First horse advice

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TheShark

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Hi

I'm thinking about either buying/or loaning a horse for the first time and wondered if anyone could give me advice on how much time you need in a week and tell me, on average how much half-livery (plus costs for feed and farrier) would be?

I just need to work out a) if I have the time to dedicate and b) if I can afford to give the horse the care it needs.

I'm looking for a half-livery as I commute from Milton Keynes to London for work so would probably need to have the mornings covered.

I also want to know if many yards/or schools would be likely to let me come in for a few evenings a week to help out and learn a bit more about the stable management side of things etc.

Any advice? It's not something I will go into without A LOT of consideration.

Hope you can help

Cheers

Sian
 
Your local riding school will probably offer good stable management courses - so give them a buzz.

Time wise? There's never enouh hours in the day.

Money? Constantly broke!
 
My horse is VERY cheap to keep as he has no feed all year round, only fronts on and is on grass livery. He costs me around £200 per month, so you are looking at that as the basic minimum.
Most riding schools will be very happy for you to go up and help them out a few evenings a week. The BHS also do a Horse Ownership courses that might be worth considering.
Edited to say: If you have any specific questions or just think of something random you want to ask, feel free to give me a PM and I will try and help as best as I can.
 
Do some pony days at a riding school. As far as time, my two horses take most of my spare time. Money wise, most of my money goes on the horses. I never have any money now. Rewards............... plenty and its worth it.
grin.gif
 
I spend hours with my horses and it is never enough, but i am addicted.

About 1hour to do all your jobs , mucking out, feeds, nets etc
About 1 hour to tack up and ride for 30mins then un-tack.

So for a quick do after work expect about 2 hours, this can be cut down depending on how much the part livery offers. Weekends is time to do the other stuff like clean tack, good muck out, pull mane, the list goes on.

Re money this is a little harder and completely depends on the type of horse, cob will eat less that a TB for instance.

Farrier £65 per 8 weeks (if you are lucky)

Feed - Mine cost about £10 per week in winter

Wormer £13.00 every 6-8 weeks (Double dose 2 x yearly)

Insurance varies but from about £20 per month.

Vaccinations - Once a year £40.00 approx.

Your livery could be about £50.00 per week for part livery.


The costs are only what I pay because it depends on your particular area. You need to ask around where you are and look at different yards that do Part Livery and this service can change from yard to yard.

Good Luck
 
i leave in northampton i pay 87 a month diy for the horse, but less for the ponies, my yard can arange other jobs when needed.
mine dont need feed, and only has front shoes, time is something very different, tbh if i can do it then anyone can i have 3 small kids all under 6, the girls ride each day.
you just have to make time.
i might not get dinner till 11 some nights, but everyone is happy so thats what counts.

most yard would jump at the chance of help.

good luck
 
I got my first horse three years ago and what I was drawn to and what would suit my life style were complete opposites. Whilst I love the look of a t/b or warmblood I thought these may have been higher maintenance and more time consuming and more highly strung, something I did not want to contend with with my first.

Taking into consideration my time available, money available and what I wanted to do (I was looking for a good hack), I looked at an ID x cob and bought him. I also took into account my weight fluctuates so needed a bit of a weight carrier too as I didn't want to be permanantly on a diet. He lives out 24/7/365, I visit him once a day (though he is kept an eye on by the YO daily too), he has hay and one feed per day through the winter and grass and air in the summer. However, he does get loving and fuss every day, whether it be a quick groom or playtime in his field with me. He is shod on his fronts only. He isn't bothered if he is ridden once a week, once a fortnight, every other day. He is happy, looks fabulous, passes his vet checks with flying colours and I am happy too.

They say horses for courses and I would recommend you think about what you want to do, how much or little time you have to input and look at a suitable horse that falls within your parameters. I guess if you want a top class horse then the majority of the work may fall on other people to keep him in tip top condition whereas with me I do all the work though time is precious and get great satisfaction from this.

PM me if you want to have a chat about my experiences finding my first horse.

xxx
 
Example of one of mine: (Izzy)

£15pw grass livery (£60pm)
£15 every 6 weeks for a trim
..soon to have fronts so that will be £30 every 6 weeks
£30pm vets insurance
£60pa liability insurance
£15 every 3 months for wormers
£45pa vaccs (flu n' tet)

plus a few more £££ in winter for extra feed and hay and rug repairs.
 
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