Moving to the UK (from South Africa) Advice please!

LadyGascoyne

LadyGascoyne

Still Fig-uring it out...
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My fiancé and I are planning to move to London next year May. We work in Johannesburg at the moment but lived in Cape Town prior to moving to Joburg.

We both ride but elected to leave the horses in Cape Town as it is an African Horse Sickness free zone. We both work such long hours (software development and law) that it didn't seem fair to risk them for a few hours a week of riding. They are currently enjoying lots of grass on my family's farm and being looked after and exercised daily by our fantastic groom, where they will live out their days.

We are hoping to buy two nice hacks in the UK but I am concerned about time-management. My parents live in Oxfordshire and have two stables on their property. We plan to buy our own place eventually, probably near Oxford. I still worry that we will end up with two more horses that we hardly ride. How many of you work full-time and keep your horses far away from where you live? Is this even a realistic plan?
 
I work full time and have have 2 horses on DIY livery about 15miles from home. Horses get ridden 5 days a week. I'm normally up a 6 do horses get to work for 8:30, finish work at 5pm arrive at horse 5:30 anger home about 7-8ish so it is doable :)
 
Hi, exciting times!! Most people I'm your situation would be either lucky enough to have the horses at home, and either see to them before and after work or use a groom to sort them, or have the horses on full livery. Full will cost you though, especially in that area. I'm West Sussex/ Surrey and full down here is £100 per week as a start. You could always look at having a sharer to help you and give them some extra attention/exercise, or you could look at sharing to start off with and if you decide it's not working then its easier to change the arrangement.
 
I guess it will be challenging keeping two at your parents in Oxfordshire if you're planning to live in London.
Can your parents look after them mid week for you if you go to theirs at the weekends?
I think if I were you I would enjoy living in London first then see if I fancied getting my own again. Sometimes a break is good, especially when moving countries!
 
I am concerned we won't have enough time but I have to say, moving my entire life would be far scarier if I knew that I'd be horseless too. To be honest, even a groom and a pat in the evening would be better than nothing.

Finding a sharer could be an option but if we buy low-maintence hacks, do you think we run the risk of only attracting inexperienced riders? If I'm not around much, they will need someone dedicated. Perhaps one, nicer horse would be less risk? There is a stunning livery yard next door to my parents' place with a flood-lit arena etc. What do you think?

We are coming over in December to do some planning- I bought our tickets yesterday!
 
LadyGascoyne said:
I am concerned we won't have enough time but I have to say, moving my entire life would be far scarier if I knew that I'd be horseless too. To be honest, even a groom and a pat in the evening would be better than nothing.

Finding a sharer could be an option but if we buy low-maintence hacks, do you think we run the risk of only attracting inexperienced riders? If I'm not around much, they will need someone dedicated. Perhaps one, nicer horse would be less risk? There is a stunning livery yard next door to my parents' place with a flood-lit arena etc. What do you think?

We are coming over in December to do some planning- I bought our tickets yesterday!
Click to expand...

What about livery in the winter, at parents in the summer, finding someone to exercise them during the week should not be too difficult if they are nice types and the hacking is good, possibly students if you are near Oxford, with free time during the week, not everyone wants to school or jump.
 
exciting times. I moved to the UK from South Africa (Durban) in 2000. I lived initially in London for 18 months but had a friend up here in the NE that I used to come up to visit and get my horsey fix. Could you not share / loan in the London area until you move and set up with your own.

Summer is fantastic but winter is hard work - wouldnt change it for anything - in fact the horses keep me sane through winter with the dark wet nights - I can always go and cuddle one of them and remind myself that they are worth the cold and wet lol.

Good luck with it all.
 
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