Stable or horse?

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Carkst

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This may seem stupid question but I'm looking for a first horse and after weeks of viewings, one deposit paid and a failed vetting I have lost the stable we had secured for any potential horse. I have rang around few yards but they won't entertain me until I have horse. Getting fed up as now worried I finally find a horse but then don't have a stable. Also I can't afford to hold stable indefinitely and I'm giving up hope. What would you suggest horse or stable first?
 
Stable. I don't understand how you can't afford to pay for the stable indefinitely as shouldn't be more than normal livery?
 
If you are getting a horse you should be able to afford the stable indefinitely. I assume you rather meant you don't want to pay for a stable that is not being put to use, which is fair enough. I would not do that either :)

I think if you are on the hunt for a horse, you should try to wait until you find one you like and after first visit try like a demon to get a stable to hold for a fornight say so you can try horse and have it vetted.
 
Thanks for replies. And yes I did mean paying for a stable I am not using as I would not consider buying a horse if I couldn't pay livery. Plus livery yards aren't keen to keep stable free when they have waiting lists. I realise horses are expensive but naively hadn't realised how much I would lose on travel costs, failed vettings and paying for an unused stable which I have now lost. I won't give up looking and hopefully will find both horse and good livery yard soon.
 
It might be worth asking at the livery yards if there are any horses coming up for sale (some people do feel the pinch in winter) - that way, if you found a suitable one, it would already have a stable assigned plus you could find out more about its history than a horse from elsewhere. Many good ones go by word of mouth and don't come on to the open market.
Also, it pays to put your area on your post as sometimes people know of somewhere that might be taking liveries in the future but that don't advertise (e.g. my landlady only has 1-2 at a time and it is always by word of mouth).
 
It is such a balancing act! Finding horse and stable together tends - in my view anyway - to be a bit of a miracle! But it all comes down to how easy it is to find livery of some form that is also suitable for you. The more requirements you have for your yard the harder it is going to be to find and the more you are going to have to budget to hold a stable. (Nothing wrong with requirements by the way!)

Sadly lost travel costs and failed vettings are part of the process. You can reduce the risk a little with experience - but never eliminate it!
 
Why not consider taking on a rescue horse. there are so many good ones looking for there forever homes ! I have taken on 2 lately, 1 is a 5 year old native cob, who is so quiet and gentle, and who my daughter would not swap for the world. the other is a 14year old x 3 day eventer, still with plenty of omff and go left in him. If you let centres know what you want, they are all too willing to accomodate you, because it is in there interest to find the right homes for them as they know if they get it wronge they will be having to take them back, i have found it so much better than buying private, and so rewarding, and i have the 2 horses most perfect i could hope for !!!!!!!!
and my advice would be find the horse first. a genuine seller, or centre will hold them for you if there is no stable immediatly available.
 
msc said:
Why not consider taking on a rescue horse. there are so many good ones looking for there forever homes ! I have taken on 2 lately, 1 is a 5 year old native cob, who is so quiet and gentle, and who my daughter would not swap for the world. the other is a 14year old x 3 day eventer, still with plenty of omff and go left in him. If you let centres know what you want, they are all too willing to accomodate you, because it is in there interest to find the right homes for them as they know if they get it wronge they will be having to take them back, i have found it so much better than buying private, and so rewarding, and i have the 2 horses most perfect i could hope for !!!!!!!!
and my advice would be find the horse first. a genuine seller, or centre will hold them for you if there is no stable immediatly available.
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Thank you. I have looked at some of the rescue sites but will give them a ring and leave my details in the hope right horse comes along.
 
Mince Pie said:
Stable. I don't understand how you can't afford to pay for the stable indefinitely as shouldn't be more than normal livery?
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flip the coin - a yard wont hold on indefinitely the stable just for a holding fee if another livery comes up and wants the stable asap and has a horse, the yard will let the stable go to them.

Some yard will refund or take the deposit of the livery if you find a horse within a certain time.
 
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