What are the benefits of having your own horse?

my first horse went lame within 2 months of buying her, after flying through a 5 stage vetting…and i still couldn’t imagine life without my ponies🤣

i love having nobody to answer to, all the groundwork/natural horsemanship and general “playing” you can do when they’re your own, the sense of accomplishment bringing them on, the social aspect of the yard (controversial!), and my general mood is so much better now that i’m up and out the door first thing to feed them.

don’t get me wrong, i still feel immensely resentful that the first summer i have my own horse was spent rehabbing, especially because the 4 year old i bought to back whilst the first one was out of work also went lame, but i’d still take that over having not bought either of them. i had various horses to ride/look after, but it’s just not the same if you want your own.

not to mention the little “at least it’s not drugs…” i mutter to myself every time i buy a new rug or saddle pad🤦🏼‍♀️🤣
 
I love having something that I have to put before any other human including myself. Keeps me grounded and gives me an escape to spend time with someone who makes me want to be a better person. And is there a better feeling than the smile they put on your face when they see you coming.

I enjoy riding but I love having them more. Although all the mucking out, doing fencing, feeding, rugging, stressing about weight, soundness etc leaves little time for worrying about anything else (like costs, my neglected tack and housework 😅)

I can’t think of a better way to waste my money 😁
 
Having your own horse can be all-consumingly wonderful, it’s a whole world of stuff: learning about feed, training, gear & saddlery, talking with other horse people, getting to know a horse inside and out (literally). It can also be scary, dangerous, very, very expensive, limiting and exhausting.

I have loved having horses all of my lifetime, I also now love having none at all. I have no desire to own a horse again.
 
I always said that when Homey died I would not get another due to costs, stress when they are ill etc, fitting them in around work and family. However that was based on Homey reaching his late 20s at least by which time I would be 60.

Unfortunately I lost him at 20. I then had a full bank account but my heart was empty and I was lonely despite having friends and family and riding at a riding school. It took me just over a year to find Bert who like Homey is a bay new forest.

The benefit of Bert is I know I always have him to visit and cuddle. I don't feel lonely any more. I also have great yard friends. Riding and competition is an additional bonus.

I expect I will never have the same bond with Bert as I had with Homey he was exceptional and though we had challenges during the 15 years we were together I couldn't have loved him more.

If you are lucky with your own horse you get a horse with right temperament, size and ability to suit you. If you ride at a riding school you get what you are given which can be more challenging.
 
Tiddlypom said:
Speaking recently to a medic who used to own horses, she said that she would rather remove her own spleen with a rusty spoon than own another horse 😳.

Stress, vets bills, horse never fit to ride when wanted. She’s still a keen rider, but she now goes to good establishments with good horses to ride as and when.

I love my 3 horses, but I’m not replacing any of them. I’m done with the stress and the worry.
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Hmmm... I wouldn't go that far, not my spleen, and not a rusty spoon, but I am so thankful at the moment to own no horses.

I think your question is a good one, OP.
 
SEL said:
It's really sad the people who would never have another. I hope I'm still messing about (even the poo picking) for many decades to come.

I love the 1:1 relationship and working with both their talents and their quirks. I love the whinnies I get when I turn up (cupboard love I'm sure). I love the microcob setting out with a spring in her step hacking and I especially love not having to answer to anyone else!
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I think for me who has owned, hm lets see, 8 now I just feel that I'm emotionally drained. Honestly I probably shouldn't have gotten my last one, since the one I had before her shattered me emotionally.

I had had him for one month on the day, went riding in the morning and later went to work. At work, barely 15 minutes after I got there I get a call from the stable manager that something very serious has happened and that my horse is standing on the road after breaking through his paddock. Luckely my husband was working from home during that time so when I called him in panic he rushed to the stables to meet up with the vet. They put my boy to sleep right there and then on the road because he completery shattered his front leg, and I didn't manage to get there in time to tell him goodbye. He was already gone when I arrived.

I still freeze to ice whenever someone from the stable calls me.

I absolutely adore my 800 kg black meatball on legs, but after her I will not have another.
 

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I think it depends on why you have a horse. From what I’ve seen, owning a horse in order to ride and being able to afford only one can be hugely stressful because with horses there are no guarantees. You could end up with a 7yo field ornament. it does mean that you have a horse that only you ride though. And can build a bond.

I’d definitely agree that having and riding horses are different hobbies. For me it’s having horses that matters. I like being around them which is just as well as we now have quite a herd. Having multiple horses is expensive though. And takes over your life.
 
