How much time is realistic?

Applejuice

Applejuice

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I have been taking lessons for nearly a year now and am absolutely addicted. Hubby has agreed to us buying me a horse when we've paid off our debt in 2 years which I am ecstatic about.

When he first agreed to it I was sure he didn't understand the time implications and sat him down to explain, at length. We've come to a compromise and I really would like to hear from other owners as to whether this is realistic. I can afford to be on Full Livery when our debt is gone but I work Full Time. We have no children, and don't plan to but we do have a very energetic dog who needs a LOT of exercise, and I don't want hubby to divorce me,.....

Our compromise is this:

The yard I hope to get a livery space at in future closes 1 day a week so no riding on that day but hubby and I have agreed I can ride and care for my horse 2 evenings a week plus both weekend days either morning or afternoon and bank hols etc. I fully expect to be at the yard for 2-3 hours and intend to do all work on the days that I ride. On the days that I don't ride, I would still go to the yard and see my horse, do general upkeep jobs and the like but I would HAVE to use the Full Livery I would be paying for on those days and on the days I ride before I got there. Obviously I understand the exercise requirements of each horse does vary and I will be able to afford to have my horse exercised by the yard if what I do is not enough, however, the yard is busy and this isn't always available, but I need to know if my compromise is acceptable?

We've discussed me going part time once the horse is bought so I have more time available in the day but financially if I want a horse I have to work full time.

I don't want to be a bad owner and if the time I have available is not sufficient then clearly I can't get a horse, I absolutley love riding, it is a tonic to a bad day and puts such a grin on my face. I've considered sharing and I'm not sure it's for me.

Suggestions?
 
Mmm the main thing would be to consider the type of horse you get as you have said. My horse needs riding 6 days a week, no less otherwise she gets grumpy and difficult to handle, my OH is very understanding. I work full time and have my horse on full livery 7 days a week I go up and ride after work tuesday-friday for about 2 hours and I then spend a bit more time with her at weekends. I would suggest that instead of doing all jobs the 2 days you plan to ride during the week and full livery the other days you just take a 5day full livery package, meaning the horse is completly cared for during the week giving you more time to just ride or groom and then at weekends you do our own mucking out bringing in from field ect.

It shouldn't be a problem if you pick the right horse and the right livery yard and package, a big busy yard isn't always the best, a smaller one with more of a personal touch may work better for your situation. The other option is to have a sharer that will ride and care for the horse the other 2 days a week, but you usually you have to let them have a weekend day too.
 
OK, I know this one as my hubby is the same. By far the best way forward is to find a yard where new horse is out 24/7/365. This way you will only need to ride when it suits you and also the cost should not be prohibitive. I like you couldn't shift the livery/paying for exercise mindset but am really pleased I did.
 
Chuffing bloody laptop, typed a nice long reply and it crashed bah! So then it's ok to have a 5 day livery and just turn up to groom and ride? I get the impression amongst the liveries and some of the staff at the yard I'm learning at that it's frowned upon if you don't do some of the jobs you're paying the yard to do, so whilst the yard is handy for me, would I be better choosing a yard where a 5 day livery turn up ride/groom etc is the norm? Generally I don't give 2 hoots what people think about me but riding solo all the time is going to be a bit lonely and I'd like to make friends with people where I livery my horse.

Regarding the 24/7/365, does someone check on your horse during the day to make sure they're ok? I guess what I'm asking is it akin to DIY?

Thanks for all the info guys x
 
Why dont you share a horse? That will give you alot of experience and also you will have a true idea of how much time etc things take and also give yr OH time to adjust before you make the step of owning one yourself.
 
My arrangement for weekend is that I have Sunday morning to ride whilst my husband has the kids and dogs and lunch to prepare (!). I think 2-3 hours is optimistic if you want to ride and do chores. I usually take much longer than that, admittedly I do everything for my horse all the time so it includes mucking out, making feeds, haynets, top up water etc etc. However I'm usually at the yard by 9.30 and never back before 1.

I am lucky as I only work a little bit but do have 2 kids and 2 lively dogs. It's not easy if your husband isn't horsey as it can cause some resentment and I do get accused of putting the horse before him sometimes, especially in the winter when I'm trying to get everything done in daylight.

