COsts for a new horse

[Jusy]

Hi we are thinking about getting our daughter her first pony next year and I’m in ocd planning mode to make sure I fully understand the costs involved. Is the below list / costs about right

Livery £40pw (planning on doing working livery at her current stables) £150 a month
Insurance including vet fees £500 per year £40 per month
Liability ins £57 per year (British horse society gold member)
Farrier £60 every 6 weeks
Worming £50 per year
Shavings (planning on being out all year)
Hay (included with livery)
Hard food £30 per month
Tack £1000 (initial cost)
Competitions £60 per month
Lessons £120 per month
Purchase (between 1000-4000)

Anything else?
Are the values in the right area?

 

[dogatemysalad]

Check your insurance for public liability and vet fees, also the insurance of the riding school, if the pony is not for sole private use.

 

[Jusy]

Thank you. The quote included vet fees but I did not think about the stables. Thanks for the heads up

 

[ownedbyaconnie]

Farrier will depend on whether pony is shod all round or just front two. I used to pay £70 for 4 and now pay £45 for 2 and this is at the cheaper end for surrey I think.

Hard feed depends on the pony. I have a native and a bag of chaff at £11 lasts me a year and I get a bag of pony nuts a month so my monthly cost is about £6. But she is fed bare minimum as she is a native and workload isn’t high enough to warrant huge feed.

Otherwise I think costs look reasonable. Working livery round my way is definitely probably double what you’ve quoted tho. I pay slightly more than that for DIY and hay and bedding on top.

Make sure to also think about dentist 1-2 times a year, 6 monthly saddler, potentially physio, jabs and vet call out for said jabs.

 

[Jusy]

Thank you. The working livery price was confirmed by the stables but there is nothing other the. Hay included. We are in south Gloucestershire so don’t know if that is why it’s a bit cheaper

 

[ihatework]

There will be routine maintenance stuff - vaccine, teeth, maybe physio, rugs/rug repair but in general you probably aren’t far out.

If you can afford it don’t scrimp on purchase price, it’s often a false economy - as the saying goes it costs the same to keep a good one as it does a bad one.

The one thing you should consider is a back up plan - working livery isn’t for everyone and you may reach a point whereby you feel you want the pony to yourselves ... if that happens you are talking £30-40pw for DIY livery + hay + bedding (and you have to do all the work yourself) or 100-130pw for part livery which will include the labour and feed/bedding.

 

[Jusy]

Thank you. The long term plan is to either get a field close to home or love to somewhere with a paddock but as we are completely new to this the idea of working livery for a couple of years seemed to make sense. Fully agree on price my range was based on what the stables have on working livery to purchase but happy to pay more to make sure our daughter and the pony are a good mix!

 

[twiggy2]

If your buying from the riding school then it would be worth part loaning the pony fot a couple of months before purchasing.
Many ponies the are great in the riding school are terrible outside of it, they don't have bother to follow and the way of being ridden is completely different.
Many riding school ponies are very stubborn and strong when ridden alone.

 

[ihatework]

Thank you. The long term plan is to either get a field close to home or love to somewhere with a paddock but as we are completely new to this the idea of working livery for a couple of years seemed to make sense. Fully agree on price my range was based on what the stables have on working livery to purchase but happy to pay more to make sure our daughter and the pony are a good mix!

I can completely see, and support to a certain extent, the rationale for working livery in your situation.

Im reading into this that you are intending to purchase a horse that the riding school already owns and then keep it at the riding school? I would advise caution as the riding school will primarily be thinking about retaining the most suitable horses for the school whilst you fund the horse. How much you will really be able to learn about managing horses solo, under your own care in your own paddock will be limited. A pony institutionalised in RS might be tricky when in a completely different environment. Furthermore, in 2 years time you will probably need the next model up!

Does the RS do a loan/lease option, is that worth considering as an alternative short term? Longer term you would be better on a livery yard with a good onsite support system I feel

 

[Jusy]

Thank you that’s a really good point!

