HELP!! Should I take this horse on?

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Kelly9512

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I've been working with a horse for the past few months and his owner has just had a baby and now does not think that she will have the time for him as he is young and she has 2 others. She has offered him to me on a full loan, permenant basis so he would practically be mine as she does not really want to sell him.

I am slighlty unsure if I can afford it and I think my heart is ruling over my head! I know its a huge decision and the last thing I would want is for him to be put in a bad situation due to me being a bit selfish.

I want to get as much advise on the matter before I make a decision, although it is not an asap thing and hopefully I would not need to make a final decision until next year and will have time to save up for things he would need (saddle, stable tools etc) which amounts to around £171

I have been doing some research into what things cost:

  • Livery = £41 per week including hay, a bag of shavings, water and use of facilities (indoor achool when not in use by riding school)
  • Insurance = £17 per month (quoted online) - including vet bills, loss of use and theft of tack etc.
  • Food = £29.65 (calm and condition, chaff and leisure mix) - after speaking to people I have been told that this would last about 3-4 weeks for one horse

Altogether this amounts to around £210.65 per month and then obviously dentist and farrier when needed (would probably only have feet trimmed anyway as have been told he has tough feet).

Does this sound about right?

If I took on more hours at work (16 over a weekend) I would earn around £401 per month.

Also, I am at university although I am living at home and the yard I am looking at is on a main bus root and is easily accessible. I have spoken to a friend who owners her own and is at uni, works 16 hours over a weekend, runs a car and she said she is coping fine and is still getting the chance to compete

Obviously I want to make the right decision for the horse not just me.

Any help would be greatly appreciated!!! Thanks!
 
Obviously I don't know your full circumstances: but if you're earning £401 total per month, and your horse is gonna cost over half that amount - TBH you are going to find yourself quite stretched financially. You have to live, pay your rent, pay your bills, clothe & feed yourself out of what's left. Also you need to factor-in unexpected things like vets bills and stuff that can wear out like rugs etc.

Re. the feet trimming, if you're going to do much work on this horse then you may also have to consider the price of a set of full shoes; down here I pay £70 for a full set for my cob, loan mare (different farrier) is £72.

The problem you're likely to have is IF you do take on extra work to pay for the horse, you will probably not have time to ride over the weekend!!! Which is a Catch 22 situation.

Sorry to be pointing out the gloom and doom!

But if you really want this horse, and are prepared to pare down your own personal expenses on stuff like clothes, night-life etc to the bare bones, then the best of luck to you!!!

Um, sorry to point out the obvious, but PLEASE ensure that you have a proper loan contract drawn up. Look at the BHS website if you need ideas; I did one for my cob when I put him on loan and if you PM me I'll send you a copy of it. Also bear in mind that owners have a habit of asking for their horses back when someone else has put in a lot of work and the horse is unrecognisably improved!!!! This after the loaner has got fond of it, result heartbreak. Sorry, am just warning you what could happen!
 
MiJods has a good point. There are some lovely horses out there so just poss if this one has to go and you aren't in the right position now - you sound ideal as another sharer for something else. I'd be very careful about the finances as they cost big-time and this is from someone who mends their own rugs and has family farm! Lots are after a good sharer these days so don't rule out another. All the best whichever way it goes...
 
I'd say no, you will do all this work with this horse then it gets backed and the owner decides she wants to sell it and your left with nothing if you can't buy the horse yourself.

Not something I would do personally, especially sounding as stretched as you do, been there and done it and would never do it again.
 
To be honest I don't have much of social life anyway :P and barely buy clothes and when I do its always from primark.

I would have my student loan if something drastic happened and everything he would have would be the cheapest thing that I could get in terms of rugs, he's quite good and doesn't seem to rip the ones hes got now.

And its the gloom and doom I need to help me make my decision, like I said, his welfare is paramount!

The owner is a friend and the reason she offered him to me was she knew I'd look after him where as you can't be quite sure who you're selling them to, especially in this market.

At work I can request hours so would ask for like a 8-5 (split shift 8-12, 1-5) saturday and sunday and that would mean that I could ride afterwards as the riding school should close around that time and the fact its an indoor makes that easier. I already know people on that yard so if I couldn't get up to turn him out lets say, I would have friends who would do that.

He's quite young, so the work he would be in would be light schooling and off road hacking so shoes wouldn't be essential at this point in time.

Yeah a contract would be essential to protect my back and his owners.

The decision is not a now thing, we've agreed to carry on with the arrangement as it is now and then when she thinks she'll have to sell him due to lack of time I said I would review the situation.

I just want to get as much information as I can so I can be prepared if it does happen. Like I said I think my heart is ruling over my head a bit and I was put in this sitaution a few years back and there was no way I was anywhere near being able to afford it and that was heart breaking!

