Options for your horse when going to University/studying for A Levels

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CastleMouse

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This is something that is definitely on my mind at the moment - Only a year to go until I'm sitting my Leaving Cert. (A Levels equivalent!).

I was considering to sell my horse this year as I just won't have the time after Christmas, but my Father said he will not let me sell him, and would look after him for me when I'm not at home and when I eventually go to University. Admittedly, I was on the verge of crying when he said this to me, as I love my horse to bits and I'm so glad I don't have to sell him.

I have to start thinking about my options for next year, so I would appreciate some any advice or opinions from people who have had to go through this or something similar with their own horse(s). My Father is completely unhorsey, but can still feed, give hay etc. and generally give plenty of attention to my horse and spoil him :grin: I am thinking of giving him a holiday of about 6/7 months out at grass. I don't want to put him out on loan, but as he's only 13 (14 next year), is it cruel to give him basically something like an 'early retirement' (I can't think of any other suitable word) once I go to University? After I finish my exams, I will get back in the saddle for those 2/3 months in the summer, but then he'll be put out at grass again.

Sorry for rambling on about it, I just want what's best for him :(
 
I was in this position last year except i have 2 an 8 year old tb and a 12 year old pony.

My mum and dad look after them for me while i'm at uni, in the summer obv its fine as i'm here. And late spring/early autumn its much easier as they are out 24/7.

My mum and dad muck out, bring in, feed, hay, water them in the winter in the week. As they are on part livery they don't have to turn them out in the mornings which helps alot.

But the big thing for me is i'm at uni only an hour away so i come back at weekends and ride so mine are kept ticking over all year round.

It can work but my parents have to give up alot of their time for the horses, which i do feel very guilty about and luckily coming back at weekends gives them a break.
 
I might be studying abroad either in the UK or Eastern Europe if I don't get it here, so he will probably only be ridden whenever I come back every so often :(
 
Im in the same position, I cant afford to finance my horse when Im at uni on top of everything, but I couldnt ever sell him...!
 
Luckily my girl's a part loan so there's always 2 of us to look after her :)
but I know a lot of my friends (I'm aware of how much this costs) took their horses onto a nearby yard? Don't know if this is an option for you too :)
 
Could you not take your horse with you? I did and it worked really well. It does mean that going home isn't as easy as you have to get someone to look after them during the holidays, but it also mean you have something constructive to do when all your friends are just loungeing around. In my first term at uni I shared my horse so someone else was looking after her whilst I was away but it didn't work at all because like you I am very fussy. I financed her keep by working in restaurant once a week. It was the best thing I ever did as we both came on in leaps and bounds at the new yard.
 
I put my boy out on loan, but I was very lucky to find such a fab loaner. It might be worth looking for someone now so they can get used to him with you. It depends on the horse wether they would enjoy a long holiday. My boy thrived on work and would have been miserable without it. In the end I sold him to the loaner and she still has him nearly 10 yrs on.
I would have loved to have taken him with me, but I could never hae afforded it!
 
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