Relocating Back to UK - Help

[blondetraveller]

Hi!

So after living abroad for a few years and owning a horse there we are moving back to the UK. I have no horse experience in the U.K. (and coming from a tiny island things are so different) and am little worried about a few things so hoping for some advice. Thank you in advance for any answers -

1. There is livery yard in the area I am moving to that looks fantastic but doesn't have a riding school, assuming they can recommend a local coach to me, how does this person get to know my riding etc if they are to help with purchasing a horse? Also does anyone know if they get this sort of situation regularly?

2. Most horse's I have seen are sold without tack, do people normally just organise a saddle fitter in the first week or so?

3. Are prices 'set' or is it normal to barter down?

4. Rugs absolutely baffle me! How many do you tent to need?

5. I won't be looking to buy a lorry for at least 6 months how easy is it to arrange transport and does anyone have any good recommendations?

Thank you so much for any answers.

 

[Orangehorse]

Find a proper riding school and have some lessons to start with. Get to know the instructors and discuss what sort of horse you want and find out what the local horsey scene is. For example the local riding clubs, where is the best area for hacking, if this is important for you.
What are your interests? Competitions, dressage, show jumping, showing, endurance, polo, western, driving, Trec, or hacking?

You may be able to have livery at the riding school, or have to find a livery only yard. This can be full livery where they look after the horse for you and you turn up to ride, or various types of Do It Yourself yards. Some of these have some help available, e.g. turnout out/fetch in, at a price, but others do not. People have visiting instructors coming to yards, but you need to be clear about whether or not to have pay for the use of the arena if you aren't using the resident instructor (if there is one).

Horses can be sold with a full wardrobe and tack, or none at all. There are saddle fitters around in most parts of the country although saddle fitting is a bit of nightmare. Make sure the saddle fitter sees you riding the horse and doesn't just plonk on a saddle and say "that fits."

Rugs - does a horse need a rug? A native pony with a .sheltered field might not need a rug unless it is clipped. A basic rug wardrobe is a rain sheet or 2, a warmer turnout rug and possibly an even warmer one if the horse is clipped out, feels the cold or the weather is VERY cold. It is easy to over rug, just because you need a jumper doesn't mean the horse needs a rug! I also have a summer sheet, a fleece, a smart travel rug or 2 and 3 weights of stable rug. It is possible to buy second hand rugs and there are rug washing/reproofing services.

Again, there are self-drive lorry places, it depends on how close they are to be convenient. You need to be up to date with the legal aspects of lorries - stalled for 3 doesn't mean that it can legally carry three horses!