What did you do with your horse when you went to Uni? (long...)

[Sol]

Bit of a random question but in the last week our teachers have decided to start drilling us about thinking about University and all that, what we want to do etc. but for me, that isn't the first issue! Dante is!

Ideas:
- Leave horse where he is now, look at places local enough that I could travel to him daily/most days (cheapest?)
- Look at places slightly further away, where I could visit 2-5 times per week, and possibly find a sharer/rider for during the week
- Look anywhere and take him with?!
- Find him a full time loaner or sharer, not so keen as I want to keep his schooling to a certain level if I do keep him long term
- Sell him in 12 months time it does have its benefits though I guess, and would certainly be thought about more closer to the time, as I don't know what I will be wanting to do/what he will be capable of in terms of the level of riding by then!

I already know that I will end up doing either Psychology or Business. Doing an equine course is out of the question tbh as my Dad points out that it isn't sensible and I hate to say it but I do agree Either way though I do intend to end up working with horses!
But everyone is right and I do need to start thinking about it (especially as I loathe being disorganised!) and it's part of the reason I really want to get on top of Dante's schooling this year - just in case! I wouldn't want my shoddy riding to result in him getting a ... less than ideal home.



Sol x.

 

[Jesstickle]

I sold both of mine I'm afraid. Seemed like the sensible thing to do as I couldn't ride them even if I'd have taken them with me and my mum didn't want to do them for three years. I didn't think it was right to use my student loan to keep a horse so off they went.

I don't regret it TBH. I think they would really have detracted from the uni experience for me. Especially as I liked to stay at uni in hols and hang out. I certainly wouldn't have wanted to be going off twice a day to do them when I had been up to three in the morning partying!

 

[steph91]

If you consider taking him to a yard near your uni choice, you've really got to think about how much time you'd realistically be able to spend with him. As i have friends who did try this and had some weeks where they just didn't have the time, with classes and essays, and you need to think how much time you're going to dedicate to being a true student (drinking all night, sleeping all day etc.)
Or an idea for you, if there is a horsey college nearby your home or uni perhaps placing him here would be suitable. As he'd be in capable hands, being ridden and looked after to a high standard, most likely will be free, and you will have him back over the holidays.
You have plenty of options and time to really think about a decisions, please do not rush into the idea of selling, as you may regret it.

 

[Saxon_Jasmine]

I keep mine at Uni with me I have someone who shares her and helps pay her bills.

 

[Cadfael&Coffee]

I have mine with me, and I find I manage with him fine.

I work full time, am on a full time Uni course (one with a hell of a lot of writing and reading to do) and participate in the riding club and socials almost every week.

He lives in, and I don't often have any help with him.

If you aren't lazy, and really want to keep your horse, it's really rewarding. And when mines in work even during term he gets ridden at least 10 hours a week.

And I do have a social life ilmao

I wouldn't have it any other way

 

[Cadfael&Coffee]

Also, I would never consider a college again- no matter how supposedly competent they are, some of the stories ive heard and what I've experienced with 3 different horses who we've placed in colleges, I would never do it again

At the end of the day, it's down to how determined you are to keep your horse, and whether you feel i you can make the time or not

 

[Sol]

I have no social life now, and doubt I ever really will Don't have the confidence for all that
If I could track down a competent sharer (and Dante's settled a bit by then! He will be 8yrs old after all!) then having someone see to him and work him just a few days a week and pay a small amount towards him does sound like a good idea and would give me the odd day to chill or get work done...
Taking him to a college is out of the question, I have heard far too many horror stories and he's a sensitive little thing anyway, I hate to think what a waste all my hard work would have been. No offense, it's just a risk I wouldn't consider.
Definitely not rushing into anything, just looking for ideas and opinions! Thanks everyone who's replied so far

 

[Cadfael&Coffee]

I'm not trying to push you, (I promise lol) but it definitely sounds like you really enjoy and love your boy, so whatever you decide to do, make absolutely sure you want to sell him before you do so, or you'll regret it (especially if he's as special and you are as attached to him as it sounds)

Good luck!!!

And sociable or not, you'll really enjoy Uni I know many student who have their horses with them, so it's quite common

 

[Sol]

Haha, I will definitely be patient, and will most likely keep him providing that he does prove capable of actually improving! We've been a bit stuck for the last 12 months or so, hoping 2011 will be a better year I know he has the ability, he just doesn't like to use it

Thank you

 

[rhino]

I bought my horse in the summer between my 1st and 2nd year at uni, he was my first horse. I was living at home and travelling into Glasgow Uni each day so kept him on DIY at a local farm. Early mornings and long days but definitely worth it.

