If you were me;

[jack9]

just like to say - i have owned 2 horses/shared/loaned (ridden since age 4)and im in my early 20's so i woulnt class myself as a novice, not experienced - somewhere in the middle. (i dont have my own anymore though )

that said. Im currently going into year 2 of uni/live at home/saved up some money, sick to death of paying £20 for half an hour for a riding lesson :/ and £20 for a share. I was planning on buying a horse when i graduate but im not sure i can wait that long .

Those at uni - is it possible?

and those in my situation - what would you buy? hairy cob/youngster for when i finish uni?? or a horse thats ready to go?

Im well up for a challege, one of my horses was psychotic, the other an x-racer, so i havent had the best luck.

mabey this is a rambling rant and i sholud just shush and go buy a horse, but sensible head is telling me wait till i graduate..
help.

 

[Echo Bravo]

Don't some Uni's have riding clubs?

 

[sykokat]

Hi. Well done for getting into Uni and good luck.
If I were you and desperate for my own horse, I would be looking at something that is easy to keep and low maintenance. Something that could llive out if needed and also sensible enough for other people to look after if needed. If you go for something a little extra special and ready to go as you put it, you may find that it needs more time etc spent on it. Would you be doing the horse yourself or would it be at livery??? Whatever you decide, best of luck.
Cx

 

[rhino]

Is it the sensible thing to do - no - though you know that already!

I got my horse at the end of my 1st year at Uni and I was a lot more novice than you. In the 11 years I have now owned him, I have finished my 4 year undergrad, completed a masters and a post graduate diploma.

It is hard work and you have to prioritise but if it's what you really want then I would go for it. Make sure you have looked into yards etc. before you start looking.

Personally I would get something you can ride now, otherwise you will still be paying to ride someone else's horse or not riding at all.

Good luck. It can be done!

 

[jack9]

cougar;;;
riding club isnt great.

its an hour away where they do lessons and its mega competitve to get in it just honestly isnt worth it. and again - the ££ wise and i dont think id be achieving much. I plan to join a society in 2nd year but i dont want to just be surrounded by other peopls horses as i get even more annoyed i dont have my own lol.

 

[jack9]

Hi. Well done for getting into Uni and good luck.
If I were you and desperate for my own horse, I would be looking at something that is easy to keep and low maintenance. Something that could llive out if needed and also sensible enough for other people to look after if needed. If you go for something a little extra special and ready to go as you put it, you may find that it needs more time etc spent on it. Would you be doing the horse yourself or would it be at livery??? Whatever you decide, best of luck.
Cx

thank you

i just passed first year thank god lol. but i know that i have alot of time spare, even taking into consideration year 2, then year 3 dissertation.

back to horse talk; i hope to get something that lives out. my last horse i had on DIY (i wouldnt have anything else as im a fussy cow.)....and i could somedays manage just to bob there and back in less than 1.5 hours a day and that was with talking to everyone! although that horse was injured and couldnt be ridden. So something living out would be much better - hence hairy cob.

I was thinking cob youngster that i could buy end of this year of next spring, to just bring on and ready for backing when ive finished uni. I know youngsters can be time consuming too but it will be my stamp on a horse?

thanks for replying x

 

[Scheherezade]

Don't some Uni's have riding clubs?

And what do you think university riding clubs consist of?! Despite sky high tuition fees, universities haven't yet started offering free horses to all undergrads. Riding schools still demand payment for the use of a horse and tuition once a week (i.e. a lesson).

I bought my horse after my first year, and graduated last year. Was well worth it, but you definately have to have a lot of common sense/luck - I couldn't have done it without my OH to muck him out for me when I had late seminars and through exam period. Winter was tough, and a fair few lectures were missed which I had to catch up with. I lost a lot of 'friends' from lack of socialising. But it was definately worth it.

x

EDIT: I bought a youngster, figuring I could 'produce' him through uni and continue after, but, as horses do, he got an injury and so a lot of the two years were spent looking after an unrideable horse, too poor to afford lessons.

 

[Shay]

Uni is hard enough without trying to manage a horse as well. I do have friends who do it but it isn't easy.

It does depend on where you live. If you go away to uni what will you do with ned whilst you are gone? or conversely during the holidays? Livery for a small part of the year can be hard to get - although I grant you it is easier now than it normally is. On the other hand if ned can live at home with your parents year round then that is far easier.

Plus there is the expense. You can manage a horse and uni workload if you are organised. But with that wacking great loan where will you find the money to keep a horse? Obviously your finances are your own affair - but I couldn't have done it.

If you are studying something equine based where ned can live on site with you it is going to be far easier than if you're at a central london university doing something unrelated. (I did law!) Yes some Uni's have riding clubs - but it isn't the same.