I just want to make the right decision my him!

My other option is to ask someone I trust if we could go half as two sharers but that would be a bridge we would have to cross when it came to it.

Thanks for your help guys! I really appreciate it!
 
I think you would be severely stretched financially and physically and you are looking at a "best case" with the costs. If you are so short of funds you shouldn't really be contemplating taking on a horse because what happened if he suddenly needed lots of veterinary treatment, even for something mundane as mud fever.
If you are at university you need to be concentrating your efforts - and your social life - on that, not wearing yourself out looking after a horse that you won't own and can bearly afford. There are loads of horses and owners looking for a good sharer, so you could ride and help to look after without any major financial, or time, responsibility.

Lecture over!

From a Parent Aged person.
 
My only concern is that if you need time to save £171 then you probably can't afford a horse. Insurance doesn't always pay out, what would you do if you were suddenly stranded with a huge vet bill? There are always unexpected costs with horses and I can promise you they won't be cheap. Most of us on here will have an emergency fund for these unexpected events. When I've had to use it it has rarely been enough.
I don't mean to be a downer but you do need to be absolutely honest with yourself.

If it isn't a now decision then I would start saving as much as you can - even if it falls through then you'll have a nice little nest egg which always comes in handy. Maybe getting another part loaner would be a good solution?
 
I know its my heart before my head a bit, I just don't want to lose this one because the last one was heartbreaking and I still haven't gotten over it. I get too easily attached :')

I will start saving, I've already got a bit saved and will keep adding to this.

I have someone in mind for a sharer if it comes to that.


Like I said, his welfare is the most important thing.
 
Actually it is your welfare that is paramount - if you put yourself under too much pressure financially, physically or mentally then you might end up needing to return the horse or finding him another home and then you might feel even more desolate. If she really wants you to have him on loan, perhaps she would consider covering some of the bills - like insurance and veterinary care. It doesn't have to be all a one way street.
 
Being cynical, I think your friend is pushing you to pay for the keep of her horse. Does the horse not have a saddle? £171 won't get you much of a saddle along with yard tools.

Your insurance quote sounds suspiciously like an E&L price so it's hardly worth the paper it's written on.

I don't think you can afford to keep him, sorry.
 
Working two days at a weekend on top of university will be really hard work and you may find when the times of hardest study hit you arent spending enough time with the horse to really be enjoying him

I would also second the comment about putting in the hard work just for someone to take him back

If I was you I would either continue to offer assistance during the lady's pregnancy (which she would have to pay for normally)

Or I would find a share horse, this would cost you less than half of your above costs

Also £171 will go no way to kitting out a horse with even reasonable quality stuff, the extras and the hidden costs are amazing. I spent £112 at the weekend on stuff like buckets, hoof ointment, cheap bandage pads, a new broom and haynets
 
He shares a saddle at the moment and when I've been having a look into things, I found a saddle for £85, obvioulsy it wouldn't be the best but as long as it fit him.

He would be moving yards closer to me so is essentially mine, she said she wouldn't want me to pay to buy him because she would rather he went to a home that would look after him and she would take him back and probably sell him on.
 
She's already had the baby, I was there to assist her with him during her pregnancy, I think she over estimated how much time she would have spare and has now realised that she wouldn't have time for all three.

He comes with most stuff, rugs, bridle etc. its literally a saddle, and brushes I would need. I've been looking around on websites such as equestrian clearance and I could get all the essentials for £171 - saddle, stirrups, girth, basic grooming kit, shavings fork, brush, shovel, haynet... he should be coming with the rest.
 
To be honest I dont think any of us will be able to talk you out of this

All I can add is that the owner looks just to be aiming to pass on the costs of ownership and that you will almost certainly come out of this poorer and even more reluctant to lose the horse.

Its always better to be the sharer than the one sharing their 'own' horse

As a sharer you are able to cease the share if times get tough. As the party owning the horse you will be left in the **** if your sharer decides to walk away

The owner will have the costs of owning the horse during their baby's infant months anyway - maybe you could offer to share the horse rather than take him on full loan, that way their costs are cut and you still have a get out option
 
Regarding the saddle, don't buy a cheap new saddle, they are bad for the horse and often very dangerous. Depending on what type of horse he is, a safer bet is to buy a second hand wintec or thorowgood saddle off ebay, as you can buy different widths of gullet to fit your horse. Your insurance quote sounds extremely cheap. Which company was it? As someone else has said, if it's E&L don't touch it with a bargepole. I agree with the others that you will be very stretched both physically and mentally. Even with insurance, you still have to pay an excess for vet fees which is usually around £145. I know how you feel. I was horseless for many years around your age and during early marriage. I had a full time job and still did not dare buy a horse. I did however have shares for that period of my life when I was horseless. If I were you, I would look for a share.
 