Put him on full livery for a year when I did my Masters (at a different Uni/yard) but neither of us were happy with the situation.

I went back to Uni (yet another Uni/yard) last year to do a PGDE and had him on diy, I was living in postgrad accommodation.

It was hard work but it also gave me some time to relax away from work.

 

[Marchtime]

I stayed at home and kept Jesper at the same yard and was lucky my Mum helped out with costs. I did a Law Degree at Surrey Uni, kept the horses half way between there and home and worked part time near home to help pay the bills.
Personally I'd have been lost without my boy and staying at home has meant I am student loan free, but I know it isn't for everyone.
What you need to consider is costs (who is going to pay to keep him, how much), how intensive your course is (hours per week at uni and workload outside of lectures), whether you are going to be working part time and obviously which universities offer the course you want.
It's a hard decision but only you know what's right for both of you.

 

[LaurenM]

I bought mine in my gap year whilst I was doing a placement. I'm in my last year now and am coping fine. To be honest, I have more time to spend with him now than I did when I was working full time. At the minute I'm in uni full time (15ish hours per week) and work 15 hours a week. My uni is 20 mins from the yard so I'm quite lucky.

I do use him as an excuse to leave my uni work to the last minute..but if I didn't have him then I would only find something else to use as an excuse!

If I were you, I would focus on getting accepted for the course that you really want. Everything else can be thought about in detail later.

 

[Paint it Lucky]

I took mine to uni with me, and was very glad I did as we had abrilliant time together. You get a lot of free time at uni so it is good to have a horse to fill it with! Obviously you do need some time for studying, writing etc but that isn't too hard to find, you just need to organise your time well which it sounds like you are good at doing so I'm sure you'll be fine.

I admit I was never very social at uni, I wasn't interested in going out all night drinking and so always stayed fairly fresh and able to get up early to do my horse whilst most of my housemates stayed in bed until lunch! I did get quite homesick at uni and depressed, and having my horse there was one of the main things that got me through it. If you can find a uni with a campus in the countryside it shouldn't be too hard to find a nearby DIY yard or even a field to rent (which would keep costs down), I used to work part time at the stables where my horse lived which paid for his livery and gave me a little bit of money left to live off as well. It can certainly be done it just depends on how determined you are to do it!

 

[*hic*]

We were lucky with my daughter's main horse - there were at least three options: We had people very keen to buy her from us; the person who originally broke her and evented her lives in the same town my daughter is at University in and said she'd be very happy to find a good livery yard and take on half a week's share; or I could take on the ride.

As it happens I've taken on the ride and it's made me very happy plus the horse is still available for my daughter to ride whenever she wants.

 

[Shrimp]

I think mines a one off case! I sold mine halfway through first year (was for sale since i went to uni but the market was slow) and it was kind of a relief in a way, one less thing to worry about even though it broke my heart to sell him.
However, things changed and we bought him back a month ago. He's on part livery and my mum rides him when she can and I do when im home.
I was different to Paint It Lucky in that I didnt have a lot of free time! My degree has lots of hours and im heavily involved in the music society but that is all dependant on you and what you want to get out of uni.
It actually makes me work harder now i've got him back as i'll get my work done so I can go home at weekends etc but my degree is still the most important thing. I've only got two terms left and there is no way im going to let myself ruin my chances just because ive got my horse back (my mum wouldnt let me anyway!)
You need to have a long think and decide what is right for you. If you really want to go uni and do well, your horse will probably have to take a back seat at times. Please dont ruin your uni education because of your horse, it may sound harsh but you are paying alot of money and you will regret it if you dont make the most of it. I think if you have someone to help you look after him if needs be you probably manage better.
I hope you come to the right decision about it all and good luck in what ever you do

 

[Jesstickle]

I have no social life now, and doubt I ever really will Don't have the confidence for all that

Please don't take this the wrong way but if you're a bit shy I would recommend not taking the horse to uni. It's a great opportunity to break out of your shell but if you can constantly bolt to a yard to hang with your horse you won't be in the position to make the most of it.

I was shy going to uni but being thrown in at the deep end where no one knew each other was a great chance to get over it. If you have to duck out of loads of stuff going on because you have a horse you'll miss out on some of this opportunity and also, again no offence, people will think you're a bit of an odd ball and a spoilt rich kid, or at least most likely they will!

