COsts for a new horse

[Jusy]

^^^ 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.

Thank you

 

[AmyMay]

My estimates on cost are, basically the cost of a moderate mortgage each month 😩

 

[Upthecreek]

It’s too scary to work out what we actually spend compared to what we estimated it would cost. Somehow we find the money and it all works out. I appreciate that may sound stupid to some people, but it’s true. Good for you for being responsible and making sure you can afford it before committing though, so many people don’t.

 

[Muddy unicorn]

I told my husband that getting our daughter her first horse would be ‘cost neutral’ compared to the cost of lessons/riding holidays etc etc

 

[windand rain]

Depends on how many lessons e tc you are paying for as you may well be right if you keep control of the budget and provide top notch care for basement prices

I told my husband that getting our daughter her first horse would be ‘cost neutral’ compared to the cost of lessons/riding holidays etc etc

 

[Trouper]

As Tiddlypom says, do look into the terms of WL carefully. A child's pony might be in strong demand at weekends and holiday times - just the time when your child is wanting to ride and spend time with it. Repetitive lessons with amateur riders can also turn horses sour very quickly unless the workload is varied - ie some hacking. WL can work for some but often seems to me a way of a RS offloading all the costs to the "owner" while retaining virtually full use of the pony. I knew of someone (an adult) who was never allowed to take the tack home to clean it "in case it was needed for a lesson"!! If you consider upping to full livery or DIY is there one other child whose parents might be happy to share the costs with you so that you both have more control? You don't say how old your daughter is or how long she has been riding but for young children I sometimes think the better investment is for the riding lessons to continue and for them to do some formal training in stable management and horse care so that they are really competent to look after their own pony as much as possible when the magic day comes that they have their own. Sorry to rain on your dreams but ownership is a very big step to take and not just a matter of costs.

 

[Crazy_cat_lady]

One thing to consider with working livery is what days will the school want to use the pony? Usually weekends are their busiest days so they are most likely to want the pony for then, however that's also when your daughter will be at home and wanting to ride. Often riding schools run activities during the holidays however again that's when your daughter would want to ride and probably spend a lot of the day up there- if they were doing say an own a pony day and your daughter wanted to join in would they offer her a reduced cost? Who will be responsible for the tack if its damaged during a lesson, meaning you then can't use it? I'd want a proper contract written up specifying which days the school is using the pony and when he is for your sole use. It will help keep him exercised if your daughter cant get up there every day due to school/ your work commitments etc. Who will be responsible for the day to day care tasks when the pony is being used by the school?

I keep my horse at an rs and its useful as YO is knowledgeable if I have any queries and they have various facilities eg flood lights etc however the lessons obviously take priority of the school. There are times you can get in one school and I prefer hacking so not an issue but if the yard has only 1 school and is packed with after school lessons when will your daughter get a chance to ride? It will be great to have the help of the owner of the school especially as it's your first pony but it's a consideration. It should be fine at weekends as you can usually use the school during the lunch break but after school in the evenings could be the issue especially now it's dark so you cant even hack, unless the yard allows you to book a slot?

My horse is ex rs as he couldn't cope with the environment of having so many different people ride him and he was nappy to hack to start with he once planted because there was a box at the side of the road and no way was he going past it I was also on my own so didn't want to risk him doing anything stupid. Also the rs would usually go out as a group and had set turn around points depending on the length of the lesson so he knew where turn around was. He now hacks alone fine, though a little spooky, he is actually more forward going alone if I go with someone else he tries to suck into the other horse and can be naughty to make go in front. I solved the hacking alone issue by going out with a willing friend on foot/ bike and then turning round when he was going well, also If I was alone and he stalled id get off and lead him for a short way to get him rolling again then get back on. Each time we hacked I get him going a little further each time. The first time I did the fields alone felt a massive achievement! I mainly hack now and couldn't have a horse who wont hack so he did have to learn to get used to it. Any sign of him considering whether he wants to turn round before I do and I do push him forward and get after him a little as while I dont think he would try a full on nap anymore I dont want the thought entering his head!