I'm just trying to get advice off people before decide, which I haven't done. I'm no where near deciding and I'm hoping that the decision will not have to be made until at least next year. I am very careful with my money and I would not take him on if I couldn't afford it. That's why I'm asking people on here. Although I've worked with horses all my life I have never owned one myself and thats why I'm asking people with their own. His owner completely understands my view on it as I have said that I would have to have a think as moneywould be the main issue.

If I lived closer to the yard he was at now the arrangement would just stay as it was but its and 1hours bus ride away from where I live and it would be easier if he was closer to home.

If I couldn't afford him, she would happily take him back and probably just sell him on.
 
If you've got time to think about it, while still in the current situation, could you start putting that money away every month? Don't touch it and see if you can manage without; should give you an idea and if it works you could carry on?
I'm wondering about the saddle though at that price...
 
This is difficult, I'll explain my situation to try and give you a 'real life scenario' to think about. I bought a horse just before starting my 3rd year at uni, like you I'd had him on loan and then the owners wanted to sell (after I'd put in the work!) and I was so attached my parents bought him for me. All was fine and I had him at uni with me, initially on loan to a equine college, then after I realised it didn't suit I moved him to a DIY yard, I thought I'd worked out all costs.

I was just about managing with sorting Elvis twice a day, working the weekends, and attending uni. Elvis then started to appear under the weather, vet visited and his liver was degenerating. To cut a long story short, the next 2/3 months (the most important for my degree) were awful. I was visiting 2/3 times a day, plus picking up various medicines from the vets, then I was having to factor in getting him to the vets for biopsies etc. My costs shot through the roof as he was now on box rest. I had to find another job to cover extra costs so was now working instead of focussing on uni.

However the hardest thing was the emotional turmoil, one minute I thought I could lose him, then he'd seem better, then his bloods would get worse and we'd have to try new medicines. It was completely draining and quite frankly uni went out the door.

Even once he was better I still had costs, he'd turned into a nightmare because of the steroids so I had to pay for someone to school him. He was still on box rest and by this point I was in such a state emotionally, not only from Elvis being ill, but from working myself into the ground, and realising I was so far behind with uni I'd never be able to make it up. At this point I was diagnosed with depression, and despite sending Elvis home once he was well enough so I wouldn't have to worry about him, and the uni extending deadlines, it was too late and I was in such a state I couldn't face anything.

Luckily I was allowed to re-sit my third year. I now live at home so my parents can ensure I don't slip back into depression. They also agreed to pay Elvis' livery since they wouldn't be paying rent for uni accommodation. He's now on part livery so I only need to muck him out at the weekends, and they hack him twice a week, so I only have to school him 4 times a week. I now only work 15 hours a week instead of the 50+ I was working last year. And I actually have time to focus on uni, and most importantly I am now not suffering with depression.

So the moral of this long and tedious story is, it's fine when things are going well and you can *just about* manage, however if things go wrong way up (even with insurance-which I had, and they paid out) you can find yourself in an awful situation. I'm lucky that I have parents that do help me out financially and I know if we had a repeat of last year that I wouldn't have to worry about money or working etc this time- but only because I made the decision to live at home this time and commute to uni (1.5 hours) so that my parents could help my out with Elvis' costs instead of rent.
 
I would look for a share but the problem is I have got attached to this horse although I tried my best not to.

I am saving at the moment but I would have to see about getting more hours at work when it came to it. I would be happy getting a second hand saddle, thats no problem.
 
I dont think its a good idea tbh. I didn't go to uni because of my pony and I now have a horse. Both of them have had major major vets bills and issues which has stressed me out immensely financially and emotionally. How could you focus on uni work if the horses was ill or needed care 2/3 times a day. I know these are quite bad scenarios but it could easily happen with horses or even if your having a brilliant time with your horses you tend to think about what your going to do that day with them riding wise or what show to do at the weekend.

I was obsessed with my horses and still am and I can tell you uni work would have come 2nd to my horses. I think you should definitely wait until uni is over, you have a job and can financially support the horses fully.

Again, as others have said look to share other horses, lots of people dont even look for a financial contribution, you could then get lots of experience and the benefits of riding different horses!
 
These are the things I'm looking at, I'm hoping that she will be able to hang onto him until I finish uni although that seems unlikely.
 
I've only just seen the thing about the saddle.

Massive generalisation here but decent saddles do not cost £85. A decent second hand saddle will cost hundreds and you cannot say if a saddle is going to fit just by looking at it. A poorly fitting saddle will cause you no end of vet bills, physio bills, chiropractor etc. You must not scrimp on the saddle and £85 is completely unrealistic. I'm really sorry but at the moment this is not affordable for you.
 