Horse ownership can be fun, I've made lots of good friends & had great adventures through horses.
However, they can be incredibly emotionally & financially draining when they go wrong, The emotional drain is probably worse.
I'm another in the will never buy another when current one goes camp.
 
I would be lost without mine, my whole life is somewhat revolved around her ( that's not to say im a stickler for routine , but you do have to plan ahead for holidays , days out etc ).

She's the none judgemental pair of ears after a long day at work, begrudgingly has stood still as a rock over the years as I've cried into her neck and managed to plaster a smile on my face at times when the world felt truly rubbish ( normally by chucking in a cheeky bronc and squeal to liven up a sedate canter 😆 - it's like she knows we need a bit of fun) .

I would have a lot more money if I didn't have her, but my heart would be very empty and I think I'd also be very bored !

In terms of owning over loaning, it's the freedom to do as you wish
 

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Crazy_cat_lady said:
As someone who's come out the other side of horse ownership I echo her thoughts and would go as far as removing my eyes with a rusty spoon rather than own another! I don't miss the horrendous costs associated with having your own and each time you think you were doing "well" financially in a month bam there would be another horse related cost come up
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Same. I've sold up. The old boy is out on loan but the rest are sold. It was awful at first, but it was the right thing to do. I live on a boat, went back to uni and suddenly found that I didnt want to own horses anymore. I dont miss the stress and worry, the time spent and the fact they are a tie. I dont rde anymore now, I just dont have the desire to ride other peoples horses.
 
If I couldn't have my own, I wouldn't ride any more. Simple as that really.

I just don't get the same buzz from being in an arena on a riding school horse. That just isn't what it's about for me.

It's about building a partnership/friendship with your own pony. It's about going on adventures and achieving things together. Impromptu picnic/pub rides with friends. Coming home after a **** day at work, and your pony whinnies at you and suddenly none of the other crap matters any more.

He just makes my heart sing and I'd be a lot less of a person without him.
 
I lost all my COVID weight and some without trying at all probably due to stress and anxiety, I feel healthier out in the fresh air even when I'm hiding in the shed from the hail. I watch less TV. You really get to know their personality when you're trying to stop then dying. Mine gives great cuddles ... When she's sick and can't escape.

The best thing is the fluffy ears....when they're your own you can run your face allover the fluffy ears and there's no one to judge you... Except your pony, mine has a very judgey side eye.
 
Whilst I have generally really enjoyed having my own horses for getting on 50 years there are definitely some down sides. I currently have 4 at home all home bred or bought as foals. Two are retired (19 and 22) and two are still in work (18 and 18) although I find I now ride very little. Like others have said, when these 4 have gone I will not be replacing them. If I really, really want to ride I would look at trying to find a share.
 
It's really interesting to consider that owning horses and riding horses are two completely different hobbies...not something I have thought of before but makes a lot of sense and gives me more perspective on whether it is what I want in the long run
 
norolim said:
It's really interesting to consider that owning horses and riding horses are two completely different hobbies...not something I have thought of before but makes a lot of sense and gives me more perspective on whether it is what I want in the long run
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Nowadays I'm in the 'owning horses' camp rather than riding them, we own one which is my 9yr old daughter's pony. I would ride her, but am too big for her...but I get just as much enjoyment out of owning as she does riding.

I think your wants/desires do change over time too, owning is enough for me, I'm not fussed about riding anymore, been there, done that!
 
norolim said:
Probably sounds like a strange question, but I'm a natural pessimist and always worry about worst case scenario. It is my dream to own my own horse one day hopefully not too far away but I am under no illusion of the time and money required to do so. I would love to have my own to form a bond with, spend time with, have plans and goals together and have more control over what I do with my riding and how often I ride. However, I do worry about potential issues arising, health/soundness wise and the consequences of this i.e. huge vet bills, associated stress, the emotional side of it and even not being able to ride at all. At the moment I hire out horses from private yards for hacking, lessons, fun rides etc. and although it would be great for me to do things with a horse of my own, I have the security of being able to hand the horse back over at the end of the day with nothing to worry about.

I guess what I'm looking for is your views on what the benefits of horse ownership are and how these outweigh the flexibility of hiring horses/using riding schools etc.

