i just need a bit of realistic advice :)

K

Kami26

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Hi all,

I have been browsing this forum all day working up the courage to ask a couple of questions. Without giving you my life story, i have been riding for nearly 20 years but have constantly taken the wrong route in life (mainly so I would get accepted by my parents.. you know how it is). Anyway long story short... i have decided that i am nearly 30 and its about time I did something to make me happy... I would like my own horse. But thats the thing... i dont even know where to start i.e. livery prices etc. if anyone can shed a little light on this i would be very grateful.

Becky
 
It depends on where you live, and what sort of livery you're looking for, so you might want to start by asking about livery costs in your area (you don't have to give out your address, just the general location), and what sort of livery you want - part, full, DIY, grass...

There are any number of places to look for a horse for sale, and it's essentially a buyers market at the moment, but a lot of people are struggling to find something suitable...

The internet is a great place to find all the bits and pieces you'll need for your horse.

Good luck!!
 
Hi Kelly!

Welcome to the forum.

As I have said to others, a horse will cost you aorund £350 per month. This is a combination of livery, tack, insurance, feed, farrier, jabs, dentist, wardrobe and anything else that comes along. Some months you'll spend less, some months you'll spend much more.

Have you had any hands on experience around horses? When I was in your position I ensured I knew how to

  • Handle a horse properly
  • Knew how to feed and what to feed
  • First aid
  • How to spot ailments/injury/lameness
  • How to ride (?!) :D .... to an extent

If you feel you do not know the in's and out's of the above list, I would suggest spending some time at your local riding school - they may teach you some horse/stable management, if you are prepared to muck out, for free.

Good luck :)

TEO
 
oh yeah that would help lol.. see Im a complete n00b :D

Im based in Barnsley South Yorks. i have seen a few in the area that would be easy to get to but no prices... I wouldnt mind part livery but DIY would be no problem either. We arent super earners in our house but we are comfortable if you see what i mean... this is why i would like to get a bigger picture on the expenditure per month re horse so i can see if its within my budget or if i need to start looking for a better job lol
 
TheEquineOak said:
Hi Kelly!

Welcome to the forum.

As I have said to others, a horse will cost you aorund £350 per month. This is a combination of livery, tack, insurance, feed, farrier, jabs, dentist, wardrobe and anything else that comes along. Some months you'll spend less, some months you'll spend much more.

Have you had any hands on experience around horses? When I was in your position I ensured I knew how to

  • Handle a horse properly
  • Knew how to feed and what to feed
  • First aid
  • How to spot ailments/injury/lameness
  • How to ride (?!) :D .... to an extent

If you feel you do not know the in's and out's of the above list, I would suggest spending some time at your local riding school - they may teach you some horse/stable management, if you are prepared to muck out, for free.

Good luck :)

TEO
Click to expand...

Thanks :) that clarifies things alot more! As for horse management i used to loan ponies when i was younger (unfortunately alot younger!). i have asked my riding instructor if she will refresh my memory after so long and she is more than happy (though i havent told her i plan to get my own). i used to love mucking out for nothing especially in winter ;) cant beat the feeling of warm feet on the muckheap lol
 
I would look into a share horse that would give you experience before you start a life of horse owning. It`s not just the money side but the time side of things to you have to factor in.
 
The_Hooligan said:
Do you ride at the moment? perhaps getting a share why you look for a horse/yard may be a way forward?
Click to expand...

Yeah i do but my yard is a little odd in the respect that they only have the school ponies and those that are private livery are very serperate. I have been trawling the classified but there is a serious shortage of horses for loan/share out there.
 
Reverse that trend then - why not post notes up in your local tack shops? look on line for horse shares too? ask on here as well! I would definately go down the share route first - you said "we" so presume you are living with an OH. Its not "just" the money, its the time and committement, whether you go DIY or part livery and can be a sad shock to partners when they realise just how much time a horse can take up.
 
cuppatea said:
do you have to have a yard or could you cope with renting fields and getting a horse that can live out all year? Would bring the costs down quite a bit.
Click to expand...

Thats not something ive thought about to be honest. just out of interest, if you had a horse that lived out all year dont you risk more ailments such as cold, laminitis etc?
 
Hi!
I agree about the share pony - I wanted my own for a long time, but other commitments meant that I couldn't due to time, money etc so I found a share horse and I have never looked back. I go to the yard every day, ride every day (mine is broken atm, so I am able to ride owners other mare AND another livery's mare who she is happy for me to take out :)) We have no formal contract and I no longer offer financial commitment (unless I can get to vet/dentist/farrier/YO first ;)) and I have been extremely lucky in how this has panned out for me - a contract is a good idea!!

I knew nothing really except how to ride when I took the first share pony on and the owner taught me everything about management etc - and I moved onto her horse after I outgrew the first one.

I'd say, 8 years down the line, the most important things would be;
- how to spot illness/lameness
- how to manage your stable eg, mucking out
- what livery would you want? out 24/7, DIY, part DIY, full livery? (Full livery is everything included but more money!!)
- how to feed (in the way of what best suits your horse) (and to work your budget to the feed and hay/haylage)
- how to ride (again, depending on the horse you get what you want to do; eg, if I bought a showjumper, I'd probably want to jump and do it justice :))
- be prepared to foot any vets bills that are unexpected - we've had plenty of those!!
- be prepared for the weather, bad and good - bad brings ice and inability to ride, leading to 'fresh' horses and good brings flies!

After all this, its the best thing in the world :) it gives me stress relief, time on my own and something to have responsibility for to bring me through the tough times too.

