Building a house and yard

Princess Rosie said:
Also very good advice :) we don't know what all of her dreams are, she may well want her parents physical support to get to local yards etc and that can factor into plans.
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So: dreams include
Riding at 4*
Having my own yard
Producing horses for a living

Long Term aims (5 years):
Ride at the junior/young rider euros
Be based at an event riders yard

Short term aims:
Find a horse/pony to loan and compete at grassroots BE/unaff SJ


I think I'd need to get an accurate idea of costs of the upkeep. How long is a piece of string, i know. I think my parents just don't want something to go majorly wrong and being out of pocket £10k or so
 
OP, have you read Mary King's autobiography. She started out with virtually nothing but enthusiasm, so it can be done.
She had a very supportive Mother, but many other disadvantages. Well worth a read for an aspiring eventer.

Anything to do with horses is a bottomless pit, money wise.
 
Orangehorse said:
OP, have you read Mary King's autobiography. She started out with virtually nothing but enthusiasm, so it can be done.
She had a very supportive Mother, but many other disadvantages. Well worth a read for an aspiring eventer.

Anything to do with horses is a bottomless pit, money wise.
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I haven't no. But I do know she left school after her GCSEs. Effectively, if her riding hadn't worked out shed have nothing. I'd love to be able to concentrate solely on horses but the way I've been brought up and what my parents want me to do isn't that at all. They want to to have something to fall back on- a decent degree in Law or Medicine at Oxbridge. By the time I'm out of education I'll be 23 and only then will I be able to concentrate on horses
 
A lot of top eventers have a degree of some sort. I would side with your parents on this one, there are 100's of young people with the same aims as you I'm afraid and unfortunately only a handful will achieve half of those aims. If you are expecting your parents to fund your dreams you should be prepared to do something in return. It would be very unfair to expect them to fund things for ever (I was happy to fund my daughters riding until she left 6th form) so having another string to your bow is always good.
Have a look at Shoestring Eventing's website http://www.shoestringeventing.co.uk/ to see how tough it is.
I'm not meaning to quash your dreams, dreams are good but there becomes a stage when you have realise what is possible and what should remain a dream.
 
gawd.....
where to even start........

your parents are going to be out of pocket in a serious fashion-stuff like this never makes money back until you sell it on!

If you arent going to have horses there whilst at school or uni there really is zero point in all this outlay.....

I feel qualified to comment as I was lucky/am lucky enough to be in this situation (I was 16 when my dad bought sparkle HQ, it was a rambling old house and and orchard and 5 acres. The orchard was gutted and he put in 5 stables, tack rm, feed rm, wash box and 35 x 55 menage) and all I can say is do you really truly understand the implications of just how much this costs and the huge huge amount work that is needed to keep on top of it? My dad doesnt resent the money spent because every single day he has seen us get enjoyment out of it and that is payment enough he says. But i didnt go to uni or college, horses were always my life. I now have a *normal* office job and teach/ride for people every day to make more money so im always on the yard, using the facilities etc and now she's back from uni and working too so is NMT-thats what makes it worthwhile for him :)

It seems rather odd to build something that will bring no one in your family pleasure for many years, why not wait until you've been to uni then see how you feel/what the money situation is?


We will forever be grateful and will never know the true financial cost but the older i get the more i understand about the work that goes in to it.

The mending of fences, harrowing the menage,weeding the yard, clearing the gutter and drains, mowing the paddocks, re seeding the paddocks, weed spraying, mending and moving electric fence, replacing lightbulbs, oiling doors, mending leaky taps and hoses, salting the yard in winter, CONSTANT sweeping up and poo picking...........thats before you even get in to actual horse care!

Its a mind boggling amount of work and obviously when I was at school my dad did it ALL for 2 years-do you, or your parents have any real idea of how much time it takes?

15years down the line, NMT and I do 99% of this, only the really heavy duty stuff that is physically beyond us is dad territory although he mucks in and helps every day and will never say no if we need an extra hand.

Our mum rode until she got too poorly and dad has always been involved with the horses, i think asking your parents to shell out for something they will get zero enjoyment from is a big risk and if they have no horse experience they have no idea of all of the above ref the hard work in upkeep!

I understand that this DOES happen and think some posters are being a bit mean, its not unusual for parents to up sticks and build a smart yard for a keen child but in most cases that child is already seriously competitive, with desire only to pursue horses and the yard is going to be used.