 

[ihatework]

And I’m based your area, so if you want an independent eye over livery contracts/ponies feel free to PM me.

 

[Jusy]

Thank so much it’s likley to be a year before we purchase I want to make sure it’s the right thing and ensure we have the finances in place so it all works rather then just rushing for the first pony.

 

[Pippity]

Depending on how easy the pony is to fit, you may be looking at a lot more than £1000 for tack. I was lucky with my current one, as she's pretty much designed for a Wintec, but my previous one required a custom-adjusted Albion at £1600.

 

[Jusy]

Thank you and is second hand tack a big no no?

 

[ihatework]

Thank you and is second hand tack a big no no?

Not at all, there are plenty of super second hand saddles for sale at decent prices. The problem is that most saddlers these days only stock new, so you need to know the basics of what you are looking for and the general fit to buy privately and then get adjusted

 

[ycbm]

£40 a week for a grass kept working livery plus hay but no hard food is extortionate.

It should cost a lot less than that for grass kept livery, without having the pony used by the riding school.

.

 

[Tiddlypom]

What are the terms and conditions of the working livery? They can vary wildly between establishments.

I have used working livery successfully in the (distant) past. The horse was permitted to work for 3 hours a day, 6 days a week. He had to have Mondays off. Initially the riding school used him for 10 hours a week/a max of 2 hours per day, leaving me an hour’s riding on those 5 days. When I had more funds the riding school time was reduced so that they used him for one hour a day/5 days a week, this cost me more but I was able to ride him for longer.

 

[Jusy]

What are the terms and conditions of the working livery? They can vary wildly between establishments.

I have used working livery successfully in the (distant) past. The horse was permitted to work for 3 hours a day, 6 days a week. He had to have Mondays off. Initially the riding school used him for 10 hours a week/a max of 2 hours per day, leaving me an hour’s riding on those 5 days. When I had more funds the riding school time was reduced so that they used him for one hour a day/5 days a week, this cost me more but I was able to ride him for longer.

Not too sure I will check. I know he has to be able to be used by the school but had not checked how much. They are closed on sundays which works for us for competitions

 

[Jusy]

£40 a week for a grass kept working livery plus hay but no hard food is extortionate.

It should cost a lot less than that for grass kept livery, without having the pony used by the riding school.

.

Thank you

 

[Tiddlypom]

A riding school closed on a weekend day? That is most unusual. Saturdays and Sundays are their busiest days.

 

[Jusy]

A riding school closed on a weekend day? That is most unusual. Saturdays and Sundays are their busiest days.

They do compétions at the stables on a Sunday so no lessons but we really want to be able to do more competitions

 

[Meowy Catkin]

You need to be able to budget either cost wise and/or time wise for a different type of livery if the working livery doesn't work out for some reason. Working livery does not suit every owner and it does not suit every horse and you won't know for sure until you actually try it.

You definitely need to find out exactly what the terms are for WL at the yard you have in mind. I would also research other yards and the types of livery available in the area while you are in the planning phase.

 

[Pearlsasinger]

And when you are ready to move the pony to a field, you will need a companion, too. Equines do not do well living on their own. And that will be a whole other thread!

 

[Tiddlypom]

You do need to find out whether the pony will be available for your daughter to ride at times which are convenient for you. It won’t work if you and the RS both want/need the pony at similar times.

WL can work, but expectations must be clear on both sides.

 

[Red-1]

I would urge you to set the budget and then bet on 50% extra.

I am not sure how it happens, but it does.

The horse trashes a rug and needs a new one. A saddle is not quite a fit but a thinker numnah will make do until the saddler can attend. The pony would need supplement X. A lunge whip and rein. Transport to competitions. Grooming kit is pinched and has to be replaced. A pretty pink halter. Some wound dressing. Some horse shampoo. Breeches, stable boots, high viz. Loads of gloves because all yours are lefts. A change of bit, a fly veil, a fly rug. Brushing boots, overreach boots. A saddle cover, new safety stirrups. Tack cleaning stuff, fly spray, mane and tail spray. Haynets, mucking out tools. Ropes, and more ropes. First aid kit.

