses with non greys. I had an iron grey once, but I never intended to keep him and he was sold long before he turned white.

It's not the mud, it's the yellow and green that won't come off unless you wash it and the tail that always looks like it's been a lifetime 40 a day smoker

 

[ILuvCowparsely]

I won't even go and view a grey, so I'd have no idea whether they'd be a perfect match for me or not . I've always found great horses with non greys. I had an iron grey once, but I never intended to keep him and he was sold long before he turned white.

It's not the mud, it's the yellow and green that won't come off unless you wash it and the tail that always looks like it's been a lifetime 40 a day smoker

*Chaqun a son goute* comes to mind, I would never ever go near - view or buy a bay / black / chesnut or coloured as I find the colours plain and boring unless it is a pinto - tobiano - appy etc as i find those colours attractive but traditional colours are a no- no.

The only horses I would view for myself are DUN/ Buckskin - Palomino or grey - or might consider Roan. I like unusual colours

 

[ycbm]

*Chaqun a son goute* comes to mind, I would never ever go near - view or buy a bay / black / chesnut or coloured as I find the colours plain and boring unless it is a pinto - tobiano - appy etc as i find those colours attractive but traditional colours are a no- no.

The only horses I would view for myself are DUN/ Buckskin - Palomino or grey - or might consider Roan. I like unusual colours

I'm with you on the unusual colours hga. I'd love a buckskin, I have a chestnut paint mini Shetland, and my riding horses were both chosen for their colour. Call me shallow!

 

[ILuvCowparsely]

I'm with you on the unusual colours hga. I'd love a buckskin, I have a chestnut paint mini Shetland, and my riding horses were both chosen for their colour. Call me shallow!

 

[EQUIDAE]

Please be aware that with limited experience you will need help from the yard, at least initially and this doesn't come cheap. I'd base costings more around part livery prices and don't forget to factor in ongoing lessons either. Also you may find it difficult to a) find a yard who will supervise a minor and b) get transport twice a day every day (even on christmas day) from your parents.

If you parents can afford both the time and the money, and you can find a yard who is willing to accept a novice owner and give support, then go for it. If there is any doubt on any of the areas it could end in heartbreak

 

[Auslander]

Being muddy and having to groom is hardly a reason to dismiss an otherwise perfect horse match.

*Chacun a son goute* comes to mind, I would never ever go near - view or buy a bay / black / chesnut or coloured as I find the colours plain and boring unless it is a pinto - tobiano - appy etc as i find those colours attractive but traditional colours are a no- no.

The only horses I would view for myself are DUN/ Buckskin - Palomino or grey - or might consider Roan. I like unusual colours

Double standards FTW ;-)

 

[Natch]

Honestly lovely, no I don't think you are ready. If one of your parents was very experienced with horses then maybe, but the fact that they told you to ask on the internet does tell us that they're not experienced enough with horses to be able to help you enough.

Owning a horse takes a lot of money (more than most mums and dads can spare), a lot of time, doing things like mucking out will get boring very quickly and having to attend to a horse twice a day every single day is a big deal, especially when you have SATS and GCSEs and its cold and icy and muddy and dark. That's before even talking about knowledge and ability, which honestly will take more than a few own a pony days to get enough of.

What you CAN be doing now is learning as much as you can and getting in as much experience as you can. Do help out on the yard as often as you can, do the own a pony days and if possible join a centre's pony club and start working through the badges. Let your instructor know that you are aiming to have your own and ask them to help you get the experience and knowledge that you need. This will take a few more years; aim for being ready to buy, finances allowing, at age 16

 

[horselover02345]

It's lovely that you want a pony, I think many of us were the same at your age but if you have to keep it at livery then it's a lot of work, so you've got to really, really, really want it.

If you were not in such a built up area then you could maybe rent a nearby field and there wouldn't be half so much work involved but that's not the case. I think getting a share would be a great way for you to start so you can see if this is something that is really for you. Why not start by contacting your local pony club as has been suggested and ask them the best way to find a pony to share in your area.

I do really really want it, i don't really do anything during the holidays, i literally have to drag my dad out the house
or i'm usually on the computer so i think looking after a horse all day will keep me occupied

 

[horselover02345]

I don't find greys a *pain* and I am on my 3rd one and I speak from experience over 40 years worth. Goodness knows how many I have groomed in my lifetime. Being muddy and having to groom is hardly a reason to dismiss an otherwise perfect horse match.

Do your parents know the full cost of owning a horse?? help from the yard aside it is a HUGE financial burden etc and what happens when your exams come along and study comes first? I think you should consider loaning first, then see how it goes

My school do 3 proper exams a year, where my stable is, the greys are very hard to groom in my opinion, at the stables the mud and dust is very hard to brush off and i don't mind having a grey (depending on which kind of grey) i don't mind a iron grey or a dapple grey but i can be very OCD and would spend forever until the horse is clean. Also i do like darker colors, its just a opinion.