Also another thing to factor in will be any potential supplements the pony may need eg if it gets sweet itch and potentially things like Cushing's as prascend isnt cheap (my horse has it)

Also it will be good for your daughter if there are children at the rs she can ride with and have fun with- if you just rent the field will she have anyone to ride with? While I didn't have my own pony as a child me and my friends would loan ponies from the rs and generally just have fun with them we couldn't hack due to insurance but we would take them and ride them in the fields/ do gymkhanahs/ jump and all sorts, if your daughter is riding on her own all the time she may lose some interest so in that respect the rs or a livery uard would probably be more fun for her- then she can do a bit of everything - riding on her own/ lessons but also the option of making friends and just having fun with them and her pony- all tack cleaning together/ doing the chores together etc

Could she perhaps loan one of the rs ponies through the winter to check she is definitely committed? My parents always said it's not the cost of the horse it's the upkeep, hence why I could only have one when I was working and contributing to the costs. Now I pay it all myself and it does leave a sizable chunk of wage gone. Its actually made me lose a lot of interest, especially when if I hadn't got a horse I'd probably have a huge house deposit/ my own mortgage by now and it's not like I "waste" money going out drinking etc. . Also does she have other interests eg Brownies/ after school clubs etc etc that she would have to give up for the pony?

 

[Widgeon]

£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.

.

FWIW I pay £60 per week for assisted DIY on a livery yard for a 14.2 native type. He is out 24/7, with the cost including ad lib hay as necessary and basic hard feed, but when he comes in at night it will also include shavings and hay. He shares a field so I poo pick every other day. YO keeps an eye on how much grass there is, and I tell her how his weight is doing, and she throws hay in for them every day with the amount adjusted as necessary. When he comes in at night YO will bring in and turn out, so I just need to muck out and do the field.

Windandrain's estimate of annual running costs is pretty accurate I think - at least, it's about what I am spending.

I'd also agree that you should go out and buy the pony that you and your daughter need, not one that the RS happen to have for sale.

 

[JGC]

I would just add in with the others to say that I've just bought an ex-riding school pony (12 years old), who I absolutely adore, but she does find it really difficult being away from the others - she's my fourth horse and I was anticipating that as an issue, so it's been fine for me, but with a less experienced handler I think she could have been a real handful. The step down in work and having to be on their own more can be a real shock to the system.

 

[Otherwise]

What type of horse are you planning on buying? The hard feed costs for a good doer that gets fat on air will be different from a poor doer so it's difficult to say if £30 a month is right, it might average out as that but you'd need to expect to pay more in winter and then hopefully less in summer.

You've missed off routine vet work like vaccinations and the dentist, if the riding school has competitions regularly they might ask for 6 monthly vaccinations. You also might need to restart vaccinations if some have been missed but that would only be a one-off. Similarly I'd budget for a saddle fitter at least twice a year. Would you be using a physio/chiro/ some other type of bodyworker? How often you'd need to get someone out will vary, I'd probably budget for twice a year.

I'd maybe budget more for your farrier and then be happy if it costs less, mine was on a 5 week schedule, new shoes every other shoeing were £85 and a remove was £80. If you need remedial shoeing it will cost more; if pony copes barefoot, with only front shoes or longer between shoeing it'll be less. Prices obviously vary though, if that's the price you've been given by the farrier you'll use then I'd factor in if the horse needs a shorter cycle or if prices are due an increase.

Clipping? Won't cost that much in comparison but 1 or 2 clips a year are yet another cost to consider.

Have you included vetting in purchase price? 5 stage vetting is definitely worth it, might have to budget for a couple of horses failing if you're seriously unlucky.

Only other thing I can think of right now is all the tack, rugs and small items like grooming kit and buckets, remembering that things get broken or lost and need replacing every now and then or rugs need washing.

 

[Jusy]

It’s too scary to work out what we actually spend compared to what we estimated it would cost. Somehow we find the money and it all works out. I appreciate that may sound stupid to some people, but it’s true. Good for you for being responsible and making sure you can afford it before committing though, so many people don’t.

Thank you. I know there will always be something I have notbudgeted for just want to make sure I’m about there month on month

 

[Jusy]

What type of horse are you planning on buying? The hard feed costs for a good doer that gets fat on air will be different from a poor doer so it's difficult to say if £30 a month is right, it might average out as that but you'd need to expect to pay more in winter and then hopefully less in summer.

You've missed off routine vet work like vaccinations and the dentist, if the riding school has competitions regularly they might ask for 6 monthly vaccinations. You also might need to restart vaccinations if some have been missed but that would only be a one-off. Similarly I'd budget for a saddle fitter at least twice a year. Would you be using a physio/chiro/ some other type of bodyworker? How often you'd need to get someone out will vary, I'd probably budget for twice a year.

