Parents - Child's Horse When Child Goes to Uni? LONG!

[lme]

My eldest daughter is a 1st year @ uni. Like Mrs M, our family income is over the point where she gets any means tested assistance. We chose to pay for accommodation this year to let her settle in, but she's already told us that (with the student loan she does get & part time work) she won't need any financial help next year. She's doing a fairly tough Science degree (hours similar to Vet Science) & seems to manage a social life inc a sport with Wednesday matches & 3 x training sessions a week pretty easily. And she has bought a motor bike / pays running costs (including repairs when she pranged it). Would have thought it would not be much harder to do Vet Science with a horse. Esp as universities with Vet Science degrees seem to be geared up for students with horses. Also, if D1s horse is happy to live out in a herd, it might be possible to find somewhere with good facilities that will let her live out but still do daily care. We do this for ours & it works brilliantly.

 

[MrsMozart]

Thank you DH . Yikes! to your previous day . D1 has a twenty minute bus ride each way, so nothing like you have to do. D gives her a lift to the yard, to save time. She does two of mine (Dizz and LL) as well as looking after LC and GM, which is her work for me paying for her neds' livery (she contributes to shoes, feed, and buys her rugs, etc.). I think the plan of keeping GM at home for the first month/term is good. Let her get settled in and get into things . Glad you have your ned with you . Sounds like you have it just right for you

 

[MrsMozart]

My eldest daughter is a 1st year @ uni. Like Mrs M, our family income is over the point where she gets any means tested assistance. We chose to pay for accommodation this year to let her settle in, but she's already told us that (with the student loan she does get & part time work) she won't need any financial help next year. She's doing a fairly tough Science degree (hours similar to Vet Science) & seems to manage a social life inc a sport with Wednesday matches & 3 x training sessions a week pretty easily. And she has bought a motor bike / pays running costs (including repairs when she pranged it). Would have thought it would not be much harder to do Vet Science with a horse. Esp as universities with Vet Science degrees seem to be geared up for students with horses. Also, if D1s horse is happy to live out in a herd, it might be possible to find somewhere with good facilities that will let her live out but still do daily care. We do this for ours & it works brilliantly.

This is good to read . Thank you . More to add to the 'It's Do-able' list . D1 has a Ka, which is as cheap as chips to run (just got to pass her test now... ). GM is happy in a herd. Loves company. Happy in or out come to think of it, so long as she's given time to settle and get into it and has some constant in her life (she still whickers when she sees her old owner, and knows her car - good job she does it with D1 and our cars as well or D1 would be miffed lol ). Vrey well done to your daughter for having her act together .

 

[JenTaz]

i'm going to university in september and im taking my horse with me, a few of my friends are 1st year med/ vet med students and have their horse as well and still manage to have a social life too, if your daughters horse lives out while she is at uni, it would save her time on mucking out etc, or if she could get part/ full livery, taz will be on diy and in over night my uni course works out at 25 hours a week lectures/practicals plus a pt job and horse it will be difficult but wouldnt leave horse at home 450 miles away or sell him for anything

 

[MrsMozart]

i'm going to university in september and im taking my horse with me, a few of my friends are 1st year med/ vet med students and have their horse as well and still manage to have a social life too, if your daughters horse lives out while she is at uni, it would save her time on mucking out etc, or if she could get part/ full livery, taz will be on diy and in over night my uni course works out at 25 hours a week lectures/practicals plus a pt job and horse it will be difficult but wouldnt leave horse at home 450 miles away or sell him for anything

Thank you . D1 will happily add this to her 'It's Do-able' list as well . GM will happily live out. Just out of interest, what do your friends who are already at Uni do at the weekends and holidays? Do they take the horse home, or stay at Uni? It's the cost that might be the interesting factor, but if D1 wants this enough, she will have to show that she can put the effort into making the money, which she's already started doing, so that's good - just have to keep it up, which I don't think will be a problem for her

 

[Cocorules]

I do not have anything helpful to add. I did just want to say it is nice to see a mum figuring out how a daughter might keep her horse through uni. I had 2 ponies at that age and did not want to give them up. I ended up not going for several years then went to a local uni I managed to keep them both. The uni experience was different as a result but I do not regret that. I got to keep them both and that mattered hugely. Just wanted to say your daughter is lucky to have a mum that cares about working out how to achieve this.