I do think you underestimate just what goes in to being successful and how hard it is to produce horses at home and in that respect think you need to produce a few horses on another yard(ie in livery/as a WP) and learn the trade before you really know if this is something you want or indeed need..............its not unusual to find NMT and I clipping/poo picking/fence mending/drain clearing etc at 6am or 10pm and thats part and parcel of the whole shebang being YOUR responsibility!

I guess i would also say, if at 15/16 you havent yet produced a pony, you have a HELL of a lot to learn in order to make this your living, to actually be able to live off the proceeds of this yard.

I do think its very dreamy to think that you will get from here to the Europeans, its just aint gonna happen and im sorry if that does sound harsh. Thats not to say you cant make money from it but you need to be realistic about HOW..........i was not and never will be that good (european good) but i was backing ponies and re schooling market hooligans at 11yo. NMT schooled her first pony from just broken to county showing at the age of 12..........you need to work your fingers to the bone and sweat blood to play catch up if you really want to do this and i just dont think, given all the time out for education, you will make it.

i make a decent sideline in re-schooling the tricky,quirky ones and teaching the owners how to continue that but i dont think i could make a living from it 100% because im not talented enough to go to the very top and command MORE (horses,money or sponsorship)-i do ok in the middle market (and i love helping those people)

I guess i think you are going to land in *no mans land* no exerience of difficult horses so that people want to send theirs to you, and no real hope of reaching a level where people want to send the good genuine horses to you to compete either?

You need to be VERY brutally honest here, and if its a yard just for you to play ponies(nowt wrong with that btw) keep it small, and have only what you need with no excess. But i still think you would be better doing uni and then deciding if you still want to play ponies.

NMT and I can never thank our dad enough but this is a choice that will affect the entire family, so take a long hard realistic look at if its worth it.
 
Thank you for that. It will be a yard for me to just play. Nothing will be serious at the moment. It'll be about me learning the ropes and getting an insight into how competitive life is when competing at even a low level. I do know how difficult it is to look after horses and the commitment involved. I think that Young rider Europeans could be possible in the long run- or trialling for them anyway. I'd have till I was 21 and I'm considering getting working pupil positions with smaller scale event riders
 
You're 15?

so 6 years to 21?

unless you are going to train every day for the next 5 years and then your dad is going to shell out another £100k+ for a ready to go European horse, its not enough time!

You will make a LOT of mistakes with the first couple of horses you train, trust me we have all done it, and then its going to take YEARS not weeks to produce a horse to European level.

If memory serves correct you have very little experience in terms of training and competing? If you were 15yo that had done pony trials and was already either producing 4/5yo at home or riding experienced horses ready to do juniors then yes, def do-able.

But you have got too much catching up to do im afraid. Thats the harsh reality of life and whilst dreams are good, being a realist will get you further.

If your parents want to support you to the European team its going to take milions not thousands or even hundreds of thousands because you are starting from a disadvantaged position in terms of experience.
 
if i was in your boat, i think the most productive thing would be to forget building anything yet and instead loan a good schoolmaster at the best yard near you, pump as much money into getting into as many lessons as possible, getting out competing and offer yourself as a free groom at shows to the best competing rider at the yard. A good solid focused year of that would be way more beneficial to you then riding in your own arena at home.
 
sez1 said:
Thank you for that. It will be a yard for me to just play. Nothing will be serious at the moment. It'll be about me learning the ropes and getting an insight into how competitive life is when competing at even a low level. I do know how difficult it is to look after horses and the commitment involved. I think that Young rider Europeans could be possible in the long run- or trialling for them anyway. I'd have till I was 21 and I'm considering getting working pupil positions with smaller scale event riders
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I have to say I'm a little confused how you're planning to "learn the ropes" on your own yard when neither of your parents are horsey? It would make much more sense for you to do what most young girls in your position do and offer your services to any yard you can. If you get lucky they will let you tag along to events with them and maybe even compete. Now that would be worthwhile experience!

I'm also not sure I understand why you're parents are considering to spend all this money on a yard, but won't buy you a horse? Kinda makes the whole yard building idea a bit pointless if you ask me.
 