I'd maybe budget more for your farrier and then be happy if it costs less, mine was on a 5 week schedule, new shoes every other shoeing were £85 and a remove was £80. If you need remedial shoeing it will cost more; if pony copes barefoot, with only front shoes or longer between shoeing it'll be less. Prices obviously vary though, if that's the price you've been given by the farrier you'll use then I'd factor in if the horse needs a shorter cycle or if prices are due an increase.

Clipping? Won't cost that much in comparison but 1 or 2 clips a year are yet another cost to consider.

Have you included vetting in purchase price? 5 stage vetting is definitely worth it, might have to budget for a couple of horses failing if you're seriously unlucky.

Only other thing I can think of right now is all the tack, rugs and small items like grooming kit and buckets, remembering that things get broken or lost and need replacing every now and then or rugs need washing.

Thank you that’s some comprehensive items I had not thought about. They are going on the list

 

[Jusy]

One thing to consider with working livery is what days will the school want to use the pony? Usually weekends are their busiest days so they are most likely to want the pony for then, however that's also when your daughter will be at home and wanting to ride. Often riding schools run activities during the holidays however again that's when your daughter would want to ride and probably spend a lot of the day up there- if they were doing say an own a pony day and your daughter wanted to join in would they offer her a reduced cost? Who will be responsible for the tack if its damaged during a lesson, meaning you then can't use it? I'd want a proper contract written up specifying which days the school is using the pony and when he is for your sole use. It will help keep him exercised if your daughter cant get up there every day due to school/ your work commitments etc. Who will be responsible for the day to day care tasks when the pony is being used by the school?

I keep my horse at an rs and its useful as YO is knowledgeable if I have any queries and they have various facilities eg flood lights etc however the lessons obviously take priority of the school. There are times you can get in one school and I prefer hacking so not an issue but if the yard has only 1 school and is packed with after school lessons when will your daughter get a chance to ride? It will be great to have the help of the owner of the school especially as it's your first pony but it's a consideration. It should be fine at weekends as you can usually use the school during the lunch break but after school in the evenings could be the issue especially now it's dark so you cant even hack, unless the yard allows you to book a slot?

My horse is ex rs as he couldn't cope with the environment of having so many different people ride him and he was nappy to hack to start with he once planted because there was a box at the side of the road and no way was he going past it I was also on my own so didn't want to risk him doing anything stupid. Also the rs would usually go out as a group and had set turn around points depending on the length of the lesson so he knew where turn around was. He now hacks alone fine, though a little spooky, he is actually more forward going alone if I go with someone else he tries to suck into the other horse and can be naughty to make go in front. I solved the hacking alone issue by going out with a willing friend on foot/ bike and then turning round when he was going well, also If I was alone and he stalled id get off and lead him for a short way to get him rolling again then get back on. Each time we hacked I get him going a little further each time. The first time I did the fields alone felt a massive achievement! I mainly hack now and couldn't have a horse who wont hack so he did have to learn to get used to it. Any sign of him considering whether he wants to turn round before I do and I do push him forward and get after him a little as while I dont think he would try a full on nap anymore I dont want the thought entering his head!

Also another thing to factor in will be any potential supplements the pony may need eg if it gets sweet itch and potentially things like Cushing's as prascend isnt cheap (my horse has it)

Also it will be good for your daughter if there are children at the rs she can ride with and have fun with- if you just rent the field will she have anyone to ride with? While I didn't have my own pony as a child me and my friends would loan ponies from the rs and generally just have fun with them we couldn't hack due to insurance but we would take them and ride them in the fields/ do gymkhanahs/ jump and all sorts, if your daughter is riding on her own all the time she may lose some interest so in that respect the rs or a livery uard would probably be more fun for her- then she can do a bit of everything - riding on her own/ lessons but also the option of making friends and just having fun with them and her pony- all tack cleaning together/ doing the chores together etc

Could she perhaps loan one of the rs ponies through the winter to check she is definitely committed? My parents always said it's not the cost of the horse it's the upkeep, hence why I could only have one when I was working and contributing to the costs. Now I pay it all myself and it does leave a sizable chunk of wage gone. Its actually made me lose a lot of interest, especially when if I hadn't got a horse I'd probably have a huge house deposit/ my own mortgage by now and it's not like I "waste" money going out drinking etc. . Also does she have other interests eg Brownies/ after school clubs etc etc that she would have to give up for the pony?

