London riders/owners - what do you do?

FestiveFuzz

FestiveFuzz

Well-Known Member
Joined
5 January 2008
Messages
4,586
Visit site
I've been in London 6 months now and horseless for almost a year and am desperate to get back into the saddle but how do you do it?

When I look at the cost of weekly/fortnightly hacking or lessons in and around London I always compare it to the cost of my old mares livery (which worked out cheaper!) and start thinking about buying a new horse, however I live in south London and work long hours in central so as much as I hate to admit it, owning is out of the question right now.

So what do others do when in London?

I'm currently contemplating a career change just to fit a horse back into my life, i'm that desperate, so any advice would be great!
 
Hiya,

I live in Ealing in West London. I have two horses that live out in Osterley park. It is only a 20 minute drive to the field and I can go straight from there to work on the tube (I only work in Hammersmith so can do ponies to desk in 35 minutes!).

Ideally I'd like to keep them somewhere on part livery but I just can't afford it! I think your best option would be finding a horse to share somewhere with good facilities. Where abouts are you? I
 
Hi there,

I work in Soho but live in Tooting and don't really know London too well. On the plus side I do have a car in London so I am a little more flexible than relying just on public transport.

I'd never thought of driving to the yard and then catching the tube to work, that does expand my options.
 
I work in London but live down in Surrey and commute in. I have to have my horse on part livery and it's a 2 hour journey between work and the yard, which I try not to think about too much!
crazy.gif
 
I work in Holborn and live in Wanstead (East London) and keep the horses 15 miles out near Epping, ie 30 mile trip which takes between 25 mins up to 1 hour if the traffic is bad each way.

Two days a week I have full livery - I work late on Fridays and have one day a week that it is my catch up on life or going out day. In the mornings during the week they are on part livery livery - feed and t/o and in winter they are brought in and given hay until I get up there.

I do work long hours and often don't get back from the yard until 10 pm or later but for me having my horses is a huge part of my life so I accept three days a week I do nothing but sleep, work and horses. Luckily my OH is the same as he has his own horse as well.

Luckily I can afford to keep my horse with some livery or I would really struggle.
 
I think my mate keeps her horse at a yard in Morden. That must be really close to you then. Or could you drive to somewhere like Epsom and then get the train in?
 
Ah I used to commute from Surrey but found I barely had enough time to eat, shower and sleep so I'm not sure it'd be fair to bring a horse into the equation.

I have considered looking for jobs back in Surrey, but my career really needs me to be in London so it'd mean a complete shift, in which case I have no idea what to do with myself.
 
Morden is really close to me! It's 2 stops down the tube line from me or a short drive. Do you know what the yard was called?
 
I think it was Lower Morden Livery Stables.......but don't quote me
smile.gif
She liked it there! I don't think I still have her number since she has since moved away but will see if I can find out.
 
Aww thanks so much!

I'm sure owning is still out of the question right now, but it's still worth looking into.

I'll also have a look for anyone looking for sharers out this way.
 
I live in London and commute back, daily, to do my horses. I basically get my backside out of bed, do the yard and ride before work, then get the train back in...do a days work, then go back to finish off/ride the second..it is possible, but you have to be very motivated and a bit loony in order to make it happen!

I also own the yard,and have liveries etc...so it is alot to manage. I used to live up the road from the yard but moved to London to save money beleive it or not!
 
I live in Ealing and work in Tower Hill and keep my horse down the A40 about 25 mins from Ealing, I have moved house and horse many times to try and get the balance right and ended up still no better off. It would be easier if I didn't work as far as possible from where I live!!

I put my horse on full livery and although financially it is tough it means he has a proper routine that I don't disturb. I ride three times a week and both days at the weekend. Am always skint but love him and he keeps me sane!
 
Tooting is my old horsey stomping ground, but back in the dark ages when there were several riding schools, livery yards and thriving pony and riding clubs. Lower Morden advertise in the local Horsemart, there's also Dean City Farm in Morden. I know of a yard in Croydon that's on the tram route, if you were to buy a horse.
 
Luckylocalian - I completely know what you mean! I have always had horses so it's a complete shock to be without, and whilst I know getting a new one now would mean having no money, and even less time if it was feasible i'd do it in a heartbeat.

R2R - my main concern with that would be time. Some days I don't get out of the office much before 8pm, which wouldn't seem fair on the horse, and I don't have the funds to keep one on full livery again.
 


[/ QUOTE ]



I'm currently contemplating a career change just to fit a horse back into my life, i'm that desperate, so any advice would be great!

[/ QUOTE ]

Sorry no help but....DITTO!
 
Try not to compare lesson prices to old livery rates.
If you look at your time without owning as a chance to top up on your skills it wont hurt so much
tongue.gif
Maybe you could even find a yard to study for Horse Owners certs/BHS stages at?

