Very Excited - just bought my first horse!

K

Kittykins

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Evening all,

just wanted to share my excitement with you all, as, after 20 years or more of dreaming about this moment, I have just bought my first ever horse.

Also, quite terrified :-)

I've been riding since I was four (am now 29) but suddenly feel as though I know nothing. I'm convinced there's all sorts of things I haven't thought of - and am not sure about many that I have: insurance, where to buy good tack that won't set me back a fortune, will I need to buy proper clothes for myself to compete in, how many rugs do I really need?...

would love to upload a photo but not sure how?

Anyway, any tips for starting out would be much appreciated. :-)

Thanks!
 
Congats on your horse, what sort do you have?, what are you gonna do with it? i felt the same when i got my fist horse.To upload a pic, it needs to be some where online first, put it on flickr.com, you can open a free account. Then click the pic and choose all sizes. The copy the pics url, it starts http; then replie to this topic and click add image on the tool bar above the box your writing in and paste the url. and there you have it.
 
Congratulations how exciting, what kind of horse did you get, when do you get horse? etc.

Firstly, don't panic, everything will come in time of owning a horse, where will the horse be kept? stabled?

Rugs, at this time of year is cheapest to start buying winter rugs should your's require them/been used to wearing them.
you may want to get fly rug/veil for now if you know your horse will require wearing one, many horses are fine without.
Don't forget suncream on noses...if your's has white/pink nose, I used to use Kiddies factor 50 waterproof one wilko's anywhere really.

Basic essentials of course are:

Headcollar/L.rope
Bucket for water - stable if needed
haynet - optional again
Feed buckets - optional if horse is being fed all year
Grooming kit, couple hoof picks - as mine had nasty habit of growing lots of legs.
Mucking out tools should you need them

Important things really are:
Vet number
Farrier number
your details
Friend's incase your not contactable.
Always best to have these to hand and also close to stable or given to yard mgr.

Relax enjoy your new friend, get to know each other fuss him/her and it will all fall into place for you, never be afraid either to ask people on your yard or here for any advice no matter how silly you think it is, horse owning is a truely great thing and you'll be fine i'm sure.

Think that is pretty much it really, sure you know what your doing..
Oh and we want piccies...LOL

Good luck and enjoy
x
 
Congratulations!!!

My best advice would be finding a good farrier and a good insurance company!!

Wishing you many years of fun together xx
 
ooooooooooooooooo congratulations!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! i soooooooooooooo know this feeling - i bought my first horse last year aged 42 after waiting since i was 10!!!!!
do not over buy things - i did and i could have a right boot sale now lol - waste of money is stable rugs - just buy turnout rugs - a light weight, medium weight and if really need a heavy weight turn out rug - turnout rugs work just as well in stable as out
im so happy for you - enjoy!!!!
 
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Right, have climbed back down off the ceiling now.

She's a 9yr old warmblood (I think!). I'm actually buying her from a friend of mine who has had her for 18 months but they're just not clicking. I've ridden her out (in company) a few times and always got on with her quite nicely. When my friend announced her intention to sell her, I just couldn't resist!

I'm off to look at livery stables tomorrow. At the moment she's being kept at full livery whilst they were trying to sell her, so she can stay there until I've found somewhere for her. I also (luckily) have a bit of holiday coming up in July / August, so plan to spend the time getting to know her and taking it slowly - hacking her out and having some lessons.

I've never competed before so not really too sure where to start. I think I might take her over cross country in practice a few times, then have a go at a small local class. I also wouldn't mind trying a bit of dressage.

If she's fit enough, I'd love to follow the local hunt for a morning here and there too, but we'll see how that goes. Do you need a fully fit hunter to go hunting, or can you just join in for a few hours until they've had enough? So many questions!
 
Oh wow, she is absolutely beautiful, you must be over the moon. You forgot to to tell us her name silly lol.
Hunting, you can go out for as long as you like.

I really hope she is totally the horse of your dreams and you have years of happiness together. I waited a long time for my girl too and 7 years on, i still look at her and can't believe she is all mine. I tell her every day how beautiful she is and how proud I am.

As for rugs, hmm, i have a thing for rugs like most women have for shoes:D I have far too many but I regularly use flysheet, rain sheet, 200g, 350g and 450g. Premier equine rugs are good and reasonably priced. Amigo rainsheets are good and quite cheap from equestrian clearance. They are good for clothes and boots etc. Cyber checkout is a good site too.

Insurance, I am with Scottish equestrian who have always been ok.

Go with recommendations for the best farrier and vet etc.

Does she not come with any tack? I would get a proper saddler in, they often have second hand saddles and will fit the right one to her. Havana is best imo, you could always get one of the new pink ones if you are so inclined lol.
 
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she's gorgeous!
i'm uber jealous, i'm still waiting for my perfect horse to come my way *sigh*
i wish you the best of luck with her, you're one lucky person :D
xxx
 
She is a total stunner!! congratulations, you must be completely thrilled!!

I would say, as far as rugs go, that buying cheaper ones is the worlds biggest false economy. If you stump up the investment at the outset, it will stand you in excellent stead going forwards.