I would agree that sharing a horse for a while would be a good idea as it would get you both used to the situation and you could see if it will work before spending lots of money and potentially having lots of heartache if you want to keep a horse that he says you need to sell.

Loaning could be another possible option to try to start you off.
 
I wouldn't be happy to be on a yard where I paid Part (£100/week) or Full (£150/week) and then be EXPECTED to do the chores (mucking out etc) if I was there! That's what they are paid for! Saying that I've always had my horse on DIY cause I like doing the chores and have time.

Riding 4/5 times a week is fine for most horses. What type of horse are you wanting? What do you want to do with it?
 
Why do you not buy a lovely native type that would live out as grass livery costs much less and lots of horses can live out with super cosy rugs and shelter. That way you could groom and ride more than mucking out? :D
 
They are fab ideas Mainpower, JosieB, I never considered sharing someone else horse because I wouldn't like to share mine but that's a great idea! :D Yes, I'm sure I would be able to go part time on the DIY option, that makes heaps of sense too!! With DIY then can you pay for ad hoc services if the need arose? How does having lessons work then with DIY? x
 
thanks Juliette, that's good to know that my timings are way off, I want to make sure we both understand the time implications of horse ownership so we never get to the point of him telling me I need to sell :D

I don't know what type of horse I want tbh, I'm still in the very early stages of riding addiction so really don't know what will be best. At the moment I'm looking 2 years away so my riding level will be so different from what it is now. I'd really love to try eventing and jumping, I know at the moment I'm being pointed towards schoolmaster types but I'd really like to get something I can develop on you know? What I want is a magic horse that does it all,.....

Sorry am being dim, what's a native type? Maybe I should go from sharing to loaning to buying? Is that a good plan? Can I then try out different types of horse or should I pick one and stick to it? I know I feel more comfortable on bigger horses 16hh+
 
Adhoc services at DIY yards depends on the yard. Mine wouldn't for instance but I could get a friend to help if need be. My horse is out 24/7 and it's far easier to manage my time than when he was in at night.

I'm not sure how realistic it is though to tell your husband that you'll spend X hours on X day with the horse though. For instance, your horse may require treatment, vet/farrier/dentist appointments etc.

My ex became very resentful and jealous of the time that I spent with my horse. I second that you should look into loaning first to see if it is managable for you.
 
How experienced you are should suggest what type of livery you go for.. If you were on DIY would you know how to care for a horse? not just the basics of mucking out etc. but would you be able to say discover the cause of lameness? would you know what was the right amount to feed?

I was lucky when I got my horse to stay on a DIY yard belonging to a friend who was keen to help me on all aspects and now i'm confident but if you don't have many friends in the horse world maybe starting off on full/part livery is the best option?

When it comes to exercise i'm also very lucky in having a horse that can be left for a few weeks then will be sane enough to hack round the block on. It depends what kind of horse you go for! I'd recommend you go for a safe schoolmaster preferably one that maybe your instructor knows of.. good luck!!!
 
With regard to treatment, Vet/Farrier/Dentist and what not, I would be there - hubby would understand, if horse was ill I would be there rain or shine, he's a very laidback sort, practically horizontal most of the time but I don't want to take the p!ss. Most of the girls on the yard where I learn are single and now I'm starting to see why lol

I was thinking of taking an equine course to give me basic knowledge, in the 2 years it takes me to get debt free I was thinking I could help at my yard and learn hands on because they're always glad of the help. All of your replies have sort of given me a plan of attack which hubby quite likes, seems quite impressed you can loan a horse although I'm sure he thinks it some kind of blockbuster deal lol.

So, the plan of attack is this, when am debt free, I will look for a horse to share, progress to loaning a horse and then onto buying where I will (fingers crossed) find myself a DIY yard after a while. Nutty - I'm thinking my plan once started, if I give sharing a year and loaning a year, will give me enough knowledge to cope on my own, do you think? x
 
Native ponies and horses are native breeds to GB rather than foreign breeds. They are the ones that you would show in Mountain & Moorland classes. The larger natives (Welsh D, Connemara, Dales, Fell, New Forest and Highland) often make good mounts for adults and there are many Native x TB's that are fantastic riding club/allrounders/competition horses.
 
I think it depends what type of horse you get - lots do not require daily riding - I could not ride mine for nearly 3 weeks due to the snow and he was no more frisky or badly behaved after his break than he was before.

