everything you need to know before owning your own horse

I offered my services for free down a working livery yard,really helped and i learnt alot!
Now moved on to sharing and i've learnt soo much in my 7months of sharing,everyday i go i learn something new:)
 
I learned to ride at a riding school, I remember doing bits of stable management when I was a kid. But I never really learned to do it by myself...
But I really learned how to look after a horse at 25 when I was offered a part-loan. The owner showed me the ropes, bit by bit. I wrote everything down she told me, I read lots of books and it used to take me 45 mins to muck out... lol!!!!! I loaned that little mare for 5 years til I felt ready to buy my own horse. I kept him at a good livery yard where there was expert help on-hand at all times.

I promptly then had to relearn everything as he was a bugger!!!! After a couple of years at the livery yard I felt confident enough to move him to a farm where there is just me and my friend. He is absolutely thriving, so I haven't done bad... I think I know what I am doing now. I can tell if he is lame, has pain somewhere or is feeling off-colour, I can control his weight and temperament by feeding, I know what good shoeing looks like, I know what tack and rugs to use, I know how to despook him and get him working well for me, I can tell good hay from bad, and most of that is stuff you can;t really learn from a book.
I am pregnant and have had to find a sharer myself. I was lucky that a friend's daughter was keen to take my horse on but had a lot to learn in terms of horse care, so I have spent the past few months teaching her how to do all the jobs I had to learn...

So hopefully I am passing on the favour that was given to me by the girl I loaned off...
 
Thats great Noblesteed! I bet shes enjoying the experience. I know I would!

Thanks again everyone, made me even more confident to do it!


:D
 
Cobi, as someone who has not long bought their first horse after years and years of riding I would advise the following:

1. Do a course, Horse owners certificate, BHS stage 1, BHS progressive tests so that you have a decent idea of the care side of things.
2. Look for a share so you can get used to doing things yourself outside a riding school environment.
3. Ride at different places, ride as many horses as your can in as many different circumstances as you can. It is valuable experience, and once you get your own you will not have this sort of opportunity. Try different riding schools in your area, go for a hack or a trek on holiday, have a "treat" lesson somewhere like YRC or Talland, help people out with their horses.
4. When you buy your horse go to a yard that offers livery servcies rather than pure DIY you will almost certainly at some point be very glad to be able to have your horse done for you. It is really important to have the back up of knowledgeable staff on the premises with your first horse, especially when things go wrong. A riding school that has liveries is a good place to consider.
5. You do not need a tall horse, do not limit your search criteria too much, it is hard enough to find a nice sensible first horse. I'm also 5'8" and I am pretty comfortable on a 14.2hh if the proportions are right, my horse is about 15.3hh and not chunky, I am very comfortable on her sizewise. Also a small horse is easier to get back on when you fall off or get off to do a gate!
6. Above all else the attitude of your horse is crucial, if it is generous, bold and kind you won't go far wrong. If it is stubborn, nervous, lazy or naughty you will have a tough time. Watch it closely when you view it and test its attitude.
7. Get a vetting from a vet the seller doesn't use.
8. Start making contacts now, they will be valuable in helping you find shares now and your horse when you start looking.
9. Start buying stuff now, horses are expensive, buy things that don't need to be the right size now, grooming kit etc can be used now or saved until you get your own.

Good luck it is a wonderful experience, and HHO is a great place to learn.
 
Hi KristmasKatt, some very wise points there, that list is very helpful.

I was in a horse shop a few weeks ago for some new joddys, went over to the grooming section where there were a few bits on sale, my Mum looked at me as if i was a crazy person. haha I might have to be tempted tho now someone else has thought of it ;) hehe.

I thought a taller horse would be better purely as the lady I am sharing one on now said I look a bit silly on her mare, she is 14.3hh, although I feel alot 'safer' on her rather than being too high up! Will definately be on the hunt for the perfect tempament and will not be tempted by a naughty fella/gal, just because they look 'nice.'

I am not sure how long this share will last for, anyone know of anyone near Leighton Buzzard/Milton Keynes/Hemel area that is in need of a sharer?

X
 
The height thing depends a lot on the proportions of the horse, and your own perceptions, if someone is used to seeing small women on big horses they get used to it. The guide is generally that at your normal flatwork length the sole of your boot should be roughly level with, or just above the line of the horse's belly. You shouldn't look like you can barely reach below the saddle flaps!

