First horse help!

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Ponymad21

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In September I will hopefully begin looking for my first horse, but i need some advice
Livery yards
How can I tell what a yard is like? What questions should I ask?

What should I NOT do when reading ads or responding to them? Or when I go to look at a horse?
 
Hi, exciting for you to be considering owning a horse! The best thing to do would be to search the forums here using the search facility for 'buying a horse' and 'livery yards' and you will see loads of stuff that will be useful. Good luck!
 
Thank you! I have the basics, watch the owner ride before you get on ect, catch and tack up yourself, and (after seeing one of the horses at my riding school) handle them in the stable
 
The best person to advise is your regular trainer, who knows your riding. They might even know of something suitable for sale locally, a personal recommendation from someone trustworthy and knowledgeable is worth a lot!
 
Re livery yards, decide what's important to you. Will you be needing a school. Is good hacking something you'd want. What kind of services will you be needing. How far are you prepared to travel. What's the turnout like and will they be able to offer all year turn out.

Often you can find a yard that seems perfect on paper but you just don't get the right 'feel' when you look round.

Re horses. What do you want to do with it? What 'type' do you like. Size, budget. Age. Do want a schoolmaster or would you prefer something younger that you can bring on. Will you want to compete and if so, what disciplines. Are you a confident rider. Do you have people who can offer you support if you need it.

It's exciting though. Look through ads. I found my little chap on Horsequest. I've always found that you can look at several ads for horses that meet your criteria but often one seems to stand out. It may not be the flashiest, but you just get a feel.

Good luck when you start looking and let us know how it goes :) There are loads of people on here who give out excellent advice.
 
Thank you!
I really just want a bit of a plodish all rounder, so I wouldn't mind something a bit green as long as it wasn't extremely forward going
 
Hi there, can't answer with regards to assessing a yards suitability, but I am currently looking for my first horse which I plan to keep at home (all my neighbours are horse people so I have a fantastic support network around me, very lucky I know!)
Just thinking of some of the things i would do, and then turning it round to answer your question. ....
If something catches your eye, DON'T just pick up the phone to arrange a viewing. I write a list of starting questions to ask during the call, things that are important to what you want to do, eg what's the horse like to hack out alone? Perhaps request video, more pics etc. It can save time to both parties and travel costs by doing a bit of research.
DON'T ask closed questions if you want to get more of an answer.
DON'T not seek advice of your trainer or another knowledgeable person to give a second viewpoint.
I guess with finding a yard I would say DON'T settle for somewhere that doesn't have the nearest to perfect facilities for you eg. Fantastic hacking if that's what you see yourself doing. It might save you a move long term.
Hope that helps, and best of luck when you start searching
 
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You need a yard that can offer support - so it needs to offer part or full livery, not just DIY, so that staff are around. They need to be happy to help you and give guidance. Are you at a riding school at th eminent? It might be worth liverying with them to start. It's also worth putting the horse on part or getting some services, so that you can ease in gradually - the level of care and responsibility can be a huge shock.

Agree with asking your instructor if they know of anything suitable, and definitely take them to viewings. And if they say a horse isn't right for you, take their advice!
 
Some good advice already given. The one thing I would add is that when you go to see a horse do not get on for a ride if you don't feel that the horse is right for you or that you think you would not be safe. Explain politely to the vendor and walk away.
 
I always ask about parking for the trailer, assisted DIY, ie turnout and bring in, remember to ask about weekend turnout/bring in as this has caught me out before now. Ask about storage facilities if your horse will have to be on shavings and you need to buy in, and ask about fencing (don't go near barbed wire).

You need to consider curfew times on the yard, or if you are allowed to use the ménage at night, do you have to pay for floodlights?
 
My riding school is so small that they don't have the space to offer livery, my friend went to look at a horse to buy today and made some mistakes so I have been able to learn from that.
I'm lucky because I have come from a horsey family my nan trained horses, and my dad grew up with his own ponies, it is only September that I can look at getting a horse because I start working (animal apprenticeship)then hopefully and the extra money means that we will be able to afford a horse,
 
I have little personal experience of livery yards but if you are buying a horse as we go into winter, make sure there is plenty of all year turnout. It would be unwise to get your first new horse and have to keep it stabled all the time.

With regard to looking for a horse, I have found it saves a lot of time and miles if you read adverts carefully then phone seller with extensive list of questions.
If you have some 'absolutes' eg gender, budget, age etc Put those filters on the ads. so you don't get sidetracked.
Read very carefully then consider what isn't includes. eg "good to catch, shoe, box" makes me think you probably can't clip it - so that is a question to ask the seller.
If you're wanting a nice safe plod, avoid any horse that 'is looking for a home where his talents will be used' or that 'needs a rider with more time' or has been 'professionally produced'.
When you phone the seller (always phone, don't text or email) the first question to ask is "why are you selling it?".
Only immediately acceptable answers to this are: after x years, the pony is now outgrown. Any other answer needs some further clarification/details - including going to college, no rider and change of circumstances.
When you eventually locate something you want to see and try do as others have said and take someone with you. See the owner ride it first. If then you don't fancy getting on - don't. That's not being a 'time waster', thats just sensible.
If you like what you see and try it in circumstances you want it for eg hacking out, say yes 'subject to vetting. Always get a vetting done and bloods taken, it can save heart-break as well as money.
A couple of other things to consider....going to a dealer can be a good idea as tho' you may pay more, they have their reputation to consider and you are more protected by consumer law. They are also less prone to owners 'rose tinted glasses'! Don't dismiss older horses - they can have a lot to offer a less experienced rider/owner. Good luck and happy riding!
 
Firstly, congratulations on nearly being ready for your first horse, before I let my son have his first horse, he had to do a summer of helping at a local riding school, is there any place you can go to and help , to get an idea of the routine and work needed to own a horse, as going into it in the winter can be hard, there will be days when you only do care and can't ride due to conditions, read up on horse health and what to look for, if there are any teaching yards near you see if you can sign up to do a horse owners course. Cost out what you will have to pay,
Livery
Shoes
Insurance
Feed/hay/bedding
Buying tack and rugs
Cost of traveling to and from yard several times a day
Ive just come out of horse ownership for first time in many decades, and I worked out I am £450 better off this month!!! That's a scarey lot of money I was spending for horse, lorry, insurance ect..
Good luck, don't rush into it...
 
I've already been working at a riding school after school, on weekends and in the holidays for 3 years, many times I have been left on my own to provide evening care for 10 horses and ponies
 
The other thing to consider is sharing for a few months first. It will give you insight into a number of the things that come with ownership, as well as some contacts for people like farriers, saddle fitters and dentists. The basics are the same, but managing your own horse is a lot more involved than the routine basic care you are probably involved with at the riding school.

If your share horse is on a livery yard, it will give you some first hand ideas about how things work, what sort of yard might best suit the sort of horse you're looking to buy. All yards are so different, and sometimes it's only by comparing and contrasting that you will work out what's important to you. And if the other liveries are friendly they might also know of horses locally who might suit you.

I shared for a year or so before I got my own horse, and I learnt loads from it, really set me up well for the transition to being an owner myself.
 
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