Thank you! :D
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I've highlighted the sentence above as these are not 'potential' issues. Trust me, they're absolute certainties. Accept that and prepare accordingly and you'll be much better equipped as an owner. ;)

Advantages are for me are:
  1. The bond I have
  2. Able to ride without checking on with somebody else/booking
  3. Gets me out of the house if I'm feeling mentally shitty
  4. Keeps me active even if weather is crap, as there are still chores
  5. The constant learning. Neither of mine are competition horses, but I learn from them all the time - about their ailments if nothing else!!
  6. Nothing beats seeing them at the end of a crappy work day and they're just so gorgeous, eating, snuffling, being a PITA, but funny with it...
Disadvantages are:
  1. the stress, worry and financial implications were I to lose my job.
  2. The fact I have to do those chores in ALL weathers (although I secretly love being in the middle of a storm if I'm dressed for it!)
  3. No money. Ever.
  4. No free time. Ever (if on DIY).
 
I'm Dun said:
Same. I've sold up. The old boy is out on loan but the rest are sold. It was awful at first, but it was the right thing to do. I live on a boat, went back to uni and suddenly found that I didnt want to own horses anymore. I dont miss the stress and worry, the time spent and the fact they are a tie. I dont rde anymore now, I just dont have the desire to ride other peoples horses.
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Yep, I don't have the desire either to ride anything else, went on a stunning sunset ride on holiday last year and not been on a horse since

I think part of it is the cost is still not cheap to book a nice hack, and because I used to mainly hack id only want to do it if it was a special location (e.g on the beach as I was never able to go with mine) and also while my own was nothing special in terms of performance, I have no desire to sit on some stiff as a board kick along plod, but by the same token also don't want to be launched into space. I had a brilliant beach ride at a trekking centre once and the horse I was allocated was just the right amount of go

Also, unless you pay £££'s you're usually with other people on paid for hacks so risk run the risk of having to accommodate them if they don't want to canter etc. I'm used to hacking alone and going at whatever speed I wanted including a good gallop!

Also Im doing just fine without horses so don't want to start back down that road and wanting regular lessons/riding, and also wouldn't want the commitment of a share, which would also be bound by someone else's management. Occasionally I'd like to go for a good gallop but not enough to go back down that road. The honest answer is I don't miss horses and all the associated downsides, of which at the point I gave up it felt like there were more of than pluses
 
I have shared, part loaned, loaned, exercised other people's horses and worked on yards plus ridden at a variety of yards and even with the full loan you still don't have control over a lot of things ie. if they don't want the feed changing/yard changing/farrier changing even when you have real concerns about the above, you are seen as less than (which I can totally see both sides of, it's stressful making sure you have the right professionals). I've dealt with some pretty bizarre to dangerous owners as well I'm not sure I'd want to go back to sharing imo there is a lot less choice and you often feel obliged to say yes to things as there aren't many options.
 
I took my emotionally draining, cost me a fortune, realised riding vs ownership were two different things Appy out for a walk this morning (in hand) so we could go scrumping for crab apples and tbh even if I couldn't afford to have another to ride I'd still be OK with owning her. It was lovely standing in the woods trying to persuade her that she really didn't have room in her mouth for one more apple and trying not to get apple juice all over me before work.

There's something very special about bonding with a horse and being their human. I can understand people who have had the heartbreak of losing one needing distance and I also understand those where practical life stuff gets in the way (I had a huge gap in my 30s where life + horse ownership were not practical), but honestly I wouldn't be without one again if I can keep the finances etc in order. In fact I'd only really started thinking about it again when the Appy came crashing into my life needing a home or heading to the hunt.

OP it very much depends on how much you want it really. Whilst I would rather not be soaked to the skin like I was last Friday night I would also rather be outside than stuck in a gym, I'd rather have a horse I can bond with than be just another rider with a RS horse and I'd rather spend my money on them than new clothes and expensive trinkets.

But I've been in the position where my money needed to go on keeping a roof over my head so I'm well aware that horses are a luxury.
 
I think you've covered it all in your post,the ups and downs, financial, emotional. If you buy a horse you may not gel, it's an expensive mistake and then you need to find it a new home,or you may find your soulmate and enjoy your time like never before. You may find holidays unaffordable or emotionally impossible. Horses, with the greatest joy comes the greatest pain, that's life.
 
Fransurrey said:
I've highlighted the sentence above as these are not 'potential' issues. Trust me, they're absolute certainties. Accept that and prepare accordingly and you'll be much better equipped as an owner. ;)
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Yes you are right! I think considering all eventualities and possible outcomes is a good start to being prepared and will give me opportunity to consider how practical it would be for me.