 

[MurphysMinder]

My daughter finished 5 years at vet uni last year. We kept the horse (plus 2 other retired ponies and a donkey) but I am in the enviable position of having them at home, and if this had not been the case I am not sure how we would have managed.
Vet med is very tough, I don't think there is a hope in hell my daughter could have managed Murph at uni,unless he had been on full livery which we couldn't have afforded. It was 9 - 5 lectures and then several hours work on top in the evenings so very little spare time to ride. For the first 2 years Murph was on working livery at an equine college which worked out well as he was kept fit and when daughter did have a free weekend she was able to ride and even compete him. It went a bit pear shaped at the college and he came back home and I seriously struggled to keep him fit, did have a couple of teenagers riding and competing him but they didn't really put the time in he needed.
If he had been at livery I wouldn't have been able to look after him so not sure what we would have done, luckily we didn't have to face that.
Someone mentioned vet universities being geared up to people with horses. I don't know about all unis but certainly for Liverpool and London the first 2 years are spent in city centre not out at vet hospitals, so local livery would not be easy to find and no doubt ridiculously expensive.

Should also add that vet universities tend to not encourage their students to have part time jobs , and holiday work isn't really an option after first couple of years as they have EMS placements to fit in during the holidays.

 

[Murphy88]

As far as taking a horse with you, it is possible, but she needs to think hard about what she wants from her uni experience. None of my friends had horses with them for the first 3 years, they all waited until 4th year when we moved out to Leahurst.

A few points that have been touched upon so far:

Jobs - we were actively discouraged from getting a part time job, we were told that in uni's opinion a job interferes with your study and you get no sympathy if you fail because you have been working. A couple of my friends were forced into part-time work because of finances, and it was a real struggle.

Holidays - don't exist in first year really - Easter is lambing (often involves living away), summer is a further 10 weeks of placement, so thats 3 free weeks at christmas, 4 or 5 weeks at summer.

Lifestyle - for me, part of the fun of uni was spending my evenings lounging in front of tv with my new friends, I think having a horse would have hindered me getting to know people in halls, which given these were the people I moved in with in 2nd year, would have been a problem! I was one of the tamer vet students and I was probably out partying 4 out of 5 weeknights for the first term, its hard enough getting up for 9am lectures with a hangover, let alone getting up to do a horse first. I came home every other weekend in first year and was still competing, and even with that I often felt like I was missing out, my hallsmates would always have some fun plan for the weekend, plus it meant I never got a chance to relax and do nothing.

In short, it is possible, but you need to be prepared to balance everything. For me, I was a bit too lazy and enjoyed the uni lifestyle too much to have my horse with me, but I was lucky enough to be able to keep my horse at home in the field, maybe it would have been different if I had had to sell.

 

[xp0u4076]

I managed my 5 years at uni with a horse only thanks to huge input from my mum. First 3 years at liverpool are in the city so I left him at home (40mins drive) so could drive home at wkends during spring and summer - winter he lived out. 4/5th year he came over to the Wirral with me; lots of yards in the area from diy to full livery. I even ended up with a 2nd horse in 5th year. Yes it's hard work getting up an hour or 2 before everyone else and being home later but for me it was worth it and quite a welcome escape at times! I took the horses home again during summer holidays.
You will probably find that there are many ppl in the same situation; I would say that 90% of the girls in my year either owned horses or were fairly competent riders.
I was lucky that one of my housemates brought her horse to uni aswell so the daily trawl to the yard was a little more sociable.
I definitely missed out in things during uni but you have to decide whether it's a compromise you're willing to make. If I had my time again I'd do exactly the same..