Just MHO though and I wish you the best what ever you decide to do

 

[rowy]

I was going to do psych! got in at warwick and was thinking about what to do with mine (had 2 at the time) initially i was thinking of just taking Row with me but all the livery yards seemed quite far away from campus. Also, theres the issue with there actually being a stable availiable. then mum suggested me just coming home a few days to do him a week but that made me sad like it was a waste. I was in such a state, thinking about selling him made me so sad! anyway looked into the course in further detail and seemed so boring! loads of stats etc

So now I am at nott trent doing equine sports science and I love it I live at home (40 min drive) and horses are at home with me and mum helps me out with them and I have Loads of spare time! also do a part time event groom job and fit everything in. Didnt effect my work at all (so far got 2 1sts in assignment and exam) and have 2 really close friends and lots of other friendly people I chat to so living at home doesnt make me like a loner Oh an I am really shy!!! like someone voted me "best mute" at 6th form shy. Didnt effect me at all! still have loads of friends 2bh being at uni, at home or staying in both you have to get stuck in. just make friends on your course if you stay at home.

Oh and if you choose psych you have a really limited timetable apparently so you will have loads of spare time

 

[diggerbez]

i think that you need to think about what you want to get out of university- is it just to get a degree- or is it for all of the other things that university teaches you as well? i have to say that if i were you i would sell him. i think that university is extremely expensive (and getting more so ) and you need to make the most of it. i just don't think that people living at home/ travelling home every weekend get the same experience as the people living in halls etc...especially if you are shy, living away at uni will totally improve your confidence
you might think that i am just talking about going out and getting drunk which i'm not (although i did drink a lot at uni )- i made my BEST friends at university- years later i miss them not being around all the time. I rowed (as in boats...not arguing ) at uni and had to get up at 5am several days a week for two years- really regret that, wish i'd spent more time being less serious about things....
The other thought about taking him with you- what will you do in the holidays?

 

[Sol]

I'd quite like to do something equine but my dad thinks I should go for something more general, at least at first And I /do/ agree... I just know I wont be too thrilled! Psychology does interest me and in a way I hope that if I at least went and did a sort of 'general' psychology, nothing too specific, then I could maybe move towards equine sports psychology somehow or something along those lines (I know, I have a lot to research yet.)

jesstickle - it's not that I'm particularly 'shy' or even antisocial, I just don't have much in common with people Especially not people my age! I'm actually much happier kept working or doing -something- than trying to sit through some of the mindless noise pollution that comes from peoples mouths Not that I don't have my moments myself... I'm just not on the same wavelength as most people I don't think

I think I would aim to find somewhere with an equestrian team either way... does that count towards a social life AND horses?!

 

[Sol]

i think that you need to think about what you want to get out of university- is it just to get a degree- or is it for all of the other things that university teaches you as well? i have to say that if i were you i would sell him. i think that university is extremely expensive (and getting more so ) and you need to make the most of it. i just don't think that people living at home/ travelling home every weekend get the same experience as the people living in halls etc...especially if you are shy, living away at uni will totally improve your confidence
you might think that i am just talking about going out and getting drunk which i'm not (although i did drink a lot at uni )- i made my BEST friends at university- years later i miss them not being around all the time. I rowed (as in boats...not arguing ) at uni and had to get up at 5am several days a week for two years- really regret that, wish i'd spent more time being less serious about things....
The other thought about taking him with you- what will you do in the holidays?

The degree will definitely be THE important part tbh.
Think I need to speak to my dad too.... he's the one who wants me at Uni, I haven't even talked to him about the money side yet. :/

 

[Jesstickle]

jesstickle - it's not that I'm particularly 'shy' or even antisocial, I just don't have much in common with people Especially not people my age! I'm actually much happier kept working or doing -something- than trying to sit through some of the mindless noise pollution that comes from peoples mouths Not that I don't have my moments myself... I'm just not on the same wavelength as most people I don't think

I think I would aim to find somewhere with an equestrian team either way... does that count towards a social life AND horses?!

But that is why you should embrace uni all the more. There are so many people there that I will actually eat my hat if you don't meet at least a couple of people 'on your wavelength' !

Lots of my friends left their horses at home with parents or loaned them whilst they were away at uni so they could have fun without selling them. If I could have done that I would have done

 

[Sol]

But that is why you should embrace uni all the more. There are so many people there that I will actually eat my hat if you don't meet at least a couple of people 'on your wavelength' !