Cloball said:
I have shared, part loaned, loaned, exercised other people's horses and worked on yards plus ridden at a variety of yards and even with the full loan you still don't have control over a lot of things ie. if they don't want the feed changing/yard changing/farrier changing even when you have real concerns about the above, you are seen as less than (which I can totally see both sides of, it's stressful making sure you have the right professionals). I've dealt with some pretty bizarre to dangerous owners as well I'm not sure I'd want to go back to sharing imo there is a lot less choice and you often feel obliged to say yes to things as there aren't many options.
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This is definitely something I think about when I've considered shares/loans. I know there are probably lots of good share situations out there but think I would rather avoid the hassle and be in control of what I do for myself and the horse, than end up in a situation where I don't have much choice.
 
If you're on DIY livery or have your own land, you get the morning whicker when you come into view.

If you're on DIY livery or have your own land, you get the evening whinny if you're 30 seconds later than horse expected.

That lovely smell of horse that you can bury your nose into any time because it's your own horse and nobody can tell you not to.

After a few weeks, you can no longer smell poo, muck heaps or the entire yard odour. It's just fresh air.

You get good at sniffing a bale of hay to see if it's good enough for your prince/princess and scratch your head the following morning if they disagree. Then starts the process of sourcing hay from different suppliers in case the prince/princess goes on hunger strike.

You stop caring about your appearance, the state of your car or the dirt in your hallway when you return home.
 
I mainly had a horse to ride and to compete and I definitely want to do this again. But there was an awful lot of heartache but then I learnt an awful lot too.

I can honestly say that I did (for the majority of the time) actually enjoy rehabbing injuries that my horses sustained and I really enjoyed seeing the difference in the rehab I've done with both Bailey in terms of her check ligament injury and Lari in terms of his DDFT and SDFT injury. If you put the time and effort in it can really make a difference and that is one of the biggest things I've learned about horses through the years.

I hope the next horse will be more plain sailing. I want to have some fun before I'm too old. I have had horses on loan when I was 14/15 (Mum said I had to do a couple of winters before they would commit to buying one) but it was never any fun as you were limited on taking it to shows or jumping or whatever.
 
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I love the fact I can go and ride on my own: that’s almost impossible at a riding school or trekking centre. If you share, you can too (potentially) but finding a share which is a good match within a reasonable distance can be tricky. I also love the bond I have and that I know my horse quite well. I can ride whenever it suits me.

Shares are brilliant for learning, and finding out how different people do things.
The owner of one of my shares fed just a tiny bit of speedibeet on top of grazing/hay (a TB); another owner fed a morning and evening trug of umpteen ingredients and supplements (a native). Ditto different stable, bedding material, rugging routines, and so on. Really useful knowledge to gain.

However you are always following another person’s rules, whether you agree with them or not: their horse, their rules and that is how it ought to be. The point comes when you’d love to have your own systems and routines, and be able to experiment. I’ve really been enjoying that.

Positives of nót owning is that you can control the financial side and spend whatever you can afford or want on riding. It will be cheaper than owning. A riding school or trekking centre will always provide a rideable horse, whereas your own horse might need time off for one reason or another. You will get experience riding many different horses, and a good riding school will have different more well-schooled horses you can move on to as your riding progresses. Your own horse might have limitations.
 
You can ride more often, for the same price. You develop trust and a relationship with your horse, they become a much loved pet. Keeps you outside and active even in the worst weather.

I can’t just have one though - constant state of panic they’ll go lame and then what? I like to have a spare…
 
I love the bond and being able to choose what to do that day. Don't fancy riding and want to play on the ground with ground work or liberty? No problem. I love the early morning rides before work going for a gallop as the sun is rising or setting..the independence of being able to going out for a hack with no plan other than some cash in my pocket, a drink and some food and just seeing where we go, I love the social fun days out and I love the hard work being rewarded. I love late night cuddles and the tangible trust and partnership between you and your horse. Some of my best friendships have come from other horsey girls - it really does bond! And so much in between.

I've been having schoolmaster lessons at an EC and I've often wondered if I'd feel the need to get another when my current boy retires and although I love my lessons, they aren't a patch on horse ownership for me.

The biggest con for me is that I do feel my life is a bit of a constant juggling act being on DIY and having a non-horsey life too (but appreciate having the extra money doing it yourself saves). Enjoyed the extra time and ease of being able to make other plans when I was on part or full livery but it leaves less money for non-horsey fun!
 
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