 

[rockysmum]

Cant help with managing a horse at uni but if you are keeping the horse at home you could end up in my situation.

I gave my daughter a choice of staying at home and attending local uni or going away and selling horses, I couldn't manage on my own or afford livery at uni. At the time she chose to stay at home, it didn't really matter as her course was available locally.

She has now finished uni, got a job and lost interest in horses altogether. So I am now stuck with three, exactly what I said I couldn't manage.

I'm now too fond of them to part with her two.

With hindsight I should have got rid of at least one of them.

My only advice is whatever you plan, factor in you could end up with the lot on your own.

 

[MurphysMinder]

Good to see you appreciate your mum's input xp0u4076, I'm sure Murphy88 does too even though she hasn't said so. Another thing to bear in mind MrsM is that once qualified there is always the possibility they will p*** off to various parts of the world and you are still left to look after the horses

 

[noblesteed]

Yes that is another factor - most people after finishing Uni don't return home. I didn't and neither did most of my friends. Generally the circle of 'school' friends that I grew up with are spread from one end of the country to the other due to relocations for work and partners! You have to go where the jobs are and as graduate jobs are tricky to get she could end up anywhere. The other thing is boyfriends! If at Uni she meets a man from a long way away from you she may end up relocating to be with him. My friend's daughter finished uni last year and then moved to live with her boyfriend and got a job near him. Daughter's horse is still with my friend - and too old to sell. Factor in also that graduate vet salaries are very low and there is lots of other training to do once qualified, she might not be able to afford/have time to keep the horse anyway.
So sorry to say but going to Uni really does mean flying the nest.

 

[HayleyandBob]

Hey,
Im at one of the vet schools (studying animal science though), I keep Bob at the student yard and all of the vets have no problems looking after their horses on DIY and all agree that its definitely worth having a horse with you! I know alot of people who didnt bring horses with them really do miss being around horses and most go home alot to ride! There is always a queue of vets willing to help out aswell as they need the handling practice
The vets in 4th year and above do have to move their horse around quite abit to fit in with rotations but seem to manage ok!
I had a gap year working every hour I could so I could afford to take pony with me and its the best thing I ever did
Hope that helps
x

 

[MrsMozart]

My daughter finished 5 years at vet uni last year. We kept the horse (plus 2 other retired ponies and a donkey) but I am in the enviable position of having them at home, and if this had not been the case I am not sure how we would have managed.
Vet med is very tough, I don't think there is a hope in hell my daughter could have managed Murph at uni,unless he had been on full livery which we couldn't have afforded. It was 9 - 5 lectures and then several hours work on top in the evenings so very little spare time to ride. For the first 2 years Murph was on working livery at an equine college which worked out well as he was kept fit and when daughter did have a free weekend she was able to ride and even compete him. It went a bit pear shaped at the college and he came back home and I seriously struggled to keep him fit, did have a couple of teenagers riding and competing him but they didn't really put the time in he needed.
If he had been at livery I wouldn't have been able to look after him so not sure what we would have done, luckily we didn't have to face that.
Someone mentioned vet universities being geared up to people with horses. I don't know about all unis but certainly for Liverpool and London the first 2 years are spent in city centre not out at vet hospitals, so local livery would not be easy to find and no doubt ridiculously expensive.

Should also add that vet universities tend to not encourage their students to have part time jobs , and holiday work isn't really an option after first couple of years as they have EMS placements to fit in during the holidays.

Thank you Good point re inner city.

As far as taking a horse with you, it is possible, but she needs to think hard about what she wants from her uni experience. None of my friends had horses with them for the first 3 years, they all waited until 4th year when we moved out to Leahurst.