I have never had a horse as we have never had facilities. Now that we are moving into a house we are building it makes sense to put in a stable block. I am planning to learn the ropes before we move. Which will be in 2016. Get a loan. Groom for riders etc.
 
paddi22 said:
if i was in your boat, i think the most productive thing would be to forget building anything yet and instead loan a good schoolmaster at the best yard near you, pump as much money into getting into as many lessons as possible, getting out competing and offer yourself as a free groom at shows to the best competing rider at the yard. A good solid focused year of that would be way more beneficial to you then riding in your own arena at home.
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Yes I think that's what I was planning on doing anway
 
reading back over your posts, it appears yourself and your parents aren't on the same page at all. Why would they build those facilities when the reality is they haven't bought you a horse? You need to clear your head and have a proper talk to them to see exactly what they are offering, because the communications are getting confused somewhere. Are you really hearing what they are offering properly?

Do they really understand your goals and whats involved? If you set your heights TOO high it might be too overwhelming for them and they might just right it off as a fantasy. They don't need to be spending half a million building somewhere perfect for you, they just need to support you the right amount to push you forward from where you are now - mainly a good horse (either loaned or bought) and tons of good lessons, plus transport when needed.

Do you have any friends or know of anyone at yards who would be a similar age to you and would be out competing sucessfully? I don't mean someone who was born into a traditional horsey family and has a massive support structure, I mean someone who might have a similarish background. If you do, maybe get your parents to chat to their parents so they can fully understand whats involved and what's needed.

Its really clear how passionate you are. So you have to figure out objectively how much support you actually have. And make your plans around that.
 
paddi22 said:
reading back over your posts, it appears yourself and your parents aren't on the same page at all. Why would they build those facilities when the reality is they haven't bought you a horse? You need to clear your head and have a proper talk to them to see exactly what they are offering, because the communications are getting confused somewhere. Are you really hearing what they are offering properly?

Do they really understand your goals and whats involved? If you set your heights TOO high it might be too overwhelming for them and they might just right it off as a fantasy. They don't need to be spending half a million building somewhere perfect for you, they just need to support you the right amount to push you forward from where you are now - mainly a good horse (either loaned or bought) and tons of good lessons, plus transport when needed.

Do you have any friends or know of anyone at yards who would be a similar age to you and would be out competing sucessfully? I don't mean someone who was born into a traditional horsey family and has a massive support structure, I mean someone who might have a similarish background. If you do, maybe get your parents to chat to their parents so they can fully understand whats involved and what's needed.

Its really clear how passionate you are. So you have to figure out objectively how much support you actually have. And make your plans around that.
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I stated clearly at the beginning that I wanted my parents to build big equestrian facilities. Don't we all? They are already going to be putting in small standard facilities anyway and that's what I'm going to stick with. If we had these facilities it would give me the opportunity to loan a couple of horses and still afford regular training from a BE coach
 
sez1 said:
I have never had a horse as we have never had facilities. Now that we are moving into a house we are building it makes sense to put in a stable block. I am planning to learn the ropes before we move. Which will be in 2016. Get a loan. Groom for riders etc.
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I'm really sorry but if you've never had a horse of your own before it would make far more sense for you to be on a livery yard with an experienced YO who can help you with the inevitable hiccups as they arise.
 
FestiveFuzz said:
I'm really sorry but if you've never had a horse of your own before it would make far more sense for you to be on a livery yard with an experienced YO who can help you with the inevitable hiccups as they arise.
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There's a good semi pro about 20 mins away from me who also events. If this whole house build goes ahead then I will likely to be getting a loan and keeping it at her yard until we move. She events as well and although she has no insurance for working pupils, It will be good experience
 
sez1 said:
There's a good semi pro about 20 mins away from me who also events. If this whole house build goes ahead then I will likely to be getting a loan and keeping it at her yard until we move. She events as well and although she has no insurance for working pupils, It will be good experience
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If you want to get to the Europeans within 6 years, never having had your own horse, you'd best get a pony and get down to the semi pro ASAP. With or without your brand new house and standard facilities (which, if you mean an arena and stables, still come with a hefty price tag).
 
