How did you feel when you got your very first horse?

PinkFairy

PinkFairy

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My OH and I have been talking about buying a horse in the future, after we're married and settled down but I keep thinking that I'd be a complete failure as an owner!

I worry a lot about whether I'm competent enough to own a horse. I've been riding for 11 years although I'm not the *most* confident of riders, although this does improve once I get to know the horse. I've got experience handling horses and doing all the stable stuff but I still fear that it's not enough.

We've decided on perhaps doing some more riding, or getting a horse on long term loan with a view to buy if I feel more confident in my capability.

Did anyone else feel this way?

Disclaimer - Sorry for the senseless waffling, but it's been playing on my mind!

:D
 
When my parents finally decided that they had the money to get me my first pony we originally talked about loaning a friends horse first to relearn all the general care stuff and to see if it'd be like my other pets and I'd get bored after a few weeks!

That ended up not happening and we went straight into buying AND ended up with the best horse we could have got.

I'm not the most confident rider and even now 2 or 3 years on I still don't think certain things through and it all goes a bit wrong...

But you've gotta take the leap into ownership at some point, right?

If you've got experience with all the care and general stable stuff then your miles ahead of where I was AND riding ability doesn't really matter...You can get something thats not affected by a lack of confidence. And like you said, your confidence improves after a while, so you could always try and ride it a couple times before buying???

The week between agreeing the sale and picking her up? MOST exciting of my life!

Go for, you won't go far wrong!
 
I was 15 when we got our first horse (so a very long time ago!) had ridden since the age of seven, my sister was 20 and had ridden for the same length of time. Our parents were very supportive, but although Dad's Dad had had horses, Dad knew little about them and Mum even less. We bought a fantastic first horse, he wouldn't have won any prizes, but was bombproof beyond belief, patient and kind and would put up with a bit of not doing it right (although he obviously had decided views on horse keeping and how it should be done). We kept him on a farm, with no other liveries (he did have a pony friend he lived with, but his owner was rarely seen). We read everything we could, asked the RS we learnt at for their recomendation of vet and farrier etc and managed fine. I remember it being both exciting and scarey though. I would recomend novice owners do DIY livery on a yard with knowlegable other owners and accept that we never know it all, but usually know enough to keep them and us alive and healthy. Good luck with it :)
 
Thanks for the replies - good to hear I'm not completely insane! :D

I try to see it as a learning curve, owning a horse is a daunting prospect - but a very exciting one too!
 
thought i was ready had loan horses before so took plunge to buy one at 21 to buy one and it all went wrong had her vetted all fine got her home lame next day way out of my deph didnt understand a lot of what vet was saying. Pony turned from well behaved pony to devil charging around attacking people etc. But 2 years on she is now perfect and i have learnt so much from having her maybe too much lol can pick up things just by looking at her. However i would do it all again!
 
How exciting!!!! and how very daunting:(

I bought my sportshorse BSJA graded mare after not having any contact with horses, other than a few refresher lessons and helping friends with theirs, for over 20 years and I'll be 50 this year!!

How did I feel?...........SICK that's what. And it's he best thing I ever did!

We have been through the mill and she was not really a begginers horse as she had a lot of issues, but as it's turned out, she needed me more than I needed her. She's just the best girl and so forgiving of all my many frailties:rolleyes:. She tells me when I get it wrong, then loves me some more for it. We hack every day and she teaches me more every day. Just use common sense and remember, you can make mistakes.:).

Good Luck!
 
Slightly out of my depth! I had a fabulous cob on part loan and had worked on a yard so was confident in all general care and stable duties - but the responsibility of ownership took a bit of getting used to!

I was 17 and my sister 13 and we took on a 15 y.o. 13hh welsh mare from a riding school. We didn't intend to buy a horse and it's a fairly long story but essentially she was completely unsuitable for a riding school (she would run off in blind panic at anything unexpected) and was heading for Beeston sales. :( :s

We had a really steep learning curve as we couldn't catch her for over 2 weeks and then had to start right from scratch with riding - essentially re-backing her. There were times when we didn't really know what we were doing but we muddled through and she has turned into a fab little beast!

I think the main thing is having the confidence to trust in your own decisions. We had lovely people at our first yard which was a great help but occasionally you do need to stick to your guns and do things the way you are happy with! It's equally important to keep an open mind though - often people have great tips and advice that you never would have thought of.

As long as you get a horse that suits I think riding is actually the least important thing - I'm a pretty useless rider but I'm confident on the ground and our lot have always been happy and healthy.

It's a good sign that you're really thinking it through - I'm sure you'll be a fab owner. Good luck when you do take the plunge!
 
Absolutely bl@@dy terrified tbh and Oh My God what have I gone and done now!!!???! I got my first horse when I was 34. I'd had my kids, and realised that it was one of my lifelong ambitions to own my very own horse. Loaning wasn't enough anymore, and there was no way I was going back to a riding school. So I took the plunge, and bought Roxy, a 15hh welsh cob and an extremely good doer. 5 days in she tore her annular ligament in the field and then had 5 months box rest in total, with an op after 2 months, a very nasty post op infection, and then another 3 months box rest. In short, my first 6 months of ownership were a complete nightmare. BUT she is worth it :)

I do have days where I suffer with my confidence, as a first time horse owner and a working mum it is hard juggling it all. I wish I had more time to devote to her really, and would like to progress more, but it is hard when you don't have the knowledge. But, we muddle along, and she is very forgiving! Most of the time!

Oh and I tried to work out how much it would cost me per month before I got her, and I would say it always costs more than you anticipated!

First time horse ownership is a very steep learning curve, but it is worth it :) Good Luck x
 
Thanks for all the replies, you've all been very helpful in reassuring me!

I can't wait to start looking for my first horse, but I just worry I wouldn't be able to do it justice. I guess only time will tell hm?

:)
 
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