Not buying a horse now for a couple of years - tell me I'm doing the sensible thing!

U

Umbongo

Well-Known Member
Joined
27 October 2009
Messages
2,470
Visit site
Here's the low down.

I am 22 years old, finished an equine degree and have a boyfriend of 6 years (he has just finished his degree and wants to go onto a masters/Phd etc).

I've been riding for years, loaning horses, riding/looking after other people's to help them out, worked at many different types of yards etc etc. I have waited to buy a horse once I had finished my education. And so I was SO EXCITED when I finished my degree in June.

I can afford a horse and I love the responsibility especially of your own, however I am not sure I can "comfortably" afford it. Especially the gorgeous all rounder mare I have always dreamed of having. Been looking since Easter time and can't find the forever horse I want for my budget.

The OH has been getting a bit down lately with nothing to do and no one to see and can't wait to find a job and move away, probably somewhere in a city. After 3 years of long distance whilst at uni I don't want to do it again and will move with him. We have decided that whoever gets a proper graduate job first, the other will look for jobs in the same area so we can finally live together.

This means that buying a horse now will make this very difficult. I have been thinking that maybe I will postpone buying for a few years, and go out and enjoy being a young person in a city environment and not be poor from horses all the time.

At the moment I am doing a bit of part time groom work, have a few full time groom jobs lined up but I do want to get out and start up my career. Whilst doing so I can save up for my dream mare (which at the moment I can't seem to find advertised for less than 5k-6k).

I am absolutely gutted that I have decided this, but it is also for the good of my relationship I guess. OH knows that horses make me happy but also thinks this is a good idea. I will carry on riding/lessons/maybe a share. OH has said just leave it a couple of years, I have the rest of my life to have horses so I don't need to rush it right now.

I guess I am writing this all down so it seems more certain, and for all you lovely people to tell me I'm doing the right thing! I hate being so sensible sometimes!

I will carry on horse shopping as it seems to be part of my daily routine now!

Tea and chocolates for anyone bothering to read this! :)
 
FIRSTLY CAN I HAVE THE BISCUITS you did promise :)
Think you are being very sensible to wait,you can use your time and skills helping people with their horses to keep your hand in.
When the time is right and you can give the commitment, you will know and then start the search for the right horse.
 
I think you've made the right choice! Not an easy one to make, but just think towards the future, and it will be worth a small sacrafice when you find your perfect horse a few years down the line! xx
 
It does all sound very sensible and a great plan, but from your post you don't sound very convinced?!
I was in a similar position years ago and could not commit to a horse so looked for a share. It really was the best thing I did and I'm still in contact with the owner now, years after I moved away. Good luck!
 
Think you're being incredibly sensible. I have 2 horses as my parents bought them for me in my teens, ones an ancient little pony and the other a lovely maxi cob. Now i'm completing a nursing degree, and was looking forwards to buying a youngster when I qualify as my competition horse will be about 13 and thought a nice youngster to sit on for afew yrs and then ease him into retirement.... until my bf brought me back to reality of the probability of a mortgage etc. My heart sank, in fact with the argument we nearly split!! I hope I have as much will power as you do!!!!! x
 
sueeltringham said:
It does all sound very sensible and a great plan, but from your post you don't sound very convinced?!
I was in a similar position years ago and could not commit to a horse so looked for a share. It really was the best thing I did and I'm still in contact with the owner now, years after I moved away. Good luck!
Click to expand...

Ha I only really properly decided last night, had a bit of falling out with OH when he asked if he got a job say in a city up north would I come...my answer was well what about if I buy a horse down here! I guess in reality I don't have the budget right now for the type of horse I want anyway.

I was all set on this until I went for a walk in the forest with the dog and saw some people riding their horses! I still think about buying a horse every day and I know I am ready for one, but maybe right now isn't the best time :(
 
becca_norrey said:
Think you're being incredibly sensible. I have 2 horses as my parents bought them for me in my teens, ones an ancient little pony and the other a lovely maxi cob. Now i'm completing a nursing degree, and was looking forwards to buying a youngster when I qualify as my competition horse will be about 13 and thought a nice youngster to sit on for afew yrs and then ease him into retirement.... until my bf brought me back to reality of the probability of a mortgage etc. My heart sank, in fact with the argument we nearly split!! I hope I have as much will power as you do!!!!! x
Click to expand...

Thanks, I'm getting quite good at it! Especially after being at an equine uni with 5 other girls, all of whom had a horse (I did give in a little by having a loan horse in 2nd year).

I guess this is what happens when you have a sensible accountant for a dad...it rubs off on you!

Like you, I don't want me and OH to have a falling out over it. He knows horses make me happy but this idea may be better for our relationship just for now.

Also heard of some people not buying their first horse till 30/40 years old..I guess waiting until I'm 24/25 years old isn't tooooooooo bad!
 
Last edited:
Have to disagree. Don't postpone your happiness I know what it's like and have also done the long distance things and know how horrible it is. You really can have it all - just prioritise!

I was in the same situation - finished uni, got a grad job, supported OH whilst he finished his - unpaid - PhD - and I had two horses the whole time.

