Hi - I'm New and Need A Little Advice :)

[Nicola28]

Greetings all, what a lovely website and very helpful & friendly.

I have been mooching in here looking around for some time but was a bit shy to register as I currently don’t have a horse at the moment and wasn’t really sure if I would get spoken to that much.

Just wanted to pick your brains if I may….

I have grown up with horses and been around them my whole life apart from the past 8 years, due to my career however I cant seem to shake the love of them off and constantly craved being around them, even miss their smell….how sad I hear you think lol

I really would like to have my own again but before I do I really need to get back into it and spend some time with them before hand.

I’m very rusty as is my riding and I’m sure a lot has changed so I would hate for my next horse to not get 100% because of my ignorance, so I need a really big refresher and the confidence in knowing what I am doing .

I live in Essex/Braintree and has phoned a few riding schools to see if they need any help with the tasks as I want to groom, feed, ride, shovel poo the lot as I’m not frightened of hard work.

All I really got from some was the go ahead to do all the jobs then I would need to pay for the riding, which is fair enough but I would rather save as I need everything all over again.

What would you guys do in my situation?

I could go out tomorrow and get a horse but finding the right horse takes time, I don’t really know what type of horse would suit me just yet, I think the best thing for me to do is find somewhere for a year where I can go and help out with everything to get everything I need to give my horse the best care.

Does anyone have any ideas? I have thought about a horse share but I’m frightened I would get too attached haha!

Any one want a free of charge horse helper over the weekends lol

I’ll stop boring you all now, thanks for listening and hope to chat to some of you soon.

Kind Regards

Nicola

x

 

[minkymoo]

Hi Nicola & welcome!

I was in your situation at the end of 2006. I had been desperate for a horse ever since I was 3 1/2! I hadn't ridden much since I broke my leg when I was 14, but in my mid 20's I helped a mate out with his polo ponies. The bug took hold again, but it wasn't practical as I was living in London at the time. In Oct 2006, I moved back to the country & started a new job. My OH started a job abroad and I was bored and needed something to do...

In the end I took the plunge and shared a horse a few days a week, which turned into a loan for nearly a year. I learnt as much as I could in that time and made some wonderful & supportive friends.

In Feb of this year I took decided I would buy my own. I really missed my loan horse, but I felt the time was right for me to go it alone. I felt I had enough knowledge and support to do it. It is without a doubt the best thing I ever did.

The advantage of sharing is that you can gain all the little pieces of info that you need for when you do get your own, as well as meet lots of people at the same time.

Good luck and let us know how you get on!

 

[PrincessDana]

Hi Nicola and welcome to the forum

I think you're taking a very sensible approach to horse ownership by trying to help out on a yard. You'll probably find everything will come rushing back and you'll feel like you've never been away from them! lol.

Anyway, i think you should just try to ride as many different types of horses as you can to see what suits you before making that all important purchase.

Good Luck

x

 

[PeanutButterDragon]

I'm not from your area but I would definitely recommend getting back in the saddle first and foremost with a few lessons. I was in a similar position 6 months ago after a 5 year break from owning and riding horses/ponies. Found it a bit nerve wracking at first but now 100% back in the flow and as I now get on very well with my instructor and the staff at the RS they've started letting me help out just recently. They knock a few pounds off my lessons and I groom/muck out/tack up and help generally around the yard if they are short of an extra pair of hands. Would have done this for free to be around the horses but getting a fiver knocked off here and there is a definite bonus

Shop around to find a riding school you think suits and get to know the staff etc and they may be able to help you by letting you help out a couple of hours per week or maybe pointing you in the direction of a livery who would appreciate help turning out, rugging up etc. Also found it great on here and have subscribed to Horse and Hound, bought loads of horsey books to brush up my knowledge

Best of luck with it

x

 

[itsme123]

Hi Nicola, welcome to the forum!

I was in your shoes and I went for a couple of lessons and realised I wasnt going to get my 'fix' that way. So i contacted a local stud and asked the owner if she'd mind me coming down at weeknds and helping. I didnt want paying i explained, i just wanted experience and knowledge in return for my work.

I went down the following saturday and the ball started rolling.

I now work for that stud as groom and my knowledge has increased 10 fold...

Do let us know how you get on

x

 

[flowerlady]

Hi Nicola, welcome to the forum!

You sound very sensible, wanting to gain experience before buying your own. As others have suggested have some riding lessons. But I would go to different schools to find which I felt comfortable with there's often a lot of difference in schools. When you find one you like best get to know the staff and instructors, ask if you can help out occassionally. You never know they then may give lessons in exchange for help once they get to know you. Alot of people and young teenagers often offer to help at riding schools and if they let all of them work for rides I suppose they would go out of business. But once they get to know you this may be an option.

