My Partner wants a horse

[Red_Stafford]

Hi all, I am new on here and I am hoping that I can get some info, I currently live in Leicester with my partner, she is now 22 years young and when she was younger she used to look after and ride horses, she has always said to me that she wanted a horse one day but I dont have a clue how much money it takes to care for a horse correctly, so the question is how much does this cost or is the something I can get her for Xmas where she can go and help out in the stables and ride the horses ?

 

[Happy Hunter]

My Friend, You DONT want to know how much it costs! - I dont look in fear!!!

Why not try a Few riding lessons to get her back in the swing of things to start? Perhaps she could try a 'Share horse' - Where someone else owns it -and for a contribution or help with the chores a few rides are given.

Good luck!

 

[Red_Stafford]

My Friend, You DONT want to know how much it costs! - I dont look in fear!!!

Why not try a Few riding lessons to get her back in the swing of things to start? Perhaps she could try a 'Share horse' - Where someone else owns it -and for a contribution or help with the chores a few rides are given.

Good luck!

Thats sounds good can you reccomend a riding school near LE2 ?

Also where can you find info about a share horse, thats sounds quite interesting.

 

[Iceni]

As above , but really it depends on the type of horse and therefore how much care they need, and what she would want to do with it.

Sweet idea, but it's bloomin' expense and worse still, is very addictive!

Good luck!

 

[Fuzznugget]

I would also suggest a share arrangement before buying. You could always get her a certain amount of 'pre paid' lessons for Christmas, so she can get back into it.

As for cost of a horse, it varies. You have to take into consideration feed/vet/worming/shoeing or trimming/rugs/tack/supplements/livery/lessons/transport/etc. I think you get the idea...

 

[alainax]

The costs vary dramatically, depending on circumstances.

We had a good doer, dad had a field and a shelter, she went bare foot, came free to loving home with tack. Dad trimmed her feet. She cost us feed and hay in the winter, boosters etc from the vet, dentist. Buttons really.

However, if you have a horse who requires a bit more maintenace, you would need to consider livery fees, farriers, vets, feed, tack, back specialst, dentist, sepcisled feeding and a million other things ive missed out.

Above all else its commitment. As many on the forum are pointing out just now, the wet, cold, mud and endless mucking out/filling haynets is exhausting.

Some people have to be at thier yard and muck out/ do other duties morning and night.

Other just need to step out thier back door, check them over, check the water, and give a hard feed.

If you dont have access to a field etc, I would recommend looking into a part sharing on a horse, or loaning at its yard.


Only word of advice would be to let her chose the horse, dont make it a surprise, I love my fiance dearly, but would hate to imagine the horse he'd pick for me ( probably something safe )

Sorry for rambling, I've worked at a yard with many "high maintance" horses, at the same time as keeping my fluffy field dwelers, so could contrast the two

 

[Honey08]

Isn't she lucky!

Could you find a local tack shop/ riding gear shop in the area? Try yellow pages.. They would be able to point you in the direction of a good riding school/equestrian centre. They would also have a noticeboard that may have offers of horses to share. To be honest, this is something that needs arranging between the horse's owner and your girlfriend. Not many people would arrange to share their horse with someone's girlfriend that they haven't met..