Lots of my friends left their horses at home with parents or loaned them whilst they were away at uni so they could have fun without selling them. If I could have done that I would have done

Maybe I'll have to find someone willing to put up with my complete over-controlling nature when it comes to my horse... and start training them The hard part is that in a way, I'd rather sell him on than come back to him however many years on and find out that he's no longer how I schooled him to be, as he's adjusted to someone elses habits... would help if he was a simpler horse

There are lots of people around, and I'm sure there must be a few reasonable ones at Uni... hmm! I'm certainly not against spending the time at Uni, nor am I trying to get out of it! I just don't know what I want yet......

 

[ChloeC418]

Oh Sol. I'm having this dilemma too. In all fairness, I'd rather not go to uni than sell Dela - I've no idea what I would do with myself without her, or if I didn't go to uni, so I'm hoping I can go to a uni near to me so I can live here still & keep Dela.

Ok, that wasn't very helpful at all, but, that was my say on the matter anyway

 

[chestnutx]

For the first two years she lived out at a friends farm having a holiday but I brought her back into work in all my holidays - she had always been a mare who kept herself fit in the field plus you get such a long break for Summer I even managed to get her out competing - the long breaks didn't affect her at all. However for the final year at Uni I found a yard where she could live out near Uni and I took her with me. It was great as final years are always stressfull with dissertations and she was just what I needed to keep me sane! However I did sometimes get a little distracted - a day meant to be revising ended up with us grabbing a lift to a local hunter trial one day!!

Anyway good luck whatever you decide. There are many options you just have to decide what will suit you and your horse.

 

[FinkleyAlex]

My advice would be to go to the best Uni you can get into, and take the horse with you. I took mine with me - fortunately my parents have paid for him to be on part livery but I do him at weekends and have a sharer who rides x 2 during the week and pays for his shoes. I also work part time, manage to study for my law degree, train for lacrosse three times a week and maintain a social life!

 

[Jesstickle]

For the first two years she lived out at a friends farm having a holiday but I brought her back into work in all my holidays - she had always been a mare who kept herself fit in the field plus you get such a long break for Summer I even managed to get her out competing - the long breaks didn't affect her at all. However for the final year at Uni I found a yard where she could live out near Uni and I took her with me. It was great as final years are always stressfull with dissertations and she was just what I needed to keep me sane! However I did sometimes get a little distracted - a day meant to be revising ended up with us grabbing a lift to a local hunter trial one day!!

Anyway good luck whatever you decide. There are many options you just have to decide what will suit you and your horse.

I wish I'd thought of that! Bum.

I'm like you Sol. That's why I sold. I couldn't have come back to all my hard work undone! As he's young you could just chuck him in the field couldn't you. Best of both worlds that way! I don't think I had a choice. I'm sure my mum just told me I had to sell! Parents!

I'm jealous of you going off to uni. I had such a blast. I'd love to go back

 

[Sol]

Oh Sol. I'm having this dilemma too. In all fairness, I'd rather not go to uni than sell Dela - I've no idea what I would do with myself without her, or if I didn't go to uni, so I'm hoping I can go to a uni near to me so I can live here still & keep Dela.

Ok, that wasn't very helpful at all, but, that was my say on the matter anyway

I'll move Dante to your house, go to Uni near you, and we can take turns seeing to the horses?

 

[Sol]

My advice would be to go to the best Uni you can get into, and take the horse with you. I took mine with me - fortunately my parents have paid for him to be on part livery but I do him at weekends and have a sharer who rides x 2 during the week and pays for his shoes. I also work part time, manage to study for my law degree, train for lacrosse three times a week and maintain a social life!

Sounds ideal! And I'm not sure how you manage all that, do you sleep!?

 

[Sol]

I wish I'd thought of that! Bum.

I'm like you Sol. That's why I sold. I couldn't have come back to all my hard work undone! As he's young you could just chuck him in the field couldn't you. Best of both worlds that way! I don't think I had a choice. I'm sure my mum just told me I had to sell! Parents!

I'm jealous of you going off to uni. I had such a blast. I'd love to go back

I could just chuck him in a field.... but I'd want to riiiide! But yes, it's another thought!

Would you like to go to Uni for me? I'd much rather stay at home and ride

 

[skewby]

Mine had the good grace to need shot just before I went.