I share my horse with my husband who is over 6ft so what we did was took a picture of him on the horses we tried so he could get an idea of whether he looked too big or not. He prefers a smaller horse, but doesn't want to look like he's outgrown it, and we didn't want to get something that would be so big it would be difficult to deal with or that I would find too big. Our mare is 15.3hh and he does look a bit big on her but she has got some filling out to do still, she's a lovely size for me though. If I was buying just for me I'd be looking for a 15hh - 16.2hh I think.
 
Some excellent advise here, But one thing you need to know is how much it hurts you when you loose them, sorry if people think this is morbid but its true and it was something I was not prepared for. Having said that would still not be without one, hope you find a good one and have many years of fun together OP.
 
@KristmasKatt... I think 15.3hh would be a nice height for me, my feet are just a fraction below my shares belly :o

@maisey belle... I cant begin to imagine the pain you must feel when losing such a big family member, I lost my hamster yesterday and I am devastated, was upset earlier (at work) people dont understand how attached we can be to animals and just shrug it off.

I have lost many animals over the years, dogs, ferrets, hammys, I guess it will never get easier to lose one whether that be a hamster or a horse. Thanks for the reminder, and its not morbid, its unfortunately a fact of life.

At least here people understand the pain you feel. :)
X
 
How wonderful to see someone really thinking about what will be needed and planning well in advance -well done!

Just one suggestion to add to the excellent advice given above.

If you start putting aside the monthly cost of keeping your new horse now, not only will you have tested out whether or not you can afford it - but will have a nice little fund to go towards purchase.

As for how much that should be - that's a whole other thread. But, however you plan on keeping your horse and whatever you work out that should be - add on at least another 25% to cover those unexpected items that always crop up.
 
Thank you Sagittarius! I am one of thoses planning types you see :p

Ahh I have a 'horse fund' which i put any extra cash in here and there but thats an even better idea, thanks! :D :D
 
Cobi, I am 5'8 and I have a 14,2 and a 15hh. I'm not too big on the 14,2 though when doing flatwork, my heel falls below the level of his ribs - partly because I have long legs and ride long. I wouldn't dismiss a smaller horse - they are incredibly practical when it comes to hacking, mounting, gates etc. If you get a native with decent bone (ever thought of a highland :p) or a proper cob, you'll probably find they take up as much - or more- leg as a "normal" 15,3.

As for ownership - take a BHS course, help out at stables, get a share and you'll be sorted. Part livery is god's gift to new owners.

In the meantime, start working through rhino's list. If you survive that, you've definitely got a chance of managing a horse :D
 
rhino said:
1. Drop a heavy steel object on your foot. Don't pick it up right away. Shout "Get off, stupid! Get off!"
2. Leap out of a moving vehicle and practice "Relaxing into the fall". Roll into a ball, and spring to your feet!
3. Learn to grab your cheque book out of your purse/pocket and write out a £200 cheque without even looking down
4. Jog long distances carrying a headcollar and holding out a carrot. Go ahead and tell the neighbours what you're doing.They might as well know now.
5. Affix a pair of reins to a moving freight train and practice pulling it to a halt. And smile as if you are really having fun.
6. Hone your fibbing skills. "See hon, moving hay bales is fun!" and " I'm glad your lucky performance and multi-million pound horse won you first place - I'm just thankful that my hard work and actual ability won me second place" .
7. Practice dialing your chiropractors number with both arms paralysed to the shoulder, and one foot anchoring the lead rope of a frisky horse.
8. Borrow the US Army slogan; "Be all that you can be'...( but add) bitten, thrown, kicked, slimmed, trampled."
9. Lie face down in the mud in your most expensive riding clothes and repeat to yourself: "This is a learning experience, this is a learning experience ..."
10. Marry Money

:rolleyes: :D
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Made me laugh soo much but so true! :D

OP on a serious note try a local RS a lot of them will be pleased for the help ask lots of questions and speak to lots of people and make your own judgements ....good luck K x
 
I don't really have any advice to offer, but just wanted to say well done for trying to learn all you can BEFORE you take the plunge and get your own horse!

There are a few horses at my livery yard owned by very novice inexperienced people and I thonk the horses do suffer because of this sometimes!

So well done for doing it the right way round, I'm sure you'll be a brilliant owner and have lots of fun
x
 
Stumbled across this post from a year ago... and thought I would add an update.

I have achieved BHS first horse ownership level 1 and have the test for the
2nd level in 2 weeks time.

Been helping at a few different yards/riding schools and am more confident (if not completely!) with the care side of things.

