Sensible Budget for First Horse

[SaddlePsych'D]

I'm window shopping again, to cheer myself up after falling off today.

Looking through the ads I'm struggling to get a sense of a sensible budget for a first horse. I have around £5k left to me from losing my dad earlier this year - more and more I think I would like to put this towards a horse rather than something sensible. My best guess is somewhere between this and £10k but that's quite a range! I don't think I need something with proven competitive record or particular breeding, the main thing is a temperament that's going to be reasonably forgiving of a novice owner/help me build my confidence and soundness. I'd like to make a saving goal for the new year to work towards and maybe later next year actually start looking

 

[The Xmas Furry]

Have a look at Kilnhanger to get your eye in, Lyn is a small but very straight dealer, not too far from you. Her prices are pretty fair, she also will help with horse searching if needed too. V happy to recco.

 

[Roxylola]

If you're prepared to compromise on something older, maybe something a bit stiff or without flashy moves you'll find there are good horses for reasonable money. Prices are high for potential but less so for something needing a quiet life, I'd aim to have around 7500 to play with

 

[SaddlePsych'D]

Have a look at Kilnhanger to get your eye in, Lyn is a small but very straight dealer, not too far from you. Her prices are pretty fair, she also will help with horse searching if needed too. V happy to recco.

Thank you, I have heard of her - good to have recommendations. I will keep in mind once I've got my budget clear and I'm ready to take the plunge!

 

[SaddlePsych'D]

If you're prepared to compromise on something older, maybe something a bit stiff or without flashy moves you'll find there are good horses for reasonable money. Prices are high for potential but less so for something needing a quiet life, I'd aim to have around 7500 to play with

Would definitely consider older and I'm definitely not good enough a rider for anything flashy. I quite enjoy having lessons (usually flat but very occasionally over teeny tiny jumps) and hacking so if I can do those things I'll be more than happy. If I can get to do some extra bits like low level dressage, polework clinics or fun rides too then bonus.

 

[SusieT]

What I would say is budget sensibly for what this horse will cost you over the next ten years?
And also consider if the horse went lame the day/month/year after you got it would you be happy this is what you spent the money on?

 

[shamrock2021]

I was lucky to have to get my first horse for £2500 . I didn’t have a big budget I couldn’t go over £3000 . I was lucky to find a amazing horse that is perfect in every way. Unfortunately I now people won’t agree with me on this fourm . I do think good cheap horses are out there . I generally don’t think you need a massive budget to buy a good first horse. I now plenty of people who bought first horses for cheap and they are completely safe.

 

[shortstuff99]

You could easily get a nice cob for that budget, especially if you go slightly older. Good luck

 

[mossycup]

5-7.5k for a nice all round horse that is a nice person to be around. Remember you'll need budget for vetting/transport/possible strangles testing depending on your chosen yards policy/tack and rugs on top of the purchase price

 

[noradavies]

I was lucky to have to get my first horse for £2500 . I didn’t have a big budget I couldn’t go over £3000 . I was lucky to find a amazing horse that is perfect in every way. Unfortunately I now people won’t agree with me on this fourm . I do think good cheap horses are out there . I generally don’t think you need a massive budget to buy a good first horse. I now plenty of people who bought first horses for cheap and they are completely safe.

Exactly! My horse was bought for €3000 and she is absolutely amazing!

 

[milliepops]

Well all my horses were under a fiver ? but you increase the risk of taking on a problem with a cheap horse, the OP is wise to allocate a good budget for a first horse in order to give herself plenty of choice to find a great match. Horse ownership is stressful enough, if you're able to shop around then you have a better chance of finding a lovely horsey partner who knows the job and makes the experience more enjoyable

 

[Rumtytum]

Ref. falling off - ouch! No advice regarding budgets sorry, just wanted to say one of my must haves if I was buying would be a horse who loves being groomed and massaged because I enjoy it as much as riding ?. Good luck!

 

[SaddlePsych'D]

Well all my horses were under a fiver ? but you increase the risk of taking on a problem with a cheap horse, the OP is wise to allocate a good budget for a first horse in order to give herself plenty of choice to find a great match. Horse ownership is stressful enough, if you're able to shop around then you have a better chance of finding a lovely horsey partner who knows the job and makes the experience more enjoyable

I expect there are some good deals out there, particularly for people with the experience/skills/resources to take on potential extra risk if things don't go to plan. For me I tend to think of 'cheap horse' as a bit of an oxymoron so want to budget accordingly

I know spending more is obviously no guarantee but, although I'm not looking for a competition horse, the sort of horse I want I suspect is the sort that would be desirable to lots of people who ride for fun - so doesn't necessarily make sense that they'd be sold off cheaply (if I ever get my hands on one I don't think I'd want to let it go!)