I grew up in North London,so was lucky to be close to Herts.
Had a few good yards not too far away(the one I worked at after leaving school was about 30/40 mins on bike so 15/20 in a car
tongue.gif
) seems to be less options in South London but if you are a bit inventive,there is plenty you can do to stay horsey while working on your career
laugh.gif
 
[ QUOTE ]
Luckylocalian - I completely know what you mean! I have always had horses so it's a complete shock to be without, and whilst I know getting a new one now would mean having no money, and even less time if it was feasible i'd do it in a heartbeat.

R2R - my main concern with that would be time. Some days I don't get out of the office much before 8pm, which wouldn't seem fair on the horse, and I don't have the funds to keep one on full livery again.

[/ QUOTE ]

How about a share?
 
I've already done my BHS stage 1, so I could expand on this but it's not so much doing horsey things, it's more I miss the day to day stuff that comes with ownership.

I've just looked at horses for share on newrider.com and all of them seem to be based in Mill Hill
frown.gif
I'll just have to keep looking and stay positive.

It's just hard when I have a stressful job and horses have always kept me sane!
 
Maybe put an advert up asking for a share. When I was looking for a share there were quite a few replies from people in Chessington - would that work for you?
What about round Richmond or Wimbledon?
Not good with South London though.

I'm in North London so ended up in Mill Hill sharing a horse and then buying my own
Have since moved him out to Herts as it is better for him and keep him on 5 day livery so in the evenings I only have to groom and ride and then I muck out at the weekends.
I go up about 3 or 4 evenings a week.
If you did get a horse if you work alot of long hours you may want to think about getting a sharer yourself so you know that your horse is getting attention/exercise when you can't go up there.
 
A lot of the towns that are towards the end of the tube lines are quite rural and there are plenty of yards with good facilities and decent hacking.

I have friends who live and work in london and use the tube to travel to their yard. You'd need to have your horse on part livery though I think to be able to comfortably do that.
 
I spoke with my parents about it when I was back at the weekend and they thought it might be a better idea to buy a horse and then get a sharer so I knew ultimately it was my responsibility but also had someone to help with the workload but I wasn't sure how much demand there was for people looking for horses to share in south london and I also wanted to make sure I was able to look after it full time myself just in case I can't find a sharer.
 
[ QUOTE ]
Some days I don't get out of the office much before 8pm, which wouldn't seem fair on the horse, and I don't have the funds to keep one on full livery again.

[/ QUOTE ]

That's really tough - I have to say the only way I manage it is by having Fin on part livery and the fact that I do at least get to leave the office at 5pm as a general rule (though I have to start at 8 to do so), so am at the yard by 7pm.
 
Yeah my official hours are 9 - 6pm however if we're at the end of a campaign or something needs working on, it's kinda expected to work until it's done - which doesn't really work well with having a horse.
 
I don't envy you lot I have to say - I've moved to Hampshire and live 30 seconds from my yard and work from home.... ;-)

It is doable though - you've just got to be motivated but I'd be inclined to share for now.
 
I am very jealous! My parents, whilst out in the middle of nowhere have stables a short cycle away which I have always been able to use as the owner is a family friend. So this is all completely new to me.

I think you're right about sharing for now and I may have found just the thing, so am keeping my fingers crossed.
 
Could you go on assisted DIY so the morning are done for you and on the nights you need to work late you could pay someone to do your horse?

I am on grass livery (his choice he does not like living in) so only have to go once a day - and can also pay YO to feed or help out as am on assisted DIY - but in reality the other liveries all tend to help each other out.

I live in Harrow and my pony is in chorleywood - I don't have a car which saves a lot of money as I work in Holborn I have to pay for tube anyway - I then after work go to chorleywood on the tube and then walk to the yard.

There are quite a few yards around on the outskirts of London - do you have to live in South London? I rent so just moved house to be nearer the yard when I moved yards - first yard did not suit my pony.

There are 3 ladies who have horses that live in at night and who work in London at the yard I am at. One has a sharer and the others are on assisted DIY so the horses are sometimes turned out and brought in and they muck out when they get to the yard later. One lady also has to travel overseas sometimes and then she gets her horse looked after for her whilst she is away.

It is doable but tiring at times - I try to have one day off a week from going to the yard and that day I work late which enables me to leave work early on another day.
 
I am trying to consider all options. But being a Surrey girl born and bred I have absolutely no idea how much to expect livery in/near London to cost. My last horse was on full livery whilst I was at uni so I imagine assisted DIY would be affordable now.

If I were to buy now I would probably be tempted to go for something that's easy to do and would be happy to live out year round as I think this would work better with my current situation, and like you say, only requires you to go up once a day, although admittedly i'd probably go up am and pm.

The only reason I live in South London is because I need to have my car in London as my mum is unwell back home and I like knowing that if anything happens I can get back in less than an hour.

I'm in no rush to make a decision, I've set myself 6 months to explore all options and work out what works best.
 
Regarding prices I pay £130 a month but I have seen grass livery offered on the herts/london border for £15 a week and I know there is a DIY yard in Mill hill that is only £20 a week.

However I suppose surrey is an expensive area so you might need to pay more.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top