Keeping horse at uni?

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kizzywinkles

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Has/does anyone keep a horse while at uni? I've just transfered course to law, and have been thinking about maybe getting a horse next year. I've been calculating prices, and have found a livery yard 15min bus ride. I'm not sure how easy it would be juggling a social life, studies and a horse?

Anyone else managed? I've had horses all my life, unitll a few months ago, and it really sucks. I joined the riding club, but it's really not the same ploddong about on riding school horses.

I've got a few grand saved, though this wouldn't go very far, but will be working all summer, and my parents would help.

Any advice? Is it pretty unrealistic to think I'd be able to juggle everything?
Obviously this would be a huge decision, and just an idea I'm toying with at the mo...

Thanks x
 
Hi I have 2 students keep their horses with me but they are on full livery, and had another student from Belgium look around today, it does make it easy for them to have the horses looked after and then just ride and compete when they want, they manage to juggle a busy vets degree with horses and social life!!!! or alternatively look for someone who wants to share a horse then you only have half of everything to pay.
 
Thanks

I thought about sharing, but I tend to be very protective of my horses, and don't think I could trust someone else.
I was thinking about grass livery with horse out 24/7, and yard owners check them in the mornings so I'd only have to go up once a day.
 
kept hector in london while i was at uni there, but i was doing an art degree ao proberly doesnt count
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spent most of my student loan on him mind
 
santa145 and I both kept horses through our degrees. Depends how hard-core your law course is though I guess! A car would definately make your life easier. I had 3 on DIY livery in my final year, sold one in the feb, and one was going all guns blazing for Bramham (which started the day after my last final), and I still managed a 2.1 somehow (dossy history and french degree
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I kept my mare up until my third year at uni, i then loaned her out to the equestrian part of the uni so i could concentrate on my final year, i used to catch the bus as it wasnt far, i also worked part time, so you can do it, but as you'll be aware they cost more to keep then often you budget for, as there are so many things extra you could buy for them like tack and such like-it all builds up and adds up. Alot of students do manage though,so as long as you have calculated correctly you should be able to do it
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I manage ok, I just don't ride if I have a ton of work to do or an exam soon. My social life leaves a lot to be desired though! And I live at home, so not a problem financially.
 
I've got 2 horses with me at uni right now. I have them both on full livery so all I have to worry about is riding - this is def worth it as don't know how I'd manage if I had to do everything. The yard is 20 min drive away which is fine tho not ideal - prefer something close but needed the facilities. I def couldn't cope without my car - buses can be so expensive and don't come that regularly sometimes plus don't necessarily go right to the yard so you end up walking. I wouldn't be able to carry my stuff and wear my smelly horsey clothes and boots on a bus! Fitting riding in around my studies and social life is tricky but you just have to be super organised - because I don't have to muck out etc that saves a lot of time, but I do have to plan each day very carefully. It depends what service you could get at a livery yard, how far away it is and how dedicated you are to riding. My horses are competition horses and are in quite hard work 6 days a week. I tried uni without a horse for the first term and couldn't stand it so there was no other option!! Good luck if you go for it!
 
Thanks

I think it would be a huge blow to my social life, which at the moment is amazing, but I reckon a horse would be worth it. Oooh so exciting I've got a lot to think about. Might see if I can get a loan, that way if I do struggle too much it's not such a disaster.
 
I did a degree in Latin with my horse on diy livery. Spent most of my life on the train. Also worked f/t at McD's to support myself & the horse. Ended up with a degree...and glandular fever from being overloaded which turned into 3 or 4 years of ME. I would say, be very careful with your sums, be VERY organised, be realistic about what you can do and think about ways of lightening the load, for example, getting a sharer. Believe me, if you think degree + horse is hard, that's nothing compared with (post grad) career + horse + ME.
 
i have to think about this too-dont no if i could bear to sell him!But if i went to bristol apparently you can let the centre use him for riding and they pay for livery, hay and straw. But i would have to know who was riding him!Am going to look into it!
 
I did degree and horse at livery then post grad and horse at livery. DIY both times. I worked one day a week on the yard in return for 'free' livery for first two years of my degree then paid after that.

If you live near enough not to spend hours commuting and perhaps offer to do another DIYers horse in the am or pm thren you'll prolly find people are happy to help so you can get away with one visit a day most days.

Look for a yard with good turnout and sensible owners and if you really want to do it you will.

I bought my horse in the summer before my first year and everyone told me I was mad to do it.

I wasn't and I'm not - it was a great diversion and healthy way to spend time.

depends how much you want it.
 
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