What I would say is budget sensibly for what this horse will cost you over the next ten years?
And also consider if the horse went lame the day/month/year after you got it would you be happy this is what you spent the money on?

This is a good point, I need to consider the ongoing costs and factor in some kind of buffer in case of things insurance wouldn't cover. I think there's a thread on here somewhere of people sharing their monthly outgoings which I need to look up again. With my current job (and then when I am qualified stepping up another banding) I think it's very much do-able.

I'm in no rush to spend the money or to buy a horse. Of course there is no promise it would all go smoothly but then if there's anything this year and losing my dad in quite the way I did have taught me it's that nothing is guaranteed, we can just try to make the best choices we can as we go along. My dad got back into riding motorbikes before he died. He took out a loan to cover it, of course that could have gone wrong but he made the absolute most of it and was living more than he had been in years.

 

[doodle]

What I did between horses was put what I would pay per month to keep them, away. So I could work out if I could afford to keep the horse and increased my budget at the same time.

Robin was £3500. 8yo 16.2hh. Done a bit of everything inc BE and a “nice” boy

Soli was £2400. 5yo ex racer. Out of training for 6months and had had some retraining although I still treated him as a just backed 4yo when got home.

Tom £1600. 5yo 16.2 ISH green as grass and not keen to learn anything!

Minto £2600. Was a long time ago. Was basically unridable and I had spent a year working with him to get him to allow me to get on. Very well bred. I paid too much but I would have paid 10x that to get him!

Abbey £1!!

 

[SaddlePsych'D]

What I did between horses was put what I would pay per month to keep them, away. So I could work out if I could afford to keep the horse and increased my budget at the same time.

Ooh this is good! I like this idea a lot.

 

[mini_b]

Well all my horses were under a fiver ? but you increase the risk of taking on a problem with a cheap horse, the OP is wise to allocate a good budget for a first horse in order to give herself plenty of choice to find a great match. Horse ownership is stressful enough, if you're able to shop around then you have a better chance of finding a lovely horsey partner who knows the job and makes the experience more enjoyable

MP All your horses were pence but you don’t give yourself credit at all for the standard of your riding. If you are a good rider you can often make a cheap problem come good! ?

There’s a lot of very average riders (me) out there and if I was buying again I’d be spending £5-7k for something suitable for RC, hacking, all unaff activities, possibly BD. I am not interested in cob types and prefer big horses so that would put me to pricier end of market, I’ve stopped window shopping so perhaps out of touch.

mine was given to me...What he was then worth in COVID prices I have spent that on lessons & training before he decked me into 2030.

 

[milliepops]

Well im a way that was my point. If you want to spend pennies then you have to be experienced not just in dealing with awkward steeds but also in dealing with the disappointment that a difficult spell brings. SPD doesn't need to deal with that at the start of her horse owning life.

A well established kind lovely horse will be a lot more enjoyable, and yeah that's what everyone wants so will command a stronger price. But a first horse is really one example of where it's a false economy to try and get a cheap one.

 

[smolmaus]

What I did between horses was put what I would pay per month to keep them, away. So I could work out if I could afford to keep the horse and increased my budget at the same time.

This is what I'm doing as well, I think I read it on here before. Possibly from yourself!

Window shopping is just a bit overwhelming as a first time buyer. Especially this year I think, very hard to get a grip on what "normal" is, even with the advice on here saying nothing is normal in 2020! And it seems like every horse for sale on the island of Ireland is 4 years old, 12hh or £12k.

 

[Wishfilly]

I think £4-5k is probably reasonable for the horse itself, but you'll potentially need a bit on top of that for tack/rugs/start up costs and vetting/transport. I'd consider £6-7k all in for all your start up costs- bearing in mind you might need to cover the cost of a failed vetting and maybe some overnight stays for viewings depending on how much is available locally.

If you're willing to go for something a bit smaller/older, you might be able to knock about £1k off the purchase price, and who knows what horse prices will do next year!

Have you thought about loaning, at all?