Okay, you won't necessarily be able to afford to compete, you might have to take a project horse, a loan, or a baby rather than your £5k dream horse, and you won't be able to take a job in London. But getting a job in a city doesn't mean you can't have a horse - ever heard of commuting?

If you're prepared to live in a slightly less glamorous house/area than your friends, have a lot less nice stuff in your house, crappier car, fewer new clothes, no foreign holidays etc etc you'll find it's not that bad. Shop around for decent livery, maybe help out on the yard to cover bills, you can get good deals on all your horsey stuff on ebay etc.

In my personal experience an 'average' graduate starting salary (outside of London) is enough to keep a couple and a horse as long as they're not fussy. If he gets a stipend of some sort with his PhD you'll be fine.

All the best whatever you decide! x
 
trojanpony said:
I was in the same situation - finished uni, got a grad job, supported OH whilst he finished his - unpaid - PhD - and I had two horses the whole time.

Okay, you won't necessarily be able to afford to compete, you might have to take a project horse, a loan, or a baby rather than your £5k dream horse, and you won't be able to take a job in London. But getting a job in a city doesn't mean you can't have a horse - ever heard of commuting?

If you're prepared to live in a slightly less glamorous house/area than your friends, have a lot less nice stuff in your house, crappier car, fewer new clothes, no foreign holidays etc etc you'll find it's not that bad. Shop around for decent livery, maybe help out on the yard to cover bills, you can get good deals on all your horsey stuff on ebay etc.

In my personal experience an 'average' graduate starting salary (outside of London) is enough to keep a couple and a horse as long as they're not fussy. If he gets a stipend of some sort with his PhD you'll be fine.

All the best whatever you decide! x
Click to expand...

Thanks, I am prepared to live slightly less glamorous, shop around, no new clothes, no holidays etc I live like that now! However I can't even find a grad job, right now even finding a general job to do for the mean time is bloody hard!...at the moment there seems to be nothing, all my other friends who have graduated with 1st's, 2:1's etc are having to get part time pub work, groom work, Tesco etc just because there is nothing out there, it is a bad time to graduate!

Am willing to commute but right now we don't know where in the country we will be, how long we will stay there etc so it's all a bit up in the air.
 
Last edited:
heather_bambi said:
Thanks, I am prepared to live slightly less glamorous, shop around, no new clothes, no holidays etc I live like that now! However I can't even find a grad job, right now even finding a general job to do for the mean time is bloody hard!...at the moment there seems to be nothing, all my other friends who have graduated with 1st's, 2:1's etc are having to get part time pub work, groom work, Tesco etc just because there is nothing out there, it is a bad time to graduate!

Am willing to commute but right now we don't know where in the country we will be, how long we will stay there etc so it's all a bit up in the air.
Click to expand...

I feel for you! Have heard the stats on grad jobs but not faced it myself (should think myself very lucky to have finished just a couple of years before it all went pear shaped!). 1st class degrees and working in Tesco's - that's pretty rubbish. Saying that the budget retail sector should weather the storm and Tesco's and the like must have graduate schemes. I work in the water industry (as reliable as anything in the current climate) and my company is still hiring grads. I doubt that accountancy firms will ever stop hiring grads, if you're good with numbers (auditing: boring but well paid!). Public sector is obiously not a great way to go ATM but I think the prison service is undersubscribed and pays pretty well (good progression) and unlikely to be cutting back that much I guess...

Other option is to look for head-girl type jobs on a small yard where you have accomodation provided and could have your own horse. You wouldn't have much to live on but would not really have to worry about somewhere for you and horse to live.

I do hope you find something suitable so your wait isn't too long anyway!

all the best :)
 
I'm sure i shall be in a very similar situation as you when i graduate uni! Unfortunetly i have another 3 years to go, and as much as i think now 'oh i'll graduate, get a decent job and then can buy a horse just like that' i guess it isn't so simple and i'll have to save up for a few years and probably be looking for a job for a year or two in the current climate!

I think you're making a sensible decision right now. It will be much better to settle down and save up for your perfect horse rather than buy a cheaper one now that isn't what you want. Its so annoying having to wait so many years but i guess when you get your first horse it will be the greatest feeling after having to wait so long for it!

good luck with it!
 
I'm someone who follows their heart and being happy is important as you only get one shot in life.
My daughter and I have 4 horses, its what makes us happy.
We live in a 2 bed flat, and in a crappy area because all my money goes on horses.
My daughter doesn't go without, I do, I sacrifice a lot, can't afford bugger all for myself but I am still happy.
So I'd personally not put off, if having a horse made me happy and I could afford it, albeit with some sacrifices, then I'd have the horse.
If you can't afford your dream horse, how about your dream horse as a youngster and bring it on and let it mature into what you want?
Also, not knowing where you're gonna live - I moved my horses from Scotland to Ireland and back again. You could move you horses with a very reputable company from one end of England to the other for only a few hundred quid on a shared trasporter. So again, you could have now and take your horse with you to you're new area.

If I was sensible, I'd live in a nice house and not have horses, but I'm not, I love my horses and no bricks and mortar, or nice car or fancy hols would ever give me the same level of enjoyment that my horses do.

Oh and I was 36 when I bought my first one, I've loved horses all my life and I wish I'd done it 20 years ago when I bounced still lol x
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top