A few points that have been touched upon so far:

Jobs - we were actively discouraged from getting a part time job, we were told that in uni's opinion a job interferes with your study and you get no sympathy if you fail because you have been working. A couple of my friends were forced into part-time work because of finances, and it was a real struggle.

Holidays - don't exist in first year really - Easter is lambing (often involves living away), summer is a further 10 weeks of placement, so thats 3 free weeks at christmas, 4 or 5 weeks at summer.

Lifestyle - for me, part of the fun of uni was spending my evenings lounging in front of tv with my new friends, I think having a horse would have hindered me getting to know people in halls, which given these were the people I moved in with in 2nd year, would have been a problem! I was one of the tamer vet students and I was probably out partying 4 out of 5 weeknights for the first term, its hard enough getting up for 9am lectures with a hangover, let alone getting up to do a horse first. I came home every other weekend in first year and was still competing, and even with that I often felt like I was missing out, my hallsmates would always have some fun plan for the weekend, plus it meant I never got a chance to relax and do nothing.

In short, it is possible, but you need to be prepared to balance everything. For me, I was a bit too lazy and enjoyed the uni lifestyle too much to have my horse with me, but I was lucky enough to be able to keep my horse at home in the field, maybe it would have been different if I had had to sell.

Aye. i think balancing is going to be the interesting one. plus the holidays. D1 says that she wants to give it a go . Obviously this means that we'll need tot be geared up for it not working out.

I do not have anything helpful to add. I did just want to say it is nice to see a mum figuring out how a daughter might keep her horse through uni. I had 2 ponies at that age and did not want to give them up. I ended up not going for several years then went to a local uni I managed to keep them both. The uni experience was different as a result but I do not regret that. I got to keep them both and that mattered hugely. Just wanted to say your daughter is lucky to have a mum that cares about working out how to achieve this.

Ta m'duck . It's the joys of being a parent lol. Sounds like your Ma did a good job with you


sorry if answers a bit short and punctuation gone to pot - I'm using a new keyboard on the iPad and it's taking some getting used to lol

 

[MrsMozart]

As far as taking a horse with you, it is possible, but she needs to think hard about what she wants from her uni experience. None of my friends had horses with them for the first 3 years, they all waited until 4th year when we moved out to Leahurst.

A few points that have been touched upon so far:

Jobs - we were actively discouraged from getting a part time job, we were told that in uni's opinion a job interferes with your study and you get no sympathy if you fail because you have been working. A couple of my friends were forced into part-time work because of finances, and it was a real struggle.

Holidays - don't exist in first year really - Easter is lambing (often involves living away), summer is a further 10 weeks of placement, so thats 3 free weeks at christmas, 4 or 5 weeks at http://www.cips.org/en-GB/

Lifestyle - for me, part of the fun of uni was spending my evenings lounging in front of tv with my new friends, I think having a horse would have hindered me getting to know people in halls, which given these were the people I moved in with in 2nd year, would have been a problem! I was one of the tamer vet students and I was probably out partying 4 out of 5 weeknights for the first term, its hard enough getting up for 9am lectures with a hangover, let alone getting up to do a horse first. I came home every other weekend in first year and was still competing, and even with that I often felt like I was missing out, my hallsmates would always have some fun plan for the weekend, plus it meant I never got a chance to relax and do nothing.

In short, it is possible, but you need to be prepared to balance everything. For me, I was a bit too lazy and enjoyed the uni lifestyle too much to have my horse with me, but I was lucky enough to be able to keep my horse at home in the field, maybe it would have been different if I had had to sell.