I was in a similar position to you when I went to Uni except I owned two horses and ended up working 25 hours a week at the weekend and during the week between lectures to make ends meet!
I had no financial support from my family and ended up having no social life and struggling to keep up with my Uni work. I only did this because I already owned both horses and couldn't face selling or loaning them out. In the end I had to leave anyway to care for my sick father but I really regret not focussing more on Uni and completing my course.
Given the opportunity I wish I hadn't had a horse at Uni so I could have put 100% effort into my studies and got better grades. There are tonnes of lovely horses out there and I would definitely recommend dedicating three years to pure Uni and then getting a horse afterwards rather than struggling to juggle both.
 
I didn't see this- This is exactly my point below. Its borderline okay when you can just about cope money and time wise but if soemthing goes wrong whatever it may be- then the **** really does hit the fan! Sorry!
 
I would get the saddle fitted, I wouldn't just look, I know a saddle fitter so that would be no problem, I would be happy to get a decent second hand saddle. There are just the numbers that came up when I was looking around...
 
Elvis said:
This is difficult, I'll explain my situation to try and give you a 'real life scenario' to think about. I bought a horse just before starting my 3rd year at uni, like you I'd had him on loan and then the owners wanted to sell (after I'd put in the work!) and I was so attached my parents bought him for me. All was fine and I had him at uni with me, initially on loan to a equine college, then after I realised it didn't suit I moved him to a DIY yard, I thought I'd worked out all costs.

I was just about managing with sorting Elvis twice a day, working the weekends, and attending uni. Elvis then started to appear under the weather, vet visited and his liver was degenerating. To cut a long story short, the next 2/3 months (the most important for my degree) were awful. I was visiting 2/3 times a day, plus picking up various medicines from the vets, then I was having to factor in getting him to the vets for biopsies etc. My costs shot through the roof as he was now on box rest. I had to find another job to cover extra costs so was now working instead of focussing on uni.

However the hardest thing was the emotional turmoil, one minute I thought I could lose him, then he'd seem better, then his bloods would get worse and we'd have to try new medicines. It was completely draining and quite frankly uni went out the door.

Even once he was better I still had costs, he'd turned into a nightmare because of the steroids so I had to pay for someone to school him. He was still on box rest and by this point I was in such a state emotionally, not only from Elvis being ill, but from working myself into the ground, and realising I was so far behind with uni I'd never be able to make it up. At this point I was diagnosed with depression, and despite sending Elvis home once he was well enough so I wouldn't have to worry about him, and the uni extending deadlines, it was too late and I was in such a state I couldn't face anything.

Luckily I was allowed to re-sit my third year. I now live at home so my parents can ensure I don't slip back into depression. They also agreed to pay Elvis' livery since they wouldn't be paying rent for uni accommodation. He's now on part livery so I only need to muck him out at the weekends, and they hack him twice a week, so I only have to school him 4 times a week. I now only work 15 hours a week instead of the 50+ I was working last year. And I actually have time to focus on uni, and most importantly I am now not suffering with depression.

So the moral of this long and tedious story is, it's fine when things are going well and you can *just about* manage, however if things go wrong way up (even with insurance-which I had, and they paid out) you can find yourself in an awful situation. I'm lucky that I have parents that do help me out financially and I know if we had a repeat of last year that I wouldn't have to worry about money or working etc this time- but only because I made the decision to live at home this time and commute to uni (1.5 hours) so that my parents could help my out with Elvis' costs instead of rent.
Click to expand...

I didn't see this- This is exactly my point below. Its borderline okay when you can just about cope money and time wise but if soemthing goes wrong whatever it may be- then the **** really does hit the fan! Sorry!
 
Kelly9512 said:
I would get the saddle fitted, I wouldn't just look, I know a saddle fitter so that would be no problem, I would be happy to get a decent second hand saddle. There are just the numbers that came up when I was looking around...
Click to expand...

But £85 just isn't a realistic figure. Congratulations if you find a safe, well-fitting saddle at that price but chances are you won't. Also remember to budget paying the saddle fitter.
 
I really, really wouldn't. Please don't do it to yourself.

I know what it is like to keep a horse that you can't afford easily, I did it once, a few years ago. The pressure is too awful. I could afford mine, I even had a slight margin for extra expenses but there are so many unforeseen expenses. There is the broken rug or halter, the bag of feed that gets ruined, the saddle that needs refitting, the day that it breaks a fence, the lost grooming kit items, snapped leads, broken bridle, it decided it no longer likes its bit, clipping, physio, feed changes, medical costs not covered by insurance.

Being pressed to the very limit of your funds is exhausting and knowing that just one day that you can't work will put you behind is going to be such a strain. The worst feeling in the world will be knowing that your horse has to go without, even if it's the smallest thing. You're not going to be able to enjoy this horse nearly as much as you, and he, deserve.
 
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