Does anyone have a horse free to good home or cheap

BrambleandMonty said:
I dunno, I don't see what members problems are on here (jealousy, maybe? Because they paid silly sums for their nags?) I see and have known plenty of older horses going cheap/practically free looking for a quiter life as a hack/light schooling which would be perfect for a novice/non-competitive rider. That's how my OH learned to ride by loaning someone's old hunter/eventer which was only suitable for a quiet life.

But then, any excuse to get the claws out I suppose in the world of women and horses *rolls eyes*
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I have never paid more than £550 inclu all tack and rugs for a horse or pony. Non of them would have been sutable for a novice/rusty rider. Unless you want to be educated at the school of hard knocks.
While i think some posts could have been worded better i don't think many ment to be delibratly rude they are just pointing out that a good sort of horse is rarely ever free or cheap. Yes if you look hard you will find the odd one. I think most people are just being realistic.
 
I do not think that a free horse would be suitable for the OP a cheap older one maybe, perhaps. We bought a HW older mare from a ridig school many years ago for sister and then OH (novice 6'2" 14 stone ex rugby player) superb confidence giver BUT she was not cheap. I have been offered a free horse this week, a 15.2 sports horse type, BUT she has issues, many issues, not suitable for OP at all.
 
andrewwright said:
Hi i am currently looking for a horse to learn to ride and eventually have a try at jumping i am looking for an all rounder if anyone has one they no longer need or require im on a very tight budget so free or cheap would help im quite tall so ideally would like a horse that is 16hh upwards..Age is unimportant thanks
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If you can't afford to buy one and you are on a tight budget how are you going to afford to pay for one? They aren't cheap to keep especially if something goes wrong! Do you know how much it costs? :)

Good luck anyway.
 
Trying to find a sharer could be a good idea, there have been many people posting on here who through circumstances have been struggling with a much loved horse but do not really want to sell if they can avoid it. The other alternative is the possibility of buying an older horse who could give you the confidence and experience but as someone else mentioned they could come with a long term future of care. However, many older horses can go on to give their owners another decade or so of riding and fun. Putting up ads locally to you, tack/feed shops, local paper etc and word of mouth! You never know. Good luck.
 
Hi,

I agree with the others and would highly recommend you trying to find a sharer this would be the best possible option for you. Horses are alot of work and you will not find anyone (decent) who will just give you one, especially a good safe allrounder. Believe it or not but that's pretty much what your average rider is looking for, so they are in high demand.

Owning a horse is so much more though, you cannot really just say, has anyone got a horse I would like to get back into it!! If you cannot afford the small initial outlay (which compared to owning is small, even if it reaches into the 1000's) then how would you be able to look after it?

You say you have a friend who owns a livery yard? I would speak to them, as surely they will be able to offer the advice and would be able to help you look for a suitable sharer. Just to recap, if you are unsure of how a share works - It allows you ride said share horse several times a week and in those days you look after it as if it were your own. This is a great base point for horse owning without too much of the commitment (and cost) and you could be looking at paying anything from £10 -£35 a week, all in which is a hell of a lot less than if you had her own.

Goodluck.
 
I think Poppy was a miracle because i got her quite cheap and i wwas only a beginner and shes taught me everything Jumping,hunting and pony club events. I love her. I honestly do not think you will get a perfectly brilliant horse 4 cheap or even free! Unless you want a flighty horse but otherwise your better off saving up for a brilliant one that will take you to the top!:)
 
OP, I think you would be better investing in some refesher lessons, and then taking on a share arrangement than buying your own at this stage.

No horse is cheap or free, they all come with price tags of varying types, for example my first horse was £1 and then over the 5 years I had him cost me £5000 in vets fees, a fortune in remedial shoes and an awful lot of heartache, bruising and hospital trips for me.... extreamly costly.

My current horse was £500 but had to be re-trained, not something for, if you will excuse me, some one that is extreamly rusty. this is where accidents and ruined horses happen
 
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I've been searching for a smaller version of what you are seeking for nearly as month.
I've given up on the chance of finding a loan and currently looking with a budget up to £5K.

I'm struggling to find anything that is sane alone on the road, and field friendly. I'm not even looking for a beginners horse.
 