Good point about time off and holidays, ta . I thnk she,s learning how to be organized with her work and time. We've been helping/guiding as she already has a pretty packed life and its the only way to fit it all in

I managed my 5 years at uni with a horse only thanks to huge input from my mum. First 3 years at liverpool are in the city so I left him at home (40mins drive) so could drive home at wkends during spring and summer - winter he lived out. 4/5th year he came over to the Wirral with me; lots of yards in the area from diy to full livery. I even ended up with a 2nd horse in 5th year. Yes it's hard work getting up an hour or 2 before everyone else and being home later but for me it was worth it and quite a welcome escape at times! I took the horses home again during summer holidays.
You will probably find that there are many ppl in the same situation; I would say that 90% of the girls in my year either owned horses or were fairly competent riders.
I was lucky that one of my housemates brought her horse to uni aswell so the daily trawl to the yard was a little more sociable.
I definitely missed out in things during uni but you have to decide whether it's a compromise you're willing to make. If I had my time again I'd do exactly the same..

Thank you . This helps a lot . D1 hates early mornings, but can do them okay, so that should be okay . She says it's what she wants, so we'll work on that basis for now

 

[MrsMozart]

Cant help with managing a horse at uni but if you are keeping the horse at home you could end up in my situation.

I gave my daughter a choice of staying at home and attending local uni or going away and selling horses, I couldn't manage on my own or afford livery at uni. At the time she chose to stay at home, it didn't really matter as her course was available locally.

She has now finished uni, got a job and lost interest in horses altogether. So I am now stuck with three, exactly what I said I couldn't manage.

I'm now too fond of them to part with her two.

With hindsight I should have got rid of at least one of them.

My only advice is whatever you plan, factor in you could end up with the lot on your own.

That's a bobber . I think we've always known that the neds would be with us. Given that LL can't go anywhere and now LC, another one in the field (which hopefully GM'll be happy to do by then!), probably won't be a problem.

Good to see you appreciate your mum's input xp0u4076, I'm sure Murphy88 does too even though she hasn't said so. Another thing to bear in mind MrsM is that once qualified there is always the possibility they will p*** off to various parts of the world and you are still left to look after the horses

Aye! As we bought the neds, we'll have to look afer them . It's a good job we love the blighters

 

[MrsMozart]

Yes that is another factor - most people after finishing Uni don't return home. I didn't and neither did most of my friends. Generally the circle of 'school' friends that I grew up with are spread from one end of the country to the other due to relocations for work and partners! You have to go where the jobs are and as graduate jobs are tricky to get she could end up anywhere. The other thing is boyfriends! If at Uni she meets a man from a long way away from you she may end up relocating to be with him. My friend's daughter finished uni last year and then moved to live with her boyfriend and got a job near him. Daughter's horse is still with my friend - and too old to sell. Factor in also that graduate vet salaries are very low and there is lots of other training to do once qualified, she might not be able to afford/have time to keep the horse anyway.
So sorry to say but going to Uni really does mean flying the nest.

Yup. Fully expect that once started, D1 will be gone. Trying not to think about it. Ho hum. That's life for a parent I guess . We'll be taking care of the neds

Hey,
Im at one of the vet schools (studying animal science though), I keep Bob at the student yard and all of the vets have no problems looking after their horses on DIY and all agree that its definitely worth having a horse with you! I know alot of people who didnt bring horses with them really do miss being around horses and most go home alot to ride! There is always a queue of vets willing to help out aswell as they need the handling practice
The vets in 4th year and above do have to move their horse around quite abit to fit in with rotations but seem to manage ok!
I had a gap year working every hour I could so I could afford to take pony with me and its the best thing I ever did
Hope that helps
x

Thank you . I think D1 will want to take GM. Who knows though what the future holds. At least we know taking GM is do-able . Thank you

 

[Kellys Heroes]

We actually had a conversation about this the other day between me and my best friend at uni - we've both had horses since a youngish age and have felt that being armed with the skills to juggle horses/friends/homework/family has really helped us along at uni - we both do Bioveterinary Science on a rural campus and do on average 9-12 hours a week. We were actively discouraged from getting a job - now in my 3rd year I find it hard to find an hour spare to watch a film, let alone anything else!! (and I am NOT a party animal!!) Z decided between horses and university - she is at a high level in the showing world (regularly competes at RIHS, HOYS and the like) and decided to take a step back from competing to get the full university experience with the mindset she could come back to horses quite easily.

