Getting a loan horse on full livery

Cobber

Cobber

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Ive decided to go down the loan option as opposed to buying as i havent ridden or been around horses for over 4 years and i want to be sure my finances can handle it. When the snow clears im going to check out a couple of horses. One i would need to find a yard myself and keep it on DIY (my choice) the other im most interested in is a horse on full livery. The owner wants him to stay at the yard hes at but they only do full. She currently pays 100 a week with feed or bedding on top of this and has asked for half of this a month so £200 a month for me.

For that the horse is basically mine and i can do whatever i want with him, ride as much as i want, should i get on ok with him. The owner is really nice and the horse sounds right for what im looking for. The yard looks gorgeous, its pretty new with turnout all year access to indoor and outdoor schools, jumps, x-country, solarium, heated rug room, discounted lessons with good instructors etc. Its basically great.

I need to stop panicking about the money side of things so just wanted others opinions? I have worked out my budget using money saving expert.com budget planner and can afford it, im just worrying about it still (typical virgo!)
crazy.gif
 
If the horse on full livery is also on full loan to (potentially) you it sounds like a great deal for what you get.

But just becasue something is a bargain doesn't mean it is right for you. With fab facilities and no chores you might be able to do more if you have limited time. But if, for instance, you're a student/retired person with lots of time but limited income... well, you see what I mean.

I'd say to make a list of all the questions you have (write it down even!) and go and see all potentially suitable horses within your area that you can afford. Take someone (even a non-horsey someone) with you and make sure the owners/someone else who isn't you rides the horse first.

You'll probably just 'know' when you find the right animal/set up.

Have fun!
 
I got my first adult horses as loans on full livery, although we're now on DIY with daughter's lot. It is a great way to get back into it without worrying that your inexperience will hurt your horse. Your bond with your horse does not suffer in any way just becuase someone else does the mucking out. You get just as much - if I'm honest probably more becuase you're not out in the freezing weather smashing ice off water troughs.

Mindful of things like "don't look a gift horse in the mouth..." if the horse suits you it sounds like a really ideal way to get back into horse ownership. Go for it. (When the snow clears...)
 
£200 is the bare minimum a horse on DIY will cost you once you factor in bedding/hay/feed/shoes etc. So if all you pay with the full livery horse is half the livery and the owner covers everything else then that is pretty cheap TBH. However if they want you to pay for feed/bedding/shoeing etc etc on top then you obviously need to factor that into the costs.

Assuming you can afford it all, full livery does give you peace of mind if you can't make it for whatever reason. However really you just need to try the horses and see which you like better too - which I guess is pretty obvious!
 
to me, full livery means that yard exercise horse, so if you're planning to ride most days, you may be able to go onto part livery (where they still feed, turnout, muck out etc) to save some money.
 
Thanks for everyones replies. Im going to see him this weekend if the snow clears enough to get to the yard to meet him and then have a ride in the week if i like the look. TBH im used to not having to do all the horse chores and on nights like tonight when i finished at 8pm it would suit me at the mo. If we get on ill have the option to move him to another yard on different livery.

Feeling much better now thanks!
 
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