 

[SaddlePsych'D]

I think £4-5k is probably reasonable for the horse itself, but you'll potentially need a bit on top of that for tack/rugs/start up costs and vetting/transport. I'd consider £6-7k all in for all your start up costs- bearing in mind you might need to cover the cost of a failed vetting and maybe some overnight stays for viewings depending on how much is available locally.

If you're willing to go for something a bit smaller/older, you might be able to knock about £1k off the purchase price, and who knows what horse prices will do next year!

Have you thought about loaning, at all?

I have thought about loaning as it seemed like a good step from sharing but I'm not sure where to find a suitable full loan - the ones I have seen tend to be wanting competitive or experienced riders, I wasn't sure if the type of horse I'd like is the sort people would put out on loan and if they did whether they advertise or go by word of mouth.

 

[Wishfilly]

I have thought about loaning as it seemed like a good step from sharing but I'm not sure where to find a suitable full loan - the ones I have seen tend to be wanting competitive or experienced riders, I wasn't sure if the type of horse I'd like is the sort people would put out on loan and if they did whether they advertise or go by word of mouth.

They will probably go by word of mouth, but it's often possible to find an e.g. older sensible horse who wants to step down a gear, but still has plenty to give.

It might be worth keeping an ear out, whilst you save? Although of course, if you take a horse on loan, you might be less able to save for one of your own.

 

[SaddlePsych'D]

They will probably go by word of mouth, but it's often possible to find an e.g. older sensible horse who wants to step down a gear, but still has plenty to give.

It might be worth keeping an ear out, whilst you save? Although of course, if you take a horse on loan, you might be less able to save for one of your own.

I'm keeping it in mind as agree it could definitely be a good option if something suitable comes up. An older horse needing a slower pace would be ideal for me I think.

I've made a start on @Kamikaze idea to put aside rough cost of keep each month to add to the purchase budget and be sure that I can afford the ongoing costs

 

[Cloball]

Think I'm in a similar position to you OP having a slightly fragile confidence if you don't mind me saying. I'm doing as Kamikaze suggests and putting the money away each month which is helping my worries about money too. I'm looking at natives that are not in the showing market, something sound and sensible but not flashy.

Just need to find myself someone nearby who's braver than me to help me try ponies when we're allowed to travel again. Don't want to knock my confidence too much in the process.

 

[doodle]

Glad I have helped ?

 

[SaddlePsych'D]

Think I'm in a similar position to you OP having a slightly fragile confidence if you don't mind me saying. I'm doing as Kamikaze suggests and putting the money away each month which is helping my worries about money too. I'm looking at natives that are not in the showing market, something sound and sensible but not flashy.

Just need to find myself someone nearby who's braver than me to help me try ponies when we're allowed to travel again. Don't want to knock my confidence too much in the process.

Yes I think it's fair to say I'm not particularly confident! I've not thought quite as far ahead as the trying/viewing bit but hope one of my instructors would be able to help.

 

[Wishfilly]

I'm keeping it in mind as agree it could definitely be a good option if something suitable comes up. An older horse needing a slower pace would be ideal for me I think.

I've made a start on @Kamikaze idea to put aside rough cost of keep each month to add to the purchase budget and be sure that I can afford the ongoing costs

Good luck!

I'd definitely put some feelers out with people at your yard/your farrier/your instructor etc, as you never know what might come up!

 

[Cloball]

Yes I think it's fair to say I'm not particularly confident! I've not thought quite as far ahead as the trying/viewing bit but hope one of my instructors would be able to help.

I'm sure they will. I hope you didn't think I was being mean.

 

[SaddlePsych'D]

I'm sure they will. I hope you didn't think I was being mean.

Not at all

 

[SaddlePsych'D]

Not sure if this is okay to post this sort of thing but just wondering if I'm (hypothetically) looking in the right sort of ball park with something like this: https://www.horsemart.co.uk/15-2hh-8yrs-irish-sports-horse-mare/Horses/617362#

It's interesting the more you look at the ads the more questions you have about what you're looking for, when then time comes I'm not sure where to start! The one I've posted is towards the younger end of the scale but I do think the older 'been there and done it' type appeals to me for sure. The idea of going through with buying at some stage later this year is equal parts exciting and terrifying.
There was another horsey shopping thread and I noticed an ad I'd looked at suggesting, slightly worrying how much background info a poster had about the horse's real story - seems ads can be very deceptive!

 

[milliepops]

Definitely looks like the right sort ? have fun browsing