Being in the Armed Forces and owning a horse?

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casio

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Is anyone in the Royal Navy and have their own horse? I wanted to ask as it's a career I'm considering (spent 3 years in URNU- university RN unit) but would still want to keep my horse so wanted to know if anyone else had experience combining the two and how well it worked for you?

Thanks :)
 
I can't comment personally, but a friend of mine is in the RAF and used to have her own horse. In the time I've known her she's only had one overseas posting and I think it actually coincided with the horse having to have time off due to injury. However she has moved around the country a lot and it was difficult at times for her to find good livery yards near to where she was based. I guess it depends on what your role is - she was more office based (apart from a short time) so not much difference to being in a "normal" job.
 
Not from the RN perspective but a mob response: yes it does work. Would recommend a full livery yard or one thats flexible for those "I can't get down tonight / I'm going away for x months" calls and can bill accordingly. If you're wanting to stable local to the unit they will more than likely be used to this sort of stuff so shouldn't be a shock for them to be fair.

Fair amount of equestrian inter-station and service events out there to get involved in.

Good luck ship mate.
 
Husband is the army. When we first got married I sold my horse as we were moving to Germany but 15 years later we took my daughter's pony to Germany when we were posted there again. He was kept at the garrison stables at first but we moved to a German yard after a while. I've found over the years that lots of forces people take their horses around the country and abroad. It's a great way to meet people and make friends when you move somewhere new as there will always be someone in your unit who is horse mad too!
 
My daughters in the Army, she keeps her horse at home so i've nicked him and she rides/competes him when she comes home. There are quite a few of her work mates who keep their horses on livery near to where they are based. Its a bit difficult when they go on exercise for the week, but the livery's really good and help out or they get one of their mates to do it. Where theres a will theres a way.
 
My dad was in the raf and when i got my pony as a child 2 of the bases that we were at had their own livery yard for forces families, we even had arenas and on one we were able to ride round the edge of the airfield out of working hours and we looked after each others horses if they went on courses. Our friends never had problems with finding livery when they were posted if there wasnt an onsite livery yard. The bonus of the stables and fields being directly next to active runways was your horse was plane and helicopter proofed in a day and they could never be stolen as were under armed guard.
 
My husband is in the navy. He is based at either Plymouth, Portsmouth or faslane or on a ship. Depending on what job you do you could end up away for a long time his next job will be 7 months without coming home.
 
It definitely depends on what trade you go into. I served in the Army in the Kings Troop and there was no way I could have had my own horse then. I served as a medic previous to the Troop and would say that with all the exercises away and then goin away on tour there was never any time for a horse. Plus the forces is a very sociable place and there are always things going on so less time for other things.
I have friends in the Navy and agree that they are away for long lengths of time at sea.
Saying all that I am sure if you really wanted to keep a horse in the forces then you could :)
 
It is possible but you do need to allow for the fact that you will be at sea for fairly long periods of time and get livery that will work with you. also look at forces equine as they are very helpful and also organise a show that is for forces personnel and their dependants
 
thank you all so much for your replies! i've messaged a couple of you and you've been so helpful!

Thanks for the forcesequine link too!

I'm going to do some more research and then make an appointment to go and talk to someone in the careers office :)
 
I'm going into the navy, I sold my horse before hand as I knew I could be away for months at a time. The navy have left for the med for 7 months.. Full livery or not I decided it was better she go somewhere someone could give her better.

I couldn't have something happen and me not be there.. I'm not saying it's impossible but I chose not to.
 
That must have been a really tough decision. I think I need more information to fully understand how easily I'll be able to keep her. I have spoken to two people who are managing it fine though and I completely agree with one of the earlier posts- where there's a will there's a way!
 
Tbh I felt it was my time to bow out of the horse world for a while anyway, I had my amey 6 years and was tough to say goodbye but someone offered her more so I took that option for her.

If you want to do it I'm sure there's ways and means but I am glad I don't have that worry, good luck whatever you decide.
 
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