Novice getting own horse - western

[strawberrymoon]

hi all

I started riding later in life - (from my early 20s) only learning western riding. During this period I used to have a lesson a week and I did have a loan pony for a year - in reality though I did fairly little as she was in full livery and I would only care for her at weekends, tack up when riding etc. She never really felt as if she was anywhere close to being my own - although during this period I did increase my riding so I was riding 2-3 times per week.

I'm now 38 years old and I've been out of riding for the past 5 years while I had my kids. I now am lucky enough to have a house which has 12 acres of land, and some slightly old stables and an old school. Currently none of it is being used.

I am toying with the idea of getting my own horse because the western reining that I do is not something offered at many riding centres near me, particularly for adults and adults that want to improve. There really are very limited options for me to progress, the nearest school is a RDA school about an hours drive from my house - which is where I previously learnt (Although I've moved further away since) and I felt despite riding for years there, I never really became that good as it was really more for kids and their instructors were not that experienced.

My plan would be to buy a horse and then have a trainer come out to my house at least once a week to help me learn again. This way I could get a trainer who really knows their stuff, trains adults and hopefully can take me further than I've done previously. It also seems a waste to not use the facilities I've somehow ended up with at home...

But, I am extremely novice. I've been taking a stable management course, but practical experience is limited to only that which I did in my 20s. I could afford to pay for someone to help me on the plus side - and I've even toyed with putting a horse in livery for a bit until I feel comfortable having him move home with me, but there are no western options near me, and the livery options are quite far away, whereas I could have him home living out 24/7 literally in my garden.

I want to be sensible and do the right thing by any horse I own, which is why I am questioning this - and if there was a way of me riding western again using a school horse for a bit, I would probably go down that route - but there really are limited options near me. I don't fancy learning English at this point.

Is it ridiculous of me to consider getting a horse when I'm lacking so much practical experience?

 

[Redcow-hat]

It's not totally ridiculous but it would be a struggle and a big risk. For one thing, have you considered that your potential horse cannot live alone? You would need at least one companion, two are often better so you can take one out easily.

You would also need to be VERY careful about the horse you buy. Don't believe anything written in adverts and make sure you take an experienced person with you to view. What will you do if you get your horse home and he/she proves to be to much for you? You'll need to be handling the horse and it's companion alone. Many horses are perfectly quiet in experienced homes but soon learn to take the mickey out of a novice handler.

A more sensible option would be to try and get more experience first, any way you can. You write that you don't want to learn English but it really isn't that different in terms of riding feel, balance and rythem, etc. The horse care is also the same so you could go to an English stable and ask specifically for horse care lessons. Maybe then look at getting a part loan to gain more experience for a while and think about purchasing in the next few years?

 

[TPO]

I think it's a step too far at this stage to be a novice who's never owned before to keeping at least 2 horses at home.

Are there any places locally where you can do stable management lessons? Contact local equine vets about owner first aid training. Read as many books as you can about horse management and keeping. There are online courses about feeding and nutrition.

There will be a big expense involved bringing your home facilities up to scratch too. Wood is at a premium price just now and fertiliser has shot up. Your fields would need fencing checked/repaired/replaced and need to check grazing for poisonous plants. Arena surfaces are expected sure and a bad surface can cause a lot of damage. Reining, as you'll know, is a specialist surface too that is different from your average arena so that needs further investigation too if you are specifically looking to rein.

Try joining One Stop Western on fb. There are quite a few wee western yards tucked away that aren't commercial learning centres. Also you don't need to be on a specifically western yard to ride western.

What vague area are you in?

Livery yards definitely have their cons but as a novice it makes more sense to find a place with a good support system initially at least. As said horses aren't lone animals and its pretty selfish to keep a herd animal alone as some people do. So that means you'll need at least 2 horses and thst is a lot of responsibility with no back up.

In your shoes I'd look for a local yard with an experienced yard owner/manager that offer assisted or part Livery until. You could still aim to bring your horse home eventually with companion but you'd have more experience under your belt and a built up support network.

Another option might be to bring your facilities up to speed and take in liveries. This might work too if you found someone nice and experienced on a yard. Then you'll have back up for days you are sick or away and company without having to pay for it.