Cheap/free horses ARE out there, but I think we'll all fed up of the same kind of post, where people appear to want things for nowt, served up on a plate. I rehome a few horses, none are big money, most are novice/intermediate rides. The only one i have at the moment is 15.2 though so not big enough for you, although at £500 I class him as cheap!
Follow the advice, look locally for share/loan ads, and get back into the swing of things by riding and helping as much as you can. These things tend to fall into place if you put the work in. Good luck.
 
OP, my advice to you is this:

1. Get a few lessons at a riding school, just to get back into the swing of things and refresh yourself. The contacts will be valuable too.

2. Look for a share or part loan to begin with, lots of people are happy to have someone ride their horse a few days a week in return for a contribution to its keep or sometimes just in return for a bit of stable work. This is good because you don't have full responsibility and have someone more experienced looking over your shoulder. You may have to advertise for a share, but use word of mouth ask around horsey places like riding schools and livery yards.

3. If you can't find a share or if you have shared for a while and want more, then look into loans and part loans. Not many people give away horses and most very cheap ones have issues that make them either unsuitable for a novice or unsuitable for heavy work. Trekking centres often loan out their bomb proof suitable for a novice horses over winter, riding schools may loan horses on a "timeshare basis" or loan or sell cheaply horses that are unsuitable for school work. Lots of people loan while they can't ride due to work, uni or pregnancy or they loan older horses that they don't want to sell on to an uncertain future. You could approach the welfare charities about loaning one of their rehabillitated horses but be prepared for a strict home check, they will consider novice riders for appropriate horses though and are generally very thorough about making sure you get a suitable horse. Don't disregard the racehorse charities, they may have older animals that have been in private homes for some time and are relaxed and easy going, they aren't all straight off the track.

I think there is potential to begin your horsey career with very little outlay, but you need to be prepared for the regular expenses, and if you can't afford some riding lessons now then you won't be able to afford to keep a horse. You also need to be aware of why people dispose of horses cheaply so that you don't get caught out with an expensive or frightening mistake.

Bear in mind that few people will want their horses ridden by total novices so you need to get a decent grounding from lessons. You also need to make your horse care experience and support network clear to owners so that they have confidence that their horse will be properly looked after.

Best of luck and I hope you enjoy getting back into horses. Keep posting here, there is a wealth of knowledge and you might even find someone looking for a sharer or with a horse they want to loan out.
 
Echo what Katt and others have said.

That's exactly what I'm doing. I recently started riding again after a 6 year break, and plan to have lessons once/twice a week and hack out at weekends from local stables/riding schools.

Then once I'm back to riding fit, and have built my skills back up, I'll look to share. At the moment I'm not ready to ride a decent horse other than those from the riding school.

I plan to continue lessons on my share horse, then want to buy my own next spring.

Don't be in a hurry. Have lots of lessons, ride as many different horses as you can to get more experience, and then see what's around.
 
I haven't read the whole thread so not sure if it has already been suggested but you could probably find a share horse in your area? To look after an ride a few days a week. I let a beginner share my old pony and was fantastic as she learnt everything my way and was really enthusiastic! Since then have lost my pony but still have my sharer around as I wouldn't be without her! You might find an owner thats willing to give you a chance under their supervision.
 
'on a tight budget' = don't get a horse!!! Think of how much you think one will cost you per month and add a lot more on to it! It's not getting a horse that costs it's keeping one. I have 3 at the mo (4th one is on loan but coming back for good soon) and i was given one of them through a friend and in the few months i've had him he's cost more than one of my others cost in 3 yrs!!! Think you need to start by either sharing a schoolmaster or stick to a riding school
 
Thanks for all the posts guys i understand all of your comments and fortunatley my circumstances have changed and am now looking to buy a horse however im not willing to pay thousands but up to 2k is ok for now i have took into account all expenses related to keeping a horse and thats fine it fits in with my budget and since posting this reply i have had numerous lessons so im getting there thanks all
 
I got this one free -

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He's 15.2 hh, 13 years old, very well schooled, hacks out alone and in company, even did a year in a riding school. Good to do everything except clip, which we're working on. His only issue was that he HATED the other horse my friend had - so she gave him to me before he seriously injured the other one.

Although she gave him to me because she knows me, knows how i keep my horses, and knows how experienced i am... so they are out there, depending on circumstances.

Good luck op, it sounds like you have a good friend who is willing to help you out when you need it, I hope you find your perfect horse :)
 
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