Thank you. Riding is her only hobby (thankfully).
The riding school have a good mix of kids that she is friendly with and this is one of the reasons I want o keep the pony there initially so she can learn and be with other children

 

[Tiddlypom]

Ah, I’ve just seen from your other thread that your is only 5.

Have you found out exactly what the WL terms and conditions are? As she is so young she will need to be accompanied and supervised at the stables all the time, so you must check if the pony will be available at times that are convenient to you. You can’t drop her off and leave her to it at that age.

 

[Jusy]

Ah, I’ve just seen from your other thread that your is only 5.

Have you found out exactly what the WL terms and conditions are? As she is so young she will need to be accompanied and supervised at the stables all the time, so you must check if the pony will be available at times that are convenient to you. You can’t drop her off and leave her to it at that age.

Hi we hav let the stables know that we are thinking of working livery and have a meeting later in the year to discuss. My husband and I are happy to be down at the stables with her at all times. That was another reason we thought the working livery. From seeing other children at the stables they seem to use the pony in the Saturday am for a lesson and then you can have it for the rest of the day. We can also have all day Sunday for competitions. During the week I would only want to be going up a few days a week after school. Hopefully that works

 

[ihatework]

Honestly, at only 5, put pony purchase on hold it makes no sense to purchase at this stage. Keep up at the riding school for the foreseeable

 

[ycbm]

Jusy, I also think five is too young for this move with a non horsey family.

Have you considered how much this pony could cost you if it gets ill? Many illnesses, like colic, exceed what insurance will pay and any pony can easily present you with several excesses on more minor claims in one year. Also, any illness that the pony has previously suffered from is likely to be excluded.

 

[Jusy]

Thanks both at this stage I am trying to understand the costs I am not at the stage where I am going out to buy a pony. We are limited on the competition side unless she has her own pony. This is not something we are going into lightly as she has been riding for 3 years. I just want to make sure I hav thought about everything before we decide to do this.
I appreciate that people may think 5 or 6 is too young but we only have one child and are willing to help her with it until she gets to an age where she is able to take on more duties by herself. And as I said above we have not agreed to this yet I am just trying to make sure I have all the facts before we begin

 

[ihatework]

Jusy you are posting on a forum of really experienced people who have seen this situation time & time again.

If your daughter is still completely into this aged 9/10 then it would be worth exploring further. For now, a 5yo, doesn’t need to be ‘competing’ for anything other than a bit of ad hoc fun with her friends.

You sound competitive (that’s fine, I am too) but if that is the direction your daughter wants to go (note, your daughter rather than you), then you will eventually be seriously limited at a riding school and it will be a big fish in a small pond scenario.

You are in an exceptionally horsey area, affluent and highly competitive. Your daughter as she gets older and assuming she is still keen will get exposed to horse life outside of riding school and trust me, this can snowball quickly.

The livery, right ponies, good training, PC comps (and later affiliated comps), running transport, insurance/vets is easily going to be £5-600/month if you do the work yourself (ie before and after school every single day) or £1K a month if on full livery.

 

[Jusy]

Jusy you are posting on a forum of really experienced people who have seen this situation time & time again.

If your daughter is still completely into this aged 9/10 then it would be worth exploring further. For now, a 5yo, doesn’t need to be ‘competing’ for anything other than a bit of ad hoc fun with her friends.

You sound competitive (that’s fine, I am too) but if that is the direction your daughter wants to go (note, your daughter rather than you), then you will eventually be seriously limited at a riding school and it will be a big fish in a small pond scenario.

You are in an exceptionally horsey area, affluent and highly competitive. Your daughter as she gets older and assuming she is still keen will get exposed to horse life outside of riding school and trust me, this can snowball quickly.

The livery, right ponies, good training, PC comps (and later affiliated comps), running transport, insurance/vets is easily going to be £5-600/month if you do the work yourself (ie before and after school every single day) or £1K a month if on full livery.

Thank you

 

[Jusy]

I appreciate everyone’s comments and it has obviously given me some good food for thought! Thank you for taking time out to help me with this

 

[be positive]

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?

Your costs are about right but £40 per week is not £150 per month it will be nearer £200
Insurance varies but the cost will be higher for a working livery because the risks are increased so do check again.
Farrier, probably lower a first pony should not require shoes so £20 per month more likely
Worming depends on the yard so could be far higher if they do them more frequently
Hard food, should really not be required for a small pony living out with reasonable grass and hay.
Tack depends but I would hope it comes with the pony if it is suitable, an outgrown pony from a good home is normally sold with tack because it makes sense to do so.
Lessons, budget for more, most children of your daughters age need to be supervised and may well need the support of an instructor for most of their riding.