sez1 said:
There's a good semi pro about 20 mins away from me who also events. If this whole house build goes ahead then I will likely to be getting a loan and keeping it at her yard until we move. She events as well and although she has no insurance for working pupils, It will be good experience
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I think you need to take a step back. As I mentioned on your other thread many moons ago, I was once the pony-mad, pony-less girl you are. From the age of 12 I worked for "pocket-money" at various yards until I was old enough to be paid agricultural wage, though truth be known I'd have happily done it for the love of it. My passion was dressage, I was incredibly lucky to work at a highly regarded dressage training yard for several years, watching clinics with the likes of Arthur Kottas and Charles de Kunnfy as well as getting training from some of the best along the way. It was clear I was passionate, I lived and breathed horses and if I wasn't with them I'd be reading up on them, there was nothing I wouldn't do to be near them. Because of this I was often asked to ride other people's horses, either helping to school/exercise them or competing for them. I did this all alongside school and college, finally getting my own horse when I went to uni.

What competition experience do you currently have? Are you a member of a Pony Club centre? This would enable you to compete without owning your own horse. Do you have a weekend job? If not are there any event/competition yards nearby that need help?

In a long-winded way, I guess what I'm trying to say is it sounds like you're trying to run before you can walk. Honestly no one can knock your passion and sheer determination for the cause but right now you don't need a fancy yard and competition pony or to become a WP. You just need to share/loan/buy a good schoolmaster with miles on the clock that can help you get out there and enjoy competing. It honestly feels like you're sapping all the fun out of it by setting your sights far too high which will only lead to disappointment.
 
FestiveFuzz said:
I think you need to take a step back. As I mentioned on your other thread many moons ago, I was once the pony-mad, pony-less girl you are. From the age of 12 I worked for "pocket-money" at various yards until I was old enough to be paid agricultural wage, though truth be known I'd have happily done it for the love of it. My passion was dressage, I was incredibly lucky to work at a highly regarded dressage training yard for several years, watching clinics with the likes of Arthur Kottas and Charles de Kunnfy as well as getting training from some of the best along the way. It was clear I was passionate, I lived and breathed horses and if I wasn't with them I'd be reading up on them, there was nothing I wouldn't do to be near them. Because of this I was often asked to ride other people's horses, either helping to school/exercise them or competing for them. I did this all alongside school and college, finally getting my own horse when I went to uni.

What competition experience do you currently have? Are you a member of a Pony Club centre? This would enable you to compete without owning your own horse. Do you have a weekend job? If not are there any event/competition yards nearby that need help?

In a long-winded way, I guess what I'm trying to say is it sounds like you're trying to run before you can walk. Honestly no one can knock your passion and sheer determination for the cause but right now you don't need a fancy yard and competition pony or to become a WP. You just need to share/loan/buy a good schoolmaster with miles on the clock that can help you get out there and enjoy competing. It honestly feels like you're sapping all the fun out of it by setting your sights far too high which will only lead to disappointment.
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Thank you 😊. I am trying to come from both sides here- one person saying to have fun the other saying to get as much experience as possible. I'm going to take each step as it comes. Ride as many horses as possible. Loan a horse that knows it's job and get advice from as many people as possible 😊
 
it's great to have goals and plans, but from your threads all your focus is too far ahead in the future and that can make you lose track of where you are now. You need to focus on what you are doing now and how to make the most out of what you can do NOW because that is the basis of your future. Its fine to start threads about buying great ponies, getting sponsorships and lorries. But if you focus on the best use of your time NOW, you will get much greater benefits.

But at the end of the day you might get all that, and be beaten by someone riding a half decent cheap pony to its limits. Maybe someone who hasn't an arena even, but gets to ride every day and puts any money she has towards the best lessons she can get. Someone who isn't posting plans on a forum but instead working at yards as much as she can and blagging free lessons etc.

You're parents aren't on the same page as you. If they were then you would have a horse now, and they would be happily transporting you to the yard when needed and would have stretch to buying a jeep and box and taking you to shows. Thats what 100% of the kids parents at my old yard did. they didn't have tons of money but they understood the need for a good horse and to get the kid out to shows.

