Taking horse to university-help!

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LibbyL

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I currently have a pony on loan and as silly as it may sound I really can't imagine not taking her to uni.
She is grass kept 24/7 and very low maintenance so wouldnt take up hours and hours of care. I'm not a big party girl at all so really don't mind having to sacrifice clubbing for early mornings.
Has anyone successfully taken their horse and what are the expenses like? Are they at all manageable? Currently think I'm dreaming a little but I want to stay ever hopeful as have only been lucky enough to have my own girl for about a year and can't imagine cutting it short next summer!
Please someone give me hope or be brutally honest!
 
What course are you doing?? If you are doing anything other than equine, I'd say no definately don't take the pony. I know some people do it, but going to uni is such a different life, and you won't want to alienate yourself from others.
Go and enjoy the new experience!
 
I'm a uni student currently. I did first and second year without a horse, then bought one when I was on my industrial placement year.

Honestly, I don't think I'd have coped with him in first or second year. I didn't have a car and my head was in a very different place to where it is now (and I was never one for clubbing or being very social either!). It's just that now I've done the daily grind of full time work everyday plus the horse, I'm better prepared to fit him around my work at university for my final year.
I'm still a little nervous about what I'm going to do come exam time (luckily I can pay my yard for services if necessary), but I'm sure I'll be thankful for him when I need the break from writing my dissertation.

I think a lot rests on your course in particular and your horse/you. As an example, this year I only have 10 hours of contact time for only one semester. The next semester is 0 hours contact time because it's when i'll be writing my dissertation. If I was in the mindset I was in year one and two, there's NO WAY I'd be able to cope with horse and dissertation...I'd just forever be at the yard!! However now I'm in a better routine and know my lad is quite happy with a few days off if needed, I'm happy that I brought him along to uni with me...despite it costing nearly £300 in transport fees alone, eek.
 
Currently stuck between a business sort of course or taking an agricultural route.
Do you mind me asking which university you are at FlyingCircus? Hopefully you will be fine :) Also do you mind me asking if you find the expenses okay?
I already have pretty long school hours as I live on the Isle of Wight and travel to the mainland for school so have had to learn how to fit that around her and she's the same- not minding having a few days off. I am not a top rider/eventer or anything similar but can't imagine not having the escape from work she provides me.
My top choices are Bath and Exeter if I do business which both apparently have good yards nearby which could hopefully make things easier...to be honest just don't want things to change from how they are now!
I totally understand and accept your viewpoint NativeLover thank you.
 
I've just started degree number four, and have had the horse since high school. So nevermind dealing with a horse through *one* degree; I've done it through three, one of which was a PhD.
 
I took my horse to uni....

I left my horse at home and my mum looked after her for the first year. I got really good grades but did to much partying and alcohol and ended up quite depressed by the end of the year.

I then took her for the second year and I was really happy to have her and made my like more positive.

However.... shortly after my parents stopped the financal support and then uni started to struggle. It wasnt only the horse.... I also have rent (in an expensive area) to cover. But basically I now need a full time job. Because of this (and the fact that I keep changing what I want to study) I still havent finished my degree. That said the first two years of my degree were enough to get me started on a career so now, despite not having a degree I do have a good job, above average pay and am very happy.

Anyway, I think my point is, if your parents (or whoever) are paying for it then do it. If you have to pay for it all it not going to be easy!!
 
I go to Bournemouth University, so not a particularly prestigious university!

In terms of cost, the only reason I can afford it is because I took a year out in industry (as part of my degree), which was full time work and paid. If it wasn't for this, I wouldn't be able to afford him. I don't intend on working this year at all, so I only have to juggle uni and horse...but that means I can't spend much on things I don't need and I couldn't last year either!
 
I currently spend two days at uni doing my masters, 4 days working, and am managing to ride 5 days a week. I do live at home, and don't really pay anything for the pony (I ride for a friend, so expenses for pony are mostly competing and me buying him presents!). I could probably afford to either move out or have my own horse, but not both.
I'll hopefully be starting medical school next year and plan to still ride, but again, I should be living at home and not own my own horse. For me, it's more the money issue than the time - that might all change next year though!
 
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