On to the next bit, as most have said she is very young so do consider other options before buying, then consider what the RS is getting out of the deal, they will be keen for you to buy because they get a good pony, all costs paid for by you whether they use it or not, if it goes lame you pay the costs and may have the livery increased to cover if it is not working for a while, if anything gets damaged when they are using it you will usually have to repair or replace, they have all the benefits of your pony with no initial outlay and no risk, so do give it serious thought as to what you will really gain from the arrangement and don't let the YO be too much in control of your thought process, they have more to gain than you while your daughter is so young.

 

[Jusy]

Your costs are about right but £40 per week is not £150 per month it will be nearer £200
Insurance varies but the cost will be higher for a working livery because the risks are increased so do check again.
Farrier, probably lower a first pony should not require shoes so £20 per month more likely
Worming depends on the yard so could be far higher if they do them more frequently
Hard food, should really not be required for a small pony living out with reasonable grass and hay.
Tack depends but I would hope it comes with the pony if it is suitable, an outgrown pony from a good home is normally sold with tack because it makes sense to do so.
Lessons, budget for more, most children of your daughters age need to be supervised and may well need the support of an instructor for most of their riding.

On to the next bit, as most have said she is very young so do consider other options before buying, then consider what the RS is getting out of the deal, they will be keen for you to buy because they get a good pony, all costs paid for by you whether they use it or not, if it goes lame you pay the costs and may have the livery increased to cover if it is not working for a while, if anything gets damaged when they are using it you will usually have to repair or replace, they have all the benefits of your pony with no initial outlay and no risk, so do give it serious thought as to what you will really gain from the arrangement and don't let the YO be too much in control of your thought process, they have more to gain than you while your daughter is so young.

Thank you. I may also look and see if there is a loaner that we could use for a year or so. Want to make sure we are doing this right for everyone and the horse.

 

[be positive]

Thank you. I may also look and see if there is a loaner that we could use for a year or so. Want to make sure we are doing this right for everyone and the horse.

That would make much more sense, a first pony will be outgrown very quickly, not always in size but in ability and the childs desire to to more so what suits as the first step will usually not go on to the next especially a RS type that may be set in it's ways or limited to certain activities that in a year or two may not be what your daughter enjoys, no good getting a show pony if she wants to jump, or the other way around.
A loan can be returned and although your outgoings will be the same it is a more sensible step when you are not experienced enough to make an informed choice, you will gain more experience as you go along, if she keeps her interest you will have no option but to become fairly heavily involved, as a YO I have dealt with a few mums and dads who end up living life around the pony, later horse until child becomes independent, you may be in for an interesting journey, best of luck, it is a healthy sport for children to do in so many ways.

 

[Jusy]

Thank you.

 

[ycbm]

Dupe.

 

[Jusy]

Thank you. Just to clarify I am not expecting to buy a pony for my five year old. This is something we are investigating for a years time when she will be almost 7. The initial costs were just my thoughts on what costs could be however I am appreciative of everyone’s comments on other items to consider. Both her dad and I are not horsey which is why we are trying to go into this with our eyes wide open rather than just thinking it’s just the cost of buying a pint

 

[Jusy]

Thank you. Just to clarify I am not expecting to buy a pony for my five year old. This is something we are investigating for a years time when she will be almost 7. The initial costs were just my thoughts on what costs could be however I am appreciative of everyone’s comments on other items to consider. Both her dad and I are not horsey which is why we are trying to go into this with our eyes wide open rather than just thinking it’s just the cost of buying a pint

Pony rather than pint!

 

[be positive]

A pint is a bit cheaper

The same about a first pony still applies whatever the age of the child and even for many adults buying for the first time, in my experience it is tricky to find one that will last for long, unless you are really lucky, because the child tends to progress so much faster once they have their own, they will ride more and possibly decide they want to compete in a specific area, some ponies will last longer but they can be hard to find.

 

[Jusy]

Definatly maybe I could dress a pint up as a pint 🤣. I need to do some more investigation on loaning (not something I had thought about before) as appreciate how we’ve told she is we are likley to have to ‘upgrade’ as she develops and decides which avenue she wants to go down