New horse ?

[Bellanansa]

Hi I am a 13 year old girl who has been riding for quite a long time ,and can do all three gaits and pop some jumps I know abit about horse care and can tack and untack muck out turn out etc and am interested in buying a horse, my mum used to own horses so has experience and we have 2 acres of land, do you think it would be suitable and if I am ready ?

 

[Dyllymoo]

Hi, welcome to H&H. I would probably say you should look at loaning a horse first. Even a part loan where you do a couple of days a week. Have you been having lessons at a riding school, as they may have horses you can loan there and you would have their knowledge and support if you need anything. They may also allow you to help out at weekends which can also teach you a lot about how to care for horses.

That would be my first step as owning a horse and having lessons on one are different. I know your mum has experience but I think it would be a great idea if you can get as much knowledge as possible before taking the plunge.

 

[Bellanansa]

thank you I have had a loan horse before at the school where I take lessons and loved it, but I would really like my own if I had the suitable situation for it

 

[Dyllymoo]

I think its really a conversation you need to have with your mum and your instructor. I would still suggest a loan really for your first horse, even if that is a part loan not at the riding school as riding school ponies and "others" can be very very different.

 

[Bellanansa]

okay thanks !

 

[Meowy Catkin]

When you are ready to buy a pony, remember that they are herd animals and need the company of other horses (bar the odd outlier). You may decide that keeping your new pony - whether a full loan or owned - would be better done at a livery yard. Not only would the pony have company, but you would also have people to hack out and ride with.

 

[Bellanansa]

would I be able to buy a sheylant pony to keep it company instead

 

[Pearlsasinger]

You need to talk to your mum about whether it is the right time to buy a pony. She might want to share it with you, or might prefer to get one for herself to be the companion to yours rather than a Shetland pony, which might well have different management needs from a bigger animal, 2 acres isn't normally considered to be enough to keep 2 horses on but there are ways to manage it so that it is doable but the main thing is that you need to talk to your mum about it. She might want to speak to your RI, whilst bearing in mind that your RI might not want ot lose you as a customer at the school.

 

[Bellanansa]

thank you !

 

[Meowy Catkin]

Do also remember that the current virus situation may make this a very bad time to get into horse ownership again for your Mum. She very well may want to wait until things have settled down before buying an animal that will be expensive to keep.

 

[Bellanansa]

thank you we are thinking about waiting but wanted some advice nyways

 

[Meowy Catkin]

Doing research is always a good thing.

 

[Bellanansa]

definantly, there I an opportunity to buy an extra acre attacked to my current two would this be beneficial ?

 

[Meowy Catkin]

If your Mum can afford it and wants to go down the road of horse ownership again, then an extra acre might be very useful.

 

[Bellanansa]

okay thanks !

 

[Vikki7287]

I’d definitely recommend loaning first. I’m loaning my first pony at the moment and after 6 months I’m still learning. It’s really good that you have all the basic skills mucking out tacking up turning out etc but you need to learn about horses health care. The pony I’m loaning for example has had laminitis in the past so I’ve learnt all about signs that he’s fit and well which determines what and how much he gets fed. Signs that a horse is unwell can be very subtle and this type of knowledge is an absolute must before going it alone completely