If you have your BHS stages what about starting out by teaching pony club camp etc. If you can get your foot in the door during the summer then you can take rides and start to build a small schooling thing. PC parents are always on the look out for good riders to either take thier horse breifly whilst child does GCSEs, to get it qualified for something or just to re-school. Watch out for your insurance - although you would be covered by PC insurance if you went that way.

Or you could go out and do BUNAC teaching english riding in the states. I did that in my summers and it was stunning. It is quite competative though so you do have to have qualifications etc.

Even if you volunteer at the RDA they usually let you have a ride or so a week for your trouble.

My advice - for what its worth - would be to think outside the box to get rides. Leave the horse ownership for after the loan!

 

[sykokat]

Jack9; If you already know you have enough spare time and will still be living at home then it should be fine. It may well serve as a welcome break/relief from the work. If you go for a youngster then yes, a nice hairy cob would probably be ideal. Something you can work on slowly and at your own pace. Just don't get drawn into something totally untouched. There is unspoilt and then there's untouched. lol.
Cx

 

[jack9]

And what do you think university riding clubs consist of?! Despite sky high tuition fees, universities haven't yet started offering free horses to all undergrads. Riding schools still demand payment for the use of a horse and tuition once a week (i.e. a lesson).

I bought my horse after my first year, and graduated last year. Was well worth it, but you definately have to have a lot of common sense/luck - I couldn't have done it without my OH to muck him out for me when I had late seminars and through exam period. Winter was tough, and a fair few lectures were missed which I had to catch up with. I lost a lot of 'friends' from lack of socialising. But it was definately worth it.

x

EDIT: I bought a youngster, figuring I could 'produce' him through uni and continue after, but, as horses do, he got an injury and so a lot of the two years were spent looking after an unrideable horse, too poor to afford lessons.

Hi thanks for replying.

i was half hopeing for replys of ; "dont be daft wait till you have graduated"... lol.

my last horse cost £11,000 in vets fees, so my parents are obviously not impressed with the prospect of me getting another, howevver i have become far tougher in terms of when to call it a day an realisitc with costs (i most certainly wasnt back then...)!

Id happily help out in return for rides, but no-where round here does that and i think its a waste of my time as i love schooling horses, so having my own and schooling it to how i want would make it a much more worthwhile thing.

I live at home anyhow and tbh most of my friends are boring and dont come out. So when i do go out its daytrips/lunch etc. im 22 not 51 and want to enjoy my youth lol!
x

 

[jack9]

Uni is hard enough without trying to manage a horse as well. I do have friends who do it but it isn't easy.

It does depend on where you live. If you go away to uni what will you do with ned whilst you are gone? or conversely during the holidays? Livery for a small part of the year can be hard to get - although I grant you it is easier now than it normally is. On the other hand if ned can live at home with your parents year round then that is far easier.

Plus there is the expense. You can manage a horse and uni workload if you are organised. But with that wacking great loan where will you find the money to keep a horse? Obviously your finances are your own affair - but I couldn't have done it.

If you are studying something equine based where ned can live on site with you it is going to be far easier than if you're at a central london university doing something unrelated. (I did law!) Yes some Uni's have riding clubs - but it isn't the same.

If you have your BHS stages what about starting out by teaching pony club camp etc. If you can get your foot in the door during the summer then you can take rides and start to build a small schooling thing. PC parents are always on the look out for good riders to either take thier horse breifly whilst child does GCSEs, to get it qualified for something or just to re-school. Watch out for your insurance - although you would be covered by PC insurance if you went that way.

Or you could go out and do BUNAC teaching english riding in the states. I did that in my summers and it was stunning. It is quite competative though so you do have to have qualifications etc.

Even if you volunteer at the RDA they usually let you have a ride or so a week for your trouble.

My advice - for what its worth - would be to think outside the box to get rides. Leave the horse ownership for after the loan!

hi - thanks fore repling

i live at home, and will do until i have graduated and got a job and im ready to move out. Which may be in upto 5 years time tbh. I also have a responsibility of a dog so cant/wont leave her to swan of to uni (tempting though lol).

For finances, i have so far saved up the grants and loans from first year and lived off clothes ive had for 2 years and will save up year 2 loans also and again live of wages i have earnt (i have a very flexible and lovely job).

I also live in the country (unis 10 mins away), and 7 farms within walking distance.(i drive anyhow but still)

Jack9; If you already know you have enough spare time and will still be living at home then it should be fine. It may well serve as a welcome break/relief from the work. If you go for a youngster then yes, a nice hairy cob would probably be ideal. Something you can work on slowly and at your own pace. Just don't get drawn into something totally untouched. There is unspoilt and then there's untouched. lol.
Cx

Thanks


thats my way of thinking too, come 3rd year when im suicidal with the dissertation.