I think it would have been a struggle to keep a horse there and get all the experiences both life/academic/social that I have done; I'm very lucky in the way that I started sharing at 12 y/o and I am still sharing with the same lady who is willing to let me come home and carry on from where I left more or less with Kelly I think I have the best of both worlds! My parents wouldn't let me get a horse for this reason, they knew I was planning on uni and knew they wouldn't be able to look after a horse - they have been non-horsey for a number of years now!

At my uni, I think horses have to be mucked out and in the field by 9am and brought in by about 1 or 2 and ridden in the evening and bedded down by 7.30 or something similar. I know the facilities are quite difficult to use also due to PC etc using the school (and I think it's very expensive - compared to home anyhow). I think someone also mentioned about the accommodation being inner city too. Also to consider is the potential year of placement? D1 won't be at uni or home then.

On the positive side...as said, there will be plenty of horseless students willing to help D1 out - would it work getting a fellow student to work with GM on the ground, doing jobs 2-3 times a week or something whilst at university? The first few weeks whilst everyone settles in and makes friends etc will be hard though so would D1 consider not taking GM until her 2nd semester?

I hope you can work things out! It's a very difficult one.
K x

 

[MrsMozart]

We actually had a conversation about this the other day between me and my best friend at uni - we've both had horses since a youngish age and have felt that being armed with the skills to juggle horses/friends/homework/family has really helped us along at uni - we both do Bioveterinary Science on a rural campus and do on average 9-12 hours a week. We were actively discouraged from getting a job - now in my 3rd year I find it hard to find an hour spare to watch a film, let alone anything else!! (and I am NOT a party animal!!) Z decided between horses and university - she is at a high level in the showing world (regularly competes at RIHS, HOYS and the like) and decided to take a step back from competing to get the full university experience with the mindset she could come back to horses quite easily.

I think it would have been a struggle to keep a horse there and get all the experiences both life/academic/social that I have done; I'm very lucky in the way that I started sharing at 12 y/o and I am still sharing with the same lady who is willing to let me come home and carry on from where I left more or less with Kelly I think I have the best of both worlds! My parents wouldn't let me get a horse for this reason, they knew I was planning on uni and knew they wouldn't be able to look after a horse - they have been non-horsey for a number of years now!

At my uni, I think horses have to be mucked out and in the field by 9am and brought in by about 1 or 2 and ridden in the evening and bedded down by 7.30 or something similar. I know the facilities are quite difficult to use also due to PC etc using the school (and I think it's very expensive - compared to home anyhow). I think someone also mentioned about the accommodation being inner city too. Also to consider is the potential year of placement? D1 won't be at uni or home then.

On the positive side...as said, there will be plenty of horseless students willing to help D1 out - would it work getting a fellow student to work with GM on the ground, doing jobs 2-3 times a week or something whilst at university? The first few weeks whilst everyone settles in and makes friends etc will be hard though so would D1 consider not taking GM until her 2nd semester?

I hope you can work things out! It's a very difficult one.
K x

Ta hunny. So much to consider . From my point of view, it would be better if D1 left GM behind for the first semester, give her chance to settle in.

 

[maggie123]

Providing its her first degree your daughter should get a student loan, regardless of your income. You simply choose the non income assessed one. Her school should tell her!!! She will also get a fees loan. PLEASE don't think you need to pay this to 'save her from debt', uni debt is really affordable. Its a low interest rate, paid back only after earning 21k and then only as a percentage. I owe about 21k for uni and am on the old re-payment system (graduated 09) meaning I pay 9% of everything I earn over 15k, this is currently about £120 a month which I never see as its taken directly by my employer. Can't miss what you never had right?