However if they are not having daily riding they will need daily turnout. My pony who is a new forest native pony lives out 24/7 and in the winter I only ride at weekends. If I can't get to the yard I can pay the YO to check him or one of the other liveries will normally do it - we tend to check everyone is ok when we go down anyway.

If I was on full livery I would expect everything to be done for me if needed including tack cleaning grooming riding etc as it is very expensive, part livery where they do everything except grooming, tack cleaning and riding is cheaper though. If you are short of time then the you probably want to spend it with your horse rather than mucking out, making out feeds etc and that is the whole idea of full and part livery it is for busy people who want to spend the max of their spare time with their horse.
 
forgot to say on the yard I am on well behaved dogs are welcome and they run about off the lead playing and also some of the husbands come and walk the dogs whilst their wives or children are riding.
 
Welcome to the world of horse addiction!

I agree with the person who suggested maybe try sharing a horse first. This will give you a good introduction to horse ownership without having to take full responsibiity and would likely give you an experienced 'ear' to help you.

Your plans will very much depend on the horse you get but I do think you need to find the right yard for you. I found your original post a little confusing as I don't know of any full livery yard (for me that includes all my horse care, including exercise) that I would turn up to and muck my horse out on the days I ride.

Part livery for me is where all my horse care is taken care of except for exercise. Five day part livery is where my horse is looked after Monday - Friday and I do all the yard duties at the weekend.

DIY is where I look after the horse completely myself. Assisted DIY would be where services are offered eg. turn out, bring in, etc.

As a rule I found that if I was riding my horse for an hour I would be at the yard for at least 3 hours by the time I had got him ready to ride and chatted with friends at the yard (this excluded any time on yard duties).
 
I spend approx 2 hrs per day with my horse. However this does not alway involve riding. I have to admit, riding makes up quite a small part of owning, the most part is taken up mucking out, grooming, hosing muddy legs, changing rugs, carrot stretches, tacking up,sweeping up, making up feeds and spending cash willy nilly! It doesnt matter how much of a rush im in i find it hard to get away from the yard as theres always so much to do. Over xmas and new year our yar goes from assisted livery to DIY so thats worth checking out. How would you feel about mucking out at 6.30am on xmas morn?... It really is like having a second job and i come home at 9:15 everynight exhausted and smelly.....BUT i wouldnt change it for the world, im one of the ones who takes pleasure in doing all of the above. Thats the difference between loving riding horses and loving KEEPING horses. To be able just to hop on my horse i have had to develop a really close bond with her, one that would not have formed if i had only spend a few hours a week with her, horses need to trust you. Also when you get a new horse they dont behave like the ones at your local riding school. Even the canniest creature can turn into an absolute wild beast when u take it to a new home- trust me iv been there! and i actually had to get yard staff to help me lunge etc because my mare was absolutley wild. Not at all trying to put you off but just make sure you consider everything (which you seem to be doing) i would recommned loasning or helping on a yard or something first if you arent used to the more practical side of things (forgive me if you are) and if you buy a horse ALWAYS get it vetted, another mistake which i made which led to heartbreak over the death of my horse an expensive courtcase. Best wishes x
 
eggs said:
Welcome to the world of horse addiction!

I As a rule I found that if I was riding my horse for an hour I would be at the yard for at least 3 hours by the time I had got him ready to ride and chatted with friends at the yard (this excluded any time on yard duties).
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thankyou! im glad someone else finds it hard to get away!
 
I waited until my boys had left home before I got my horse! Before then I shared - got husband totally involved in purchase and he sometimes comes and does odd jobs around the yard and has a coffee. We have to be careful as husband will work all hours and I will too - but visiting Lammy is a real de-stress.
I'm lucky in the fact that we are a friendly group of owners and look out for each other and ride together too.
I tend to go both days at wkend and will muck out my own and several others because I actually like doing so. YO tells me I don't have to - but always thanks me for any help. I have all sch hols which is great, but whilst the eves are dark I will groom twice in the wk and he will be exercised by YO.
Best to think things through with partner as you don't want him to feel left out as horses can become a massive part of your lives and can cause friction in some relationships. I have a chilled out friesian who I still can't believe is mine!
 
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