This is just a guess but I'd imagine your parents are like most non horsey parents, thinking they will keep you happy and get you a horse when they have a bit of land and can throw a stable up. That's a world of difference away from them building an indoor arena and paying for lessons from a BE instructor. You need to go to them maturely and figure out exactly what they have in mind. They can get you the horse, but if they cant commit to driving you to shows and paying for regular lessons then in fairness, your riding will get nowhere pottering at home with no transport. In that case you would be 100% better off on a yard where you can grow.
 
sez1 said:
I didn't ever get my event pony but I'm now riding a couple of horses for an ex 2* Eventer, including a 4yo TB so I'm learning the hard way but I'll get there with all the better experience :)
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Seriously. If this is in any way true then I can only suggest that you buckle down and learn as much as you can from them since they seem to have a good level of trust in you. I cant see how the situation could be any more perfect for you as it stands currently.
 
sez1 said:
Thank you ��. I am trying to come from both sides here- one person saying to have fun the other saying to get as much experience as possible. I'm going to take each step as it comes. Ride as many horses as possible. Loan a horse that knows it's job and get advice from as many people as possible ��
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But that's just it, you can have fun whilst getting as much experience as possible, the two things aren't mutually exclusive. I still look back on my teenage years and think "god I had no idea how lucky I was".
 
Sez1. I used to have sympathy for your threads but now I think you are a time waster, and not genuine.
If you really wanted this you would be working at it NOW.
You have never owned or loaned a horse and , as far as I understand , never competed.
You expect , however , to be competing internationally in YR within the next 5 years.
Dreams are lovely but they are not reality. You are old enough now to know the difference.
 
bollybop said:
And for installation of that lot you'd probably be looking at £50-£100k. At least.

In fact I've just re-read what you want. Doesn't help that you don't say how many stables you want in your two blocks, but scrub the first estimate and replace with £250k plus.
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I wish you could get all that for 50K LOL!!!
 
My dreams are too big. I'll concentrate on execising the 4yo at the moment and then get a good degree in law and fund by own BE100 eventing career when I reach my 30s.
 
Unfortunately there is no money in yards or equestrian centres as has been demonstrated by the many riding schools that close or continue to struggle to survive.
An indoor arena will cost a fortune and will also attract business rates so forget that idear.
If you intend keeping a horse at home then put up the 3 stables, feed shed, hay barn and possibly an arena for your own use but forget about making any money on providing stabling for others - it is nothing more than a load of aggravation.
 
sez1 said:
My dreams are too big. I'll concentrate on execising the 4yo at the moment and then get a good degree in law and fund by own BE100 eventing career when I reach my 30s.
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What are you doing with the 4yo? What are your goals? That's probably the best place to start.
 
sez1 said:
There's a good semi pro about 20 mins away from me who also events. If this whole house build goes ahead then I will likely to be getting a loan and keeping it at her yard until we move. She events as well and although she has no insurance for working pupils, It will be good experience
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Seriously who is going to loan you the type of horse you need ,you have no experience and your parents are at best total novices and I suspect more totally anti the horse idea. You need to have a reality check because if they have not bought a horse up till now I dont think they ever will!
 
popsdosh said:
Seriously who is going to loan you the type of horse you need ,you have no experience and your parents are at best total novices and I suspect more totally anti the horse idea. You need to have a reality check because if they have not bought a horse up till now I dont think they ever will!
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I think OP is looking to get a schoolmaster now, but could be wrong.
 
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Princess Rosie said:
Also very good advice :) we don't know what all of her dreams are, she may well want her parents physical support to get to local yards etc and that can factor into plans.
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A lot cheaper than building her a yard, arena, lorry, tack, one five star horse and two spares, plus lessons, entry fees, driving to and from comps as well as being there all day and funding a groom to cover and then there is fencing, paddock maintenance.
Oh yes, three stables is just a start, there s a feed room, a shower, solarium, clippers, tack, show tack, show rugs, other rugs, and of course times 3!
Insurance horses, insurance rider, third part insurance, vet insurance, vet fees, yard security and so on and so on............
 
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OP, find a pony to loan or buy, have it at livery at the pro's yard, ask your Mum and Dad to get a vehicle to pull a trailer, buy a trailer, join Pony Club. Work hard at your lessons so you go to uni and help you Mum and Dad with some domestic chores, so they have time to take you out and about to lessons and competitions. Spend every other minute of the week riding, grooming, training, competiting and it will give you an idea of what is involved and good background experience.

Not everyone successful learns to ride from toddler-hood. Being able to understand what you are being told, and to do what you are told by the instructors is important. There have been some very successful late starters - but they were intelligent and went off to get the best instruction they could, and acted upon what they were taught, as well as finding that they had a natural talent for riding.
 
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