I took my horse to uni and kept her on part livery with a sharer. I went to uni in a much cheaper part of the country to the one I grew up in and my livery bill and rent was less than my livery bill alone at home. I was very lucky my parents paid for my horse, but could have found the money from a part time job if necessary. Where does your daughter want to study? If its in London then keeping a horse in the home counties is really expensive (I should know!) but if she wants to go up north it might be a lot more affordable. Do look into a sharer, it certainly worked for me. I left my mare with my sharer over summer as I worked full time back in London during holidays, she used to send me lovely emails telling me about what they got up to

 

[wattamus]

Not trying to be patronising, but are you sure she won't get a maintenance loan? I've got one and my parents combined take in over £80k a year (and they don't have two pennies to rub together ) I also should mention i live at home I would have thought that it is very unlikely that she won't get a maintenance loan, I had the same argument with my mum the year before i went she insisted that I wouldn't get one but i did. I would definitely make sure of that one. As to horses, mine is off work permenantly and was since this time last year. However I'm doing a 9hr a week course, throw in an hour commute each way four days a week, come home muck out the horse,12hr a week part time job and time for my boyfriend (who luckily lives with me) I honestly have no social life apart from the hour day that I'm at the yard and even then it's unlikely I'll see anyone. I do think your daughter will struggle to cope with a horse to take care of and keep fit. But don't let it dishearten you! it can be done! xx

 

[MrsMozart]

Providing its her first degree your daughter should get a student loan, regardless of your income. You simply choose the non income assessed one. Her school should tell her!!! She will also get a fees loan. PLEASE don't think you need to pay this to 'save her from debt', uni debt is really affordable. Its a low interest rate, paid back only after earning 21k and then only as a percentage. I owe about 21k for uni and am on the old re-payment system (graduated 09) meaning I pay 9% of everything I earn over 15k, this is currently about £120 a month which I never see as its taken directly by my employer. Can't miss what you never had right?

I took my horse to uni and kept her on part livery with a sharer. I went to uni in a much cheaper part of the country to the one I grew up in and my livery bill and rent was less than my livery bill alone at home. I was very lucky my parents paid for my horse, but could have found the money from a part time job if necessary. Where does your daughter want to study? If its in London then keeping a horse in the home counties is really expensive (I should know!) but if she wants to go up north it might be a lot more affordable. Do look into a sharer, it certainly worked for me. I left my mare with my sharer over summer as I worked full time back in London during holidays, she used to send me lovely emails telling me about what they got up to

Thank you . No wish to 'save her from debt' - she wants to be a vet, so we are more than happy for her to pay if she can . She likes Liverpool from the vet schools she's seen so far, though would be happy at any of them . If she were able to get a maintenance loan, it would free up our money to help with livery for GM and a part-time groom for our other neds.

Not trying to be patronising, but are you sure she won't get a maintenance loan? I've got one and my parents combined take in over £80k a year (and they don't have two pennies to rub together ) I also should mention i live at home I would have thought that it is very unlikely that she won't get a maintenance loan, I had the same argument with my mum the year before i went she insisted that I wouldn't get one but i did. I would definitely make sure of that one. As to horses, mine is off work permenantly and was since this time last year. However I'm doing a 9hr a week course, throw in an hour commute each way four days a week, come home muck out the horse,12hr a week part time job and time for my boyfriend (who luckily lives with me) I honestly have no social life apart from the hour day that I'm at the yard and even then it's unlikely I'll see anyone. I do think your daughter will struggle to cope with a horse to take care of and keep fit. But don't let it dishearten you! it can be done! xx

Thank you . All for her being able to get a loan . Will happily look into it again . The debt she will come out with will be pretty horrible - £9k per year (so £45k for fees) and £500 per month for rent and food (£30k). So for five years the rough total stands at £75k. It would be nice to help out a bit where we can

 

[Lolo]

I think everyone gets the maintenance loan unless they decline it (several friends have done this, as their parents can pay for their stuff entirely- cheap compared to school fees I think!). Once your income is over £35k you don't get any more than the bog standard £3k though.