I've had my boy's mark todd for about 5 years and it's still in one piece. some cheaper brands didn't even last one winter......

I'm so excited for you! you are going to have a fabulous summer!!
 
thank you all! I feel like the luckiest person in the world right now. I don't think I'll believe it's happened until she's moved down south (she's currently about 3 hours drive away... or 5 by horsebox), and probably not even then.

She doesn't come with anything at all. I've paid a very good price, but the result is that nothing has been 'thrown in', so need to get saddle, bridle, headcollar, rugs, haynets, hoofpicks, feed bowls... the lot.

I have a few horsey friends in the area so should be able to get recommendations for farriers. We also have an excellent equine vet service in the area. I guess we have to get her 'on their books' as soon as she arrives?
 
oh, and her name is Treacle! We're currently having debates in the house over whether changing names is bad luck. I'm not really bothered what she's called, as long as it's not offensive. :-)
 
:D:D:D WOW!!!!! lucky you to find such a beautiful horse, looks like she could do a good dressage test. i wouldnt worry about rugs yet, there seem to be good deals available most of the time. and you may find that someone at your new yard may have some going cheap as we all seem to have more than we need(or is that just me?) make sure you get her passport and that all her vaccinations are up to date, easy to forget if you are buying from a friend. nfu are really good for insurance, very easy to deal with and good to pay out, although not the cheapest.....lots of luck with her......:D
 
Gosh, that's a horse WORTH waiting 20+ years for! She's absolutely stunning!

Re: insurance, I'm another one who loves Scottish Equestrian.

My horse came from a Dealers with no tack or anything, as far as I am concerned one of the best things about buying a horse is being able to go shopping for it.

Good luck and let us know how you get on.
 
Congratulations! She's gorgeous!

My advice is to not buy too much at first, wait until you know what you need. It's very easy to get carried away in all the excitement and end up with far more equipment than you need.
 
Yes, I've been making a list of all the essentials so that I don't end up with stacks of stuff clogging up my corner of the tack room. But with the summer shows coming up, I'm sure I'll have heaps of stuff I never use within minutes ;-)
 
Wow she is gorgeous I hope you have many many years of fun with her! As for changing name have always believed that it is bad luck to change names and think Treacle really suits her, however I am sure that as you get to know her some other pet name will reveal herself, I rarely seem to call Belle by her name to me she is Munchkin, but to avoid the bad luck she still goes by Belle to everyone else.

Oh and if going to shows remember the travelling gear, I love horse shopping it's just a shame my bank manager doesn't seem to feel the same way :D
 
Letslip - exactly - I'm convinced that changing names is bad luck! So glad I'm not the only one. I probably wouldn't have chosen 'Treacle', but it does seem to suit her, so she can keep it for the time being. :-)
 
She looks gorgeous! I am another who waited a long time before being able to afford my first horse - bought him in 2005, with a friend, and then when she was ill I bought her out as I didn't want to sell him! It is a great feeling if a little scary!!!

Bear in mind it may take you a while to properly bond (although as you've ridden her a few times already it seems like you know her). Take things slowly to begin with, until she has really settled in.

I would say get a good saddler out asap, so you can try a few saddles. What do you want to do with her? You could either by one GP type saddle or a dressage and/or jump saddle. You can do dressage in a jump saddle but a bit tricky the other way.

You may also need a set of brushing boots for her, and worth getting a set of travel boots too.

Equestrian Clearance is always worth a look when kitting out, or one of those clearance sales you see advertised in H&H for general stuff.

What else that hasn't been mentioned? Well I have a white board attached to my stable, with all my phone numbers on it - mine, my farrier, vet, etc. I can then leave a message on the board if needs be - my horse is on part livery, so if I want them to leave him in instead of turning out, I write it on there.

Look at joining a local riding club - or find out what others at your yard get up to. That way you can get out and about, have some instruction and maybe do a local riding club show, to get started. Also look at unaffiliated dressage and jumping near you. Local big tack shops usually have good noticeboards and often have schedules too.

NFU are good for insurance - consider what tack you want insured, and what level of insurance for your horse. Worming - find out when she was last wormed, and consider your worming programme (nowadays many people do worm counts rather than just using a wormer, as there is a lot of resistance these days). Teeth - worth getting a visit from an equine dentist to check teeth. Also from an osteo or sports massage person, just to make sure nothing physical going on.

This time of year you may also need wash stuff - a bucket with a sponge and sweat scraper will suffice. Fly spray too.

Saddlecloths/ numnahs. A cooler/ mesh type rug is always useful. A horse first aid kit - although much cheaper/ better to buy your own stuff - such as plasters and bandaging stuff (cotton wool, gauze, etc.) from Asda/Tescos!!!

Find out if a feed merchant delivers at your yard, and also what feed your horse is currently on, so you don't change it to start with.

And most of all - have fun!!!
 
Just been to look at yards and have found a lovely one, only 15 mins drive door to door and the owner seems very relaxed, helpful, nice. It's one of those yards that are neat without being obsessively clean, which I always think is a good sign. Also, price is reasonable and facilities are excellent. Am feeling quite relieved as it feels like it's starting to come together now. :-)
 
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