As for money, we pay 15 pounds a week for a stable and that's seen as quite cheap. We have to pay seperately for hay and straw (straw at 3.75 per bale at the moment!), shoeing is 35 pounds every 6 weeks (my share horse is 30 every 4 weeks due to illness), feed is 6.00 whenever needed (for a bag), dentists (25), vaccinations etc. There's obviously all the accessories, rugs, headcollars, leadropes, saddle, bridle, boots, your gear...
We also pay out 100+ for medication every 6 weeks or so. Our instructor gives us a lesson half an hour for 6 pounds, but the normal rate for getting an instructor in is looking between 20-35 for 45 minutes.

There's also the time. I spend approx 3 hours a day down at the yard mucking out, feeding, watering, grooming two horses and riding one and I don't have to go down in the afternoon as her owner feeds then. It can be a shock to some people if they don't realise!
I hope this gives you some sort of guideline :)
And good luck!!!
K x
 
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Luci07 said:
Reverse that trend then - why not post notes up in your local tack shops? look on line for horse shares too? ask on here as well! I would definately go down the share route first - you said "we" so presume you are living with an OH. Its not "just" the money, its the time and committement, whether you go DIY or part livery and can be a sad shock to partners when they realise just how much time a horse can take up.
Click to expand...

Would you reccomend having formal contracts etc? (just in case I could find someone lol).

My OH and I have just moved back here from London where I was working 12 hour days, 6 days a week and he was unemployed so he knows what it is to be without me :)
 
KellysHeroes said:
Hi!
I agree about the share pony - I wanted my own for a long time, but other commitments meant that I couldn't due to time, money etc so I found a share horse and I have never looked back. I go to the yard every day, ride every day (mine is broken atm, so I am able to ride owners other mare AND another livery's mare who she is happy for me to take out :))

I knew nothing really except how to ride when I took the first share pony on and the owner taught me everything about management etc - and I moved onto her horse after I outgrew the first one.

I'd say, 8 years down the line, the most important things would be;
- how to spot illness/lameness
- how to manage your stable eg, mucking out
- what livery would you want? out 24/7, DIY, part DIY, full livery? (Full livery is everything included but more money!!)
- how to feed (in the way of what best suits your horse) (and to work your budget to the feed and hay/haylage)
- how to ride (again, depending on the horse you get what you want to do; eg, if I bought a showjumper, I'd probably want to jump and do it justice :))
- be prepared to foot any vets bills that are unexpected - we've had plenty of those!!
- be prepared for the weather, bad and good - bad brings ice and inability to ride, leading to 'fresh' horses and good brings flies!

After all this, its the best thing in the world :) it gives me stress relief, time on my own and something to have responsibility for to bring me through the tough times too.

As for money, we pay 15 pounds a week for a stable and that's seen as quite cheap. We have to pay seperately for hay and straw (straw at 3.75 per bale at the moment!), shoeing is 35 pounds every 6 weeks (my share horse is 30 every 4 weeks due to illness), feed is 6.00 whenever needed (for a bag), dentists (25), vaccinations etc. There's obviously all the accessories, rugs, headcollars, leadropes, saddle, bridle, boots, your gear...
We also pay out 100+ for medication every 6 weeks or so. Our instructor gives us a lesson half an hour for 6 pounds, but the normal rate for getting an instructor in is looking between 20-35 for 45 minutes.

There's also the time. I spend approx 3 hours a day down at the yard mucking out, feeding, watering, grooming two horses and riding one and I don't have to go down in the afternoon as her owner feeds then. It can be a shock to some people if they don't realise!
I hope this gives you some sort of guideline :)
And good luck!!!
K x
Click to expand...

Amazing thank you! Ill speak to my instructor about it this weekend... or better yet ill get a private lesson and talk to her there then i dont feel like a twit in front of the others (its pretty much therapy for me anyways lol).

As for unexpected vets bills.... we are used to that! we share our house with 2 snakes, 10 lizards and a foster cat :)

oh and this wont be a lightening desision for me since its taken me 20 years to get to this point lol
 
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Kami26 said:
Amazing thank you! Ill speak to my instructor about it this weekend... or better yet ill get a private lesson and talk to her there then i dont feel like a twit in front of the others (its pretty much therapy for me anyways lol).

As for unexpected vets bills.... we are used to that! we share our house with 2 snakes, 10 lizards and a foster cat :)

oh and this wont be a lightening desision for me since its taken me 20 years to get to this point lol
Click to expand...

Lolol no I can tell you are giving this proper consideration!
I can honestly say taking on a share horse was the best thing I ever did and more so that I'm now friends with the owner, things have turned out beautifully :) good luck!!
K x
 
Hi have you had a look in Throstle nest at Silkstone Common or at Argo feeds in Penistone for yards and Horses? At Argo they have two folders and a notice board full of yards and horses for loan ect....
 
Deemoo said:
Hi have you had a look in Throstle nest at Silkstone Common or at Argo feeds in Penistone for yards and Horses? At Argo they have two folders and a notice board full of yards and horses for loan ect....
Click to expand...

Well i ride at Throstle nest now :) Sue is an awesome instructor... and thats the problem... i dont want her to think im betraying her if i get my own or share. I feel like it would be saying your horses arent good enough which isnt the case at all! does that sound completely foolish? I havent seen the argo one in Peni... is it the one on the main road in towards (what used to be) the petrol station?
 
Sue's fab!!!! I don't think she would mind at all!! Just have your chat!! I will pm you with the directions to Argo:)
 
I would recommend to anybody to try sharing!

Sharing is a fantastic way of easing yourself in and seeing if you can cope with the responsibility and time. I had horses when I was younger, then ten years out, then when I came back to it I shared for a year which showed me that I did have the time and commitment necessary. I met some wonderful people and it gets you into the whole horsey world that exists beyond the riding school.

I went on to buy my boy with renewed confidence about my skills, commitment and a new network of friends.
 
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