Good luck and let us know how you get on

 

[Jingleballs]

I've not been riding for very long (about 4 years) but after about 2 1/2 years of riding lessons that was no longer enough for me - I wasn't ready for my own yet and wanted to get more experience in general horse management. I was lucky to be able to share my favourite RS horse one day a week when the RS was closed. I then also started a horse management course at a local NH yard and started helping out there every weekend for a few months and that's were I met my current horse - he was owned by one of the other liveries there. During my time helping I also had countless offer from other liveries to ride their horse for them so I got the experience of trying out different horses too!

Good luck - hope you get something sorted!

K x

 

[tye_bo]

Hi. As the others have said I'd definately have some riding lessons just to get back in the saddle again. Once you've had few lessons I'd have a look round your local tack shops for anyone wanting a sharer or part loan. Maybe go down that route for a year or so before you think about buying one.

 

[hellybelly6]

Hi Nicola

Dont be shy, you dont need a horse to be on here.

I you obviously miss horses and I know what you mean about the smell!

If you can afford to, have riding lessons, at an approved centre and one you like the look of, not only will it get rid of that rustiness (bet you havent forgotten as much as you feel you have) it will also help you to make some horsey friends and maybe you could even begin to help out at the stables. I used to help at my local stables as a youngster on a sunday when there werent any lessons and we could take the ponies out for a slow little hack to prevent stiffness.

I think with time, you might find somebody to share a horse with or even be able to loan one.

I wish you well. Let us know how you get on!

x

 

[iconique]

Hi Nicola and welcome

I think that you are taking the really responsible approach and would suggest that having a few lessons might to start get you back into the swing of it and then give you a few contacts, try Carolyn at Rayne and have a chat to some of the girls there they are really friendly.

Braintree has a riding club, braintreeridingclub.co.uk, its run by Jacqui and Lynda, they are really friendly and run some local events, so it might be worth trundling along to some of those sort of things and having a chat. Its aimed at people who are novice or just do it for fun, so its nothing too serious!

I have help with my horses, but if you just want to get some exposure to some horses and meet someone local who's horsey, then pm me and I'm open to questions, or for you to pop along and see our small selection of misfits!!!

 

[Donkeymad]

Hi and welcome.

What a wonderful attitude you have to returning to the horse word, so sensible. Would it be possible to find someone to part share with who will help in all stages of the horses care to help you get back into the swing of things?

Just a thought.

 

[Nicola28]

Hi All

Thanks for the warm welcome and your advice, I think I will have a few lessons but like most of you say it will come flooding back, its just spending more time in the saddle and building up the confidence.

I cant believe how gutsy I used to be, I wouldn’t dare jump etc right now, I’d prefer to stay grounded. lol.

I have a friend up in Cheltenham who has got a 19 year old thoroughbred Ebony who was thinking of putting her on loan and possibly to me, I explained that its been too long for me to just take her on but I said I would go up and meet her. And you never know.

I fell in love with her, he explained that she is very lively and fast as his daughter is a very experienced rider and jumps her at events too, I saw the videos of her and they looked amazing together.

Any way I hopped on and went for a ride and I have to say I don’t know how I stayed on, she was like a rocket and I felt like a flea hanging on for dear life! Scared the pants off me even though I still enjoyed it!!

If I took her on I feel she would miss out on stretching her legs the way she likes too plus they can sense fear….and I think she enjoyed that too little monster!

It’s a shame for me as I thought it was my birthday but the sensible head came on, you cant get straight into a Ferrari after bussing it for years lol

I also used to do voluntary work at Ada Cole Memorial Stables and saw what happens to some animals who have been bought and not looked after properly and there was a lot of tears.

I just want to do everything right and for them to have a first class life with me.

So some lessons, meet up with some of the kind people that have offered and helping out somewhere or share loaning with someone.

I’ll defiantly keep you all posted as to how I get on (so excited) and I thank you for all the support : )

Nicola

xxxx

 

[Nicola28]

Thanks to Gail for letting me ride her Horse Sophie, and to her two girls for helping me "try" and get up to speed with everything

Loving it and too attached to Sophie already, she's lovely

Thanks Guys

Ps My legs are KILLING me haha!! x

 

[birdof1977]

Hi from one newbie to another.

You could almost have written my post for me.
After 8 years out of the saddle I have just started riding again, I've got my second lesson on thursday, You would be surprised as to what you really do remember once you get back in the saddle.
I was really nervous, but as soon as I mounted up, it all came flooding back, I was a bit rusty, but this is only to be expected. I too was in agony the next day though.

I am also considering looking for a horse share, but I wanted to get myself ride fit before taking on the responsibility of looking after someone elses horse.

Did I mention that I also live in Braintree, small world hey?

Don't know if you interested but Rayne R C have an adults lesson on thursday nights at 7.30pm, it's for mixed abilities so if your not sure what you would class your riding ability as (ie. Novice, intermediate etc.) like me, this might be a good one to start with. Plus its a good time so it doesn't interfere with work, home life too much.

Hope some of this helps, you are not alone.
Niki.