My share didn't work out and I am still looking for one but been having as many lessons as I can to keep up on the riding skills.

Anyway it's nearly 2013 and I am still on track to purchase my 1st horse within the year :) ...and feel a whole lot more confident about it!

YAY

...pointless but proud post hehe
 
I didn't see the post when you posted this a year ago but I have just read through the whole thing and everyone has offered brilliant advice to you! Glad to see you are still keeping up with the riding and that you're still on track of getting your first horse. It is an amazing feeling!

Good luck and I hope you find just what you are looking for :)
 
cloe1993 said:
I didn't see the post when you posted this a year ago but I have just read through the whole thing and everyone has offered brilliant advice to you! Glad to see you are still keeping up with the riding and that you're still on track of getting your first horse. It is an amazing feeling!

Good luck and I hope you find just what you are looking for :)
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Thank you cloe1993! :)
 
I put an ad on Preloved asking it anyone could offer me their experience in exchange for free labour. Was really lucky in that I met a lady who buys horses like other women buy shoes!
Anyway, I went to meet her and we got on great so I helped her out a couple of times a week until I got my own horse.
It did wonders for my confidence, I learnt loads and I met a good friend!
 
Well done for realising it is one heck of a decision to make, and you've done more than many already by considering other people's opinions and expieriences, and really, really thinking things through. Good luck whatever you do decide. If it helps I had a horrible accident when I was 18 too, and bizarrely I was 22 before I thought about horses in my life again. I took all my tack, clothing, rugs etc into the local saddlers to sell everything second hand, that was it, I was giving up, and I noticed a small advert in the corner of the noticeboard for a sharer for a native pony. I erm came out of the saddlers with a new horse, whoops. Many years on, he and the yard taught me more than any textbook or video ever could. Everything happens for a reason x
 
Cobi..exciting times ahead 2013 is just around the corner!:)
I'm hoping to get a horse by next summer as well. I've been sharing two different horses one of which is a Cob..(.it's just a three letter word for trouble.)and twice weekly lessons. I've spent a lot of time learning to tack groom treat soothe and handle horses in the past year. The difficult one are great to learn from so I've got three great teachers :eek: im constantly amazed how one breed of animal be so prone to so many ailments and mishaps!!
I know someone who is a trained saddle fitter and I'm considering asking if she will let me tag along one day and learn about backs and saddles. Fingers crossed.
Good luck with your horse hunt. :)
 
I did pretty much exactly what you did, rode at riding school from a very young age then gave up around 18, although during this time I did attend a number of pony weeks and horse holidays etc so knew a bit. When I was 21 I went for a lunge lesson at riding school to make sure I hadn't forgotten everything. I then looked around at various adverts for sharing until I stumbled upon a yard that didn't mind me hanging around filling nets and mucking out in return for the occasional ride on anything they had spare. Watching someone experienced for me was the best way to learn, I found this particularly useful to do on a small livery yard as their methods weren't strictly BHS so you learnt the secrets that no one tells you about :) I now have my own horse on a different yard and have managed to figure most things out by myself although I would still class myself as an experienced rider but a novice owner.

With a lot of things you just know, and the way I look at it, he's not going to die if I don't put the right rug on one night, as long as he is fed watered and kept happy I wouldn't think too much about what else everyone else does that you dont.

Ps: if its hanging off call the vet :D
 
Also - very dull, but horribly true - make sure you have an "emergency fund " for if things go wrong - insurance can run out very quickly if your horse has to go to vet hospital , and won't cover everything generally anyway.That way, if your horse does have an injury and has time off, you won't be panicking that you can't afford his care.....
 
Best thing you can learn is that you'll never know everything - to be honest (if you're like most of us )you'll barely know 10% of everything but common sense will get you a long way.
And realise that horses are as different as people so someones 'guaranteed' solution to an issue may well have worked on theirs but could just as easily not work on yours - they are not black and white and rarely is there a right or wrong answer - as some of the lengths of debate on here will demonstrate!!
 
Shilasdair said:
I would strongly advise anyone considering buying their first horse to reconsider.
Pet rocks make much nicer companions.
S :D
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increadbly sensible advice....... as it is either that or burn money, say goodbye to any kind of sanity, smelling nice, having nice things in pockets, having nice clothes/things...... oh the list is growing.

Sounds like you are learning plenty

Oh you will also have to learn how to budget, 101 things you can do with baked beans, how to smell BS at 100 paces, and keep out of trouble.
 
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