Just A Muse

[Whoopit]

I am at an age where really I feel I want to buy a house. However, also being of that age where you need a massive deposit of about £20k to buy so much as a garden shed in an absolute hovell of an area something has got to give expenditure wise.

Which would be the horse.

I don't mean sell him though, I mean I would put him on loan. I have a bit of an argument with myself about it. He's only 3yrs old, but has the potential to make a pretty good showjumper (I don't mean he's going to Hickstead, by the way), hence I don't want to sell him because at some point I would like to do this with him myself.

Now I'm quite sure someone isn't going to want to put all the time, effort and money into schooling on my horse and maybe competeing him a bit only for me to take him back in a few years time, but if I were actually going to follow this through, how would I find the right person who can actually school a horse, not just ride? Anybody can say they can "ride" - I'm not saying I'm the best because I'm not but when I'm riding, I have a plan of what I want to achieve or improve and I know a lot of people who have bought a fabulously schooled horse and can't school it themselves, they can just ride it round looking good. I don't want him to end up coming back to me in the future and need properly re-schooling, is really what i mean!!

Most people I've seen on sites wanting a horse for loan are kids and people who can just about trot, want their own but can't afford! Is it just best to ask around locally and see who's about, maybe a good youngster coming onto horses, or would you advertise and spend the time weeding out the people who are joyriding?

I'm just toying with the idea really, seeing whether I really want to go for it or become a stripper on a Saturday night and be able to buy Beckingham Palace by Christmas!!!!

 

[ThePony]

I can see where you are coming from, but if you are after someone to improve a horse then it is something that you generally wind up making more of a contribution to. Like you say, someone is unlikely to want to put all the work into producing a lovely young horse, with the guarrante of loosing the ride!

I wonder if you could look at cutting back your horse costs instead, you could perhaps add a part time job and get a sharer in to help with costs and work your horse when he is old enough, while you are still in control of his schooling. You will be able to keep a much closer eye on his education and ensure things are going as you would like.

Good luck with the house shopping, I lived in Leeds for 10 years and just loved it!!