 

[CMcC]

I did pretty much what you are thinking of doing, in a slightly different order.
Bought a house with 10 acres, got back into riding at local riding school. Bought my own horse kept him at livery for a while, then bought him home. Total disaster - completely over horsed and out of my depth. Husband offered me two options keep the horse and get serious injury and get a divorce or get rid of horse and find something more suitable.
Took option 2 and with the help of a friendly and knowledgeable neighbour found a more suitable pony and part-ex unsuitable horse. Bought suitable pony home, only to find he was extremely stressed living alone (unsuitable horse was one of the very rare ones who was genuinely happy being by himself). Got myself rescue pony as a companion. I then had regular lessons.
Fast forward 25 years I now have 6 horses/ ponies and have managed pretty well over the years.
However, my top tip would be find local knowledge people - instructor, vet and make friends in the local horse community (riding club or western club).Don’t be afraid to ask for advice. You need the support and the local knowledge to find experts you need - farrier, saddle fitter, feed store, physio etc etc.

 

[TPO]

(riding club or western club).

If you haven't already join WES and get involved in your local Area activities. Volunteers are never refused sndnits a great way to meet people, build a network and learn by watching.

AQHA UK run shows and clinics too so lots to go and watch depending on your area.

Western is still quite niche in the UK so unless you board at one of the bigger well known places I wouldn't have expectations of a fully western yard. Good horse keeping is good horse keeping regardless of the riding discipline so don't get hung up on that.

 

[strawberrymoon]

Thanks for all of the advice - yes I was planning to get a second pony too as a companion, just didn't think to mention that in my original post.
Yes I am a member of WES but without a horse, I'm not sure I can get involved in many of their activities?

You think livery would be the way to go then? Would it be usual to have a horse in livery and have an external trainer come to train at that yard? I wasn't sure if they would want you to use one of their instructors?

 

[Alibear]

Riding western usually gets you the ok to have an outside instructor on livery yards as most livery yard owners/managers/onsite trainers can't teach western, best to ask when you visit to look round and if the answers no then you look elsewhere.
You mention reining, you can't work on stops, full rollbacks or spins really on an English surface but you can work on everything else. But it's something to consider. WES is really friendly and a lot of clinics allow spectators so it could be worth the trip out just to watch, learn and get to know people in your area. You might then find out where they keep their horses and be able to go from there.

 

[strawberrymoon]

I will check out One Stop Western on FB, thanks TPO. I'm on the east sussex / kent border. I have been to a few shows at Bodiam - but I understand they don't do lessons anymore there. Do you know of anywhere around here which might not be advised?

My fields are actually okay - they were being used by a family previously who had two horses, and I've just repaired a few holes and fixed my gates.

Arena I am thinking about re-doing, but it is mostly sand, which (after speaking to so many different companies re: surfaces for reining) it seems that's the best compromise as even places like Andrew Bowen were unsure of what surface should be installed, saying mostly sand was the best option, with perhaps a little fibre mix added.

Maybe I will have a look at English riding lessons then.

I have been doing a stable management course - but its all books and not practical. My last practical experience was 10 years go (ish).

 

[strawberrymoon]

"must not be advertised!" not "advised!"

 

[TPO]

Thanks for all of the advice - yes I was planning to get a second pony too as a companion, just didn't think to mention that in my original post.
Yes I am a member of WES but without a horse, I'm not sure I can get involved in many of their activities?

You think livery would be the way to go then? Would it be usual to have a horse in livery and have an external trainer come to train at that yard? I wasn't sure if they would want you to use one of their instructors?

I don't know what area you are in but my WES area, although geared towards riders, welcome people on foot be it as spectators or helpers. My local WES hold "play days" where people can ride with others and practice anything they need to work on. People on foot to move poles and film are always very gratefully received and it's a good way to meet people.

I didn't have transport for a long time but I learnt more going to watch clinics/lessons/shows than if I'd been participating (because then it would just be "all about me"). Obviously still good to have lessons etc foe yourself but being g horseless doesn't mean that you can't still get involved or learn anything.

It's pretty normal to have external trainers come to a yard. To be on the safe side have a list of questions when viewing yards (easy to have a mind blank) and get assurance thst outside trainers are allowed.

As I said "normal" surfaces are rarely suitable for reining maneuvers like sliding stops and spins. So keep that in mind. Also do a bit of research into surfaces because thr wrong one, regardless sof discipline, can do a lot of damage. When viewing yards walk around the arenas and see how it feels underfoot and on your legs; is it consistent/deep/shallow/hard/damp etc

 

[Alibear]

Any use? What We Offer | Schoolmasters (southernschoolmasters.co.uk) or Tammy Greaves – Tammy Greaves Training

 

[TPO]

Geography is not a strong point of mine and maybe @Alibear can help.

From a quick Google in your area there is mention of a "West End Farm" that does western lessons.