It really does soon add up!

 

[windand rain]

Depends on the pony to be honest we have 4 ponies they cost approximately £4000 a year to keep plus livery some a little less than £1000 per year another a little more. This does not include emergencies or replacing expensive items of tack. Shop around for a pony that suits you do not get involved in riding school ponies unless you do not intend to remove it from its usual environment. A pony bought for your daughter needs to be her pony foremost and a good supportive livery yard or grass livery yard if you can find one will be much better

 

[Sail_away]

Competition costs depends on whether you have transport and how often you’re going - for something relatively nearby, a horse box and driver are about 70-100 pounds where I am in Surrey. I am very lucky that my parents ended up buying a trailer for me, it has already paid for half its initial cost I would say and we have had it less than a year. So that could be an option - it is obviously more expensive at first, but they keep their value well so would save a lot of money if the initial cost is not prohibitive. Otherwise, if you are going out say twice a month, it will be more like 150-200, assuming you need to travel.
I would also be careful about buying a riding school horse, especially an older one, going round in an arena several hours a day ridden by beginners and in a box when not is not a recipe for soundness. I know a couple of ex-riding school horses at the moment who are having soundness issues, a lot of it is to do with the wear and tear of riding schools. Of course there are some lovely ones out there, but just be cautious and vet before purchase!

 

[claret09]

what ever you think it will cost you to have a pony be aware that it will cost you a whole lot more as your daughter becomes more involved. horses are without doubt a money pit. none of us want to really think about how much our horse costs us. we just find the money as i am sure you will also. don't worry about it . life is truly amazing with a horse in it. none of us heart on heart can really afford them but somehow we do. i know that i would go without many things (and have done over the years) to make sure my boy lives a life of luxury. i don't regret a single penny, i am lucky enough to have had horses since i was a tiny child. i can't imagine life without. i would rather do without holidays, etc , to have my horse. i am sure a pony will bring you and your family many, many years of amazing memories and adventures. enjoy

 

[windand rain]

Check out the working part of livery doesnt include competitions at the yard our local EC uses the working liveries as hirelings for competitions sometimes several times per comp with different riders

 

[misst]

what ever you think it will cost you to have a pony be aware that it will cost you a whole lot more as your daughter becomes more involved. horses are without doubt a money pit. none of us want to really think about how much our horse costs us. we just find the money as i am sure you will also. don't worry about it . life is truly amazing with a horse in it. none of us heart on heart can really afford them but somehow we do. i know that i would go without many things (and have done over the years) to make sure my boy lives a life of luxury. i don't regret a single penny, i am lucky enough to have had horses since i was a tiny child. i can't imagine life without. i would rather do without holidays, etc , to have my horse. i am sure a pony will bring you and your family many, many years of amazing memories and adventures. enjoy

^^^ This ^^^ completely.
We bought a riding school pony but she had only been there 9 months and we knew her the whole time. She was fantastic 12yo connie x arab. Pretty grey pony who we had until she died at 27. She was a monster once off working livery. It took us about a year to really get the measure of her then she was brilliant. We had a steep learning curve once we left the riding school but we got there in the end. She was my daughters pony club pony and did all the teams and gave us years of pleasure. She started us down the loan a pony/buy a pony/buy a trailer/buy new car/buy horse as pony out grown but cannot sell pony obviously!/horse doesn't fit trailer so buy a horsebox/buy a bigger horsebox and another horse....etc etc God knows what we spent over the years but I would do it all again in a heart beat.
Working livery doesn't really work long term but as a stepping stone it can be useful. Have a look at Redmond(?) posts about daughter and dolly and read her latest updates and you will know exactly what you are in for . Enjoy the ride - literally.