Susie Anderson is close to you too I think? https://m.facebook.com/pages/catego...nter/Susie-anderson-training-338825799932666/

Emm, Tammy Greaves has a place "down south" too, give me 2 ticks to Google for her website. Hampshire? https://tammygreaves.co.uk/

Ah yeah stable management isn't so good if it's not hands on. Are there any local exam centres near you? It might be worth looking into the BHS stable management training/exams. They have a hands on approach along with their books.

While western is your preference if you still struggle to find a place then it might be worth considering English just to get you some hours in the saddle.

Don't know if it's of any interest but there is a UK western magazine. Its a 2 in 1 job so one half if Western Horse UK and the flip side is Horsemanship Journal. They have maps with western related businesses too and lots of online articles if you subscribe.

I also subscribe to Horse & Rider magazine from USA (not UK version!), that is quarterly, and the monthly Western Horseman magazine to get more of a western fix.

Horse and Rider (UK) and Your Horse magazines are monthly and usually have lots of horse ownership/management articles and problem pages which might help you too as learning tools.

 

[Orangehorse]

Riding is riding, style doesn't matter all that much, lots of people - and some horses - do both. Would agree totally with what everyone says.

 

[strawberrymoon]

Thank you TPO. I've not heard of West End Farm so will try to find more details.

Yes I already subscribe to the Western Horse UK / Horsemanship Journal.

Do you think passing a stable management course would be enough to have a horse at home, or I would still need the hours of horse care before I could take the leap?

Tammy is a little too far from me unfortunately. So is Southern Schoolmasters...
This was really why I was thinking it might be better to be taught at home, as I know they will travel. But if it's an option to have them travelling to a livery yard, then maybe that is the best option. I just assumed livery yards wouldn't allow you to do this as they would want you to use their instructors.

Thank you everyone for your help, I do really appreciate it!

 

[TPO]

Personally I think anyone needs a lot of practical experience and exposure before keeping a horse at home.

The easiest way to get thst is on a yard as you'll learn from others (even if it's learning what not to do!) and learn by default when there are more horses with all different management needs.

Keeping horses at home is hard work. There is so much more to it than people think. I'm fortunate to now keep my horse at my parents place, mum has been horsey her whole life and dad is a farmer son and very handy. Not much that he can't fix or doesn't know about and he likes digging things and trundling about in his wee tractor. We find it so much enter than livery BUT it is a LOT of work and it never ends! It's generally not the cheaper option either and it's a 24/7 tie.

They've only had their place for 3.5yrs and before fhst I spent decades on various yards. Another livery I knew managed to get her own place and take her horses home, 3yrs later they've sold all the horses because of all the work and cost involved thst they'd had no idea about before and the tie of having the horses in their back garden and needing to turn out/bring in every single day or pay for help to let them get a break away.

Don't get me wrong I think keeping at home is fantastic but I think in your situation you have a lot of learning and adjusting to so I'd highly recommend a good livery yard where there is a supportive and helpful YO/staff.

The problem is that you can't know what you don't know so the more exposure thst you have to horses ans horse keeping the better imo

 

[CMcC]

There is a very active WES area group in the Kent/Sussex area, although I don’t ride Western I know quite a few of that group through other things. They are very friendly and am sure could give you advice, i am sure they would welcome you at one of their events to just watch and meet people.

 

[stangs]

You mention reining, you can't work on stops, full rollbacks or spins really on an English surface but you can work on everything else.

What's the difference between English and Western surfaces / Why do you need a different surface?

(Sorry for derailing thread OP)

 

[strawberrymoon]

Depth needs to be sufficient to provide enough footing to allow the horse to run at speed without slipping but not so deep it inhibits the ability to slide in the stops. (i.e. English jumping and dressage needs a more stable surface than Western reining). The arena surface needs to be loose and able to move so harrowing and levelling is likely to be more important than rolling and watering. There should be a level, firm, packed base under the riding surface. For the top membrane - an open knit tarmac over stone is recommended.

I am yet to find anyone who can provide me with a decent western surface in the UK though - if anyone has any success with this, I'd be interested to hear who helped with your arena.

Another potentially "out there" suggestion - what about paying for a groom to come to my house to look after the horse and train me - it would probably cost less than livery - and could be personalised.... would you think that was a good idea, or you still think livery to be around the maximum number of people, is my best bet?

 

[TPO]

I am yet to find anyone who can provide me with a decent western surface in the UK though - if anyone has any success with this, I'd be interested to hear who helped with your arena.

Oakridge QH in Notts is a relatively new big reining arena. I know Lee (Rutter owner/trainer) is always really busy but might be worth contacting them via email